FAQ
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Straight answers to the questions I get most about retiring abroad: costs, visas, housing, healthcare, banking, and life in the Philippines and Japan. Each answer links to the video or guide that goes deeper.
Retiring abroad: the basics
What is retirement abroad?
Living outside your home country in retirement, either full time or for part of each year. People do it for lower costs, warmer weather, a slower pace, easier travel and more financial flexibility. For me it's less about spending less and more about designing more freedom into everyday life. Start with my Retirement Abroad hub.
Is retiring abroad cheaper than retiring in the US?
It can be, but not always. Costs depend on housing, healthcare, transportation, lifestyle, taxes, how often you travel and where you live. Many retirees find Southeast Asia far cheaper than most US cities for housing and daily expenses. The better question is what lifestyle you want, and what that lifestyle costs where you're going.
What is the real cost of living abroad?
It's more than rent. People often underestimate healthcare, flights home, visas, insurance, emergencies, home maintenance, international banking fees and lifestyle creep. A full, realistic budget beats focusing on housing alone. See a real example in Retire in the Philippines on $2,000 a Month.
Should I rent or buy a home when I retire overseas?
Rent first. Renting gives you flexibility and lower risk while you learn neighborhoods, traffic, utilities and your own preferences. Buying can make sense later, depending on how long you'll stay, the legal structure available to foreigners and your cash flow. Read Rent vs. Buy a Condo in the Philippines.
What mistakes do people make when retiring abroad?
Moving too fast, underestimating the budget, buying property too early, ignoring taxes, overpacking, not building local routines and assuming a vacation feels like everyday life. Good decisions usually happen gradually. Watch Regrets You Can Avoid When Retiring Overseas and read Don't Retire Abroad Until You Fix This.
Is life abroad actually better?
There's no universal answer. For some people it's a clear yes, for others it isn't. Living overseas tends to amplify your existing habits more than it transforms you. The goal is alignment with your priorities, not escape. I share the trade-offs in What I Gave Up to Retire Abroad.
Retiring in the Philippines
Is the Philippines a good place to retire?
For many retirees, yes. English is spoken almost everywhere, the climate is tropical, costs are lower in many areas, and Filipinos are famously warm and welcoming. Weigh infrastructure, weather, healthcare access and distance from family too. Everything I've learned is in my Retire in the Philippines hub (or start with the step-by-step Retirement Blueprint).
How much money do you need to retire in the Philippines?
There's no single number, because housing, location, healthcare, travel and dining choices vary so much. As a real-world example, a single retiree in a smaller city can live comfortably on about $1,500 to $2,500 a month. Understanding your own spending is more useful than chasing someone else's figure.
Do I need a retirement visa to live in the Philippines?
Not always. Many people start on a tourist visa and extend it, while others choose the Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) for a longer stay. Immigration rules change, so confirm current requirements with the Philippine Bureau of Immigration before you decide.
Where should I live when I first move to the Philippines?
I recommend starting in Cebu, where I'm based. It has beaches, international hospitals, an international airport and very different neighborhoods to test. Begin with a short-term rental as your landing zone, then decide where to live longer term.
What should I do before moving to the Philippines?
Keep your US phone number, sort out a US mailing address, set up more than one way to reach your money, back up your documents, check your insurance and do a trial run. My Before You Leave checklist covers all of it.
Retiring in Japan
Can foreigners retire in Japan?
Yes, but not on a retirement visa, because Japan doesn't have one. Long-term residence is tied to an activity like running a business, working or family ties. Many retirees instead spend part of the year in Japan on regular visits. I break down the options in How to Retire in Japan Without a Visa. Rules change, so confirm with Japanese immigration.
Is Japan expensive for retirees?
Local food and public transportation can be cheaper than in many US cities, but housing in popular areas climbs quickly. Japan costs more than Thailand, Vietnam or the Philippines, so think affordable premium rather than budget. Taxes need planning too: see my Foreign Retiree's Guide to Taxes in Japan.
Money, banking and healthcare
How do retirees avoid running out of money abroad?
Focus on sustainable spending, a sound investment strategy, emergency reserves, healthcare planning, sequence of returns risk and geographic flexibility. Confidence usually comes from flexibility more than from chasing returns. Watch Market Crashes? This Strategy Protects You.
Is healthcare affordable overseas?
It varies widely by country and by your needs. Compare insurance options, out-of-pocket costs, hospital quality, access to specialists and long-term care. Medicare generally doesn't cover care outside the US, so plan this before you move. Watch Health Costs Explained for Southeast Asia.
How do I keep my US bank accounts working while living abroad?
Keep your US phone number for verification codes, keep a residential US address, have at least two banks and several cards, and test transfers before you go. Read 9 Banking Mistakes That Can Freeze Your Accounts Abroad.
About Joe and the channel
Who is Joe from Away with Joe?
I'm Joe Burroughs, an American who retired at 50 to slow travel across Asia. I'm based in Cebu, Philippines, and I share what I learn about retiring abroad in the Philippines, Japan, Vietnam and Thailand, with real numbers and plenty of mistakes so you can skip them. More in my welcome post.
How often does Away with Joe publish new videos?
New episodes come out weekly on YouTube, usually on Fridays, covering retirement abroad, budgets, cost of living, travel and everyday life overseas. Subscribe on YouTube so you don't miss one.
Where should I start?
Go in this order: cost of living, your retirement budget, housing decisions, country comparisons, then the bigger retirement plan. Then narrow down based on your goals. The Retirement Abroad hub and the Philippines hub are the best places to begin.
New here?
Start with how I retired abroad at 50, then explore the hubs for the country you're curious about.
Retirement hub Philippines hubStill Got Questions?
Ask me in the comments on any video. I read every one, and the best questions become future episodes and new answers on this page.
Subscribe on YouTube Browse all videosI share my own experience, not financial, legal, tax or immigration advice. Costs, visa rules and app features change, so confirm current details with official sources before making decisions.
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