International Living: 3 Great Places to Live and Retire Abroad

Ever dreamed of owning a foreign vacation home, living or retiring in an exotic land? You're not alone. An ever increasing number of Americans and Europeans are being lured abroad by a lower cost of living and higher quality of life. Some are returning to their ancestral countries or to places where they once vacationed, worked or studied. Others are being enticed by generous retiree perks and attractive tax incentives. Outside of reading about it, you probably have never given the notion any serious thought. These three beautiful and affordable slices of paradise could change your mind.


NOVA SCOTIA: THE HIDDEN GEM

Not all expatriate destinations are created equal. If you're on a budget, tired of crowded beaches and packed supermarkets, love seafood, and have a 19th-century mindset, you may want to consider Nova Scotia, the Canadian province which is becoming one of the most sought after vacation home and retirement havens in North America.

Nova Scotia is beautiful. With some of the world's most beautiful scenery, it boasts something for every taste: historic small towns, picture-perfect countryside, and a bustling capital with attractive suburbs, not to mention 3,600 miles of enchanting coastline dotted with charming fishing villages, inexpensive lots to build on, and opportunities for outdoor recreation of virtually every type. Deeply steeped in Scottish, Irish and Acadian (creole) heritage, the province feels like New England 100 years ago, and the entire province's population is less than one million so the place is anything but crowded.

But that's not all. With government-funded healthcare, comfortable spring and summer temperatures (with milder and less snowy winters than many northern U.S. states) and real estate prices considerably lower than anything on the coast in the United States, Nova Scotia is well worth considering. The growing American and European expat population obviously agrees.