If you want to find out which are the best places to retire in Bolivia, you’ve come to the right place. This beautiful country is more than ready to give you a retirement you always dreamed of.
So, what makes Bolivia a good pick for retirement destination? Well, first of all, the cost of living in the country is very affordable. Everything costs more than half the price you would usually pay if you were in the United States. For example, consumer prices are 50% lower than in the United States, while the rent prices are 70% lower. Then you have natural beauties that are rarely seen anywhere else, combined with a very pleasant climate. The natives are very friendly, and there is a large expat community in almost all the bigger cities. The minor problem for some could represent the fact that Bolivia is landlocked.
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Still, if we are to trust World Happiness Report from 2017, people are not as happy in Bolivia as you may think from everything said above. Bolivia ranks 58th compared to other countries in the world. This is attributed to the country’s small economy and the fact that Bolivia is a developing country. As you may expect, the healthcare system in the country isn’t great. Bolivia is considered to have among the worst health systems compared to the countries in the Western Hemisphere. According to WHO, the country spends 6.3% of GDP on health and has only 0.4 physicians per 1,000 people, which is the second worst rate in South America. The hospital bed per population density isn’t promising since there are 1.1 hospital beds per 1,000. The major problem represents healthcare in rural areas where the situation is even worse. The number of physicians is disturbingly low and hospitals often don’t have the basic equipment.
Let’s see if is Bolivia at least a safe country. Well, World Economic Forum report tells us that Bolivia takes the 94th place in terms of safety and security. The 2017 Crime and Safety report for Bolivia made by the United States Overseas Security Advisory Council is a bit more reassuring. It tells us that pickpocketing and thefts are common, but those are non-confrontational crimes in most of the cases. Violent crimes happen, but in significantly smaller rates. The majority of the targets are tourists and visitors, so you may want to blend in with the locals if you are planning on taking a walk. In case you are looking for more retirement options, then you should definitely check out our list of the Best Places to Retire in Belize.
If you are curious about how we managed to come up with our list of best places to retire in Bolivia, let us explain. First, we tracked down the cities that were mostly recommended as good retirement destinations or best places to live by International Living, The Culture Trip and Expat among others. Cochabamba, Sucre, La Paz and Santa Cruz de la Sierra were the cities that were almost exclusively recommended, so we also took into consideration some other major cities in Bolivia. We then assigned points to each city taking into consideration the average price of monthly rent and restaurant meal obtained from Numbeo and Expatistan and hospital to population ratio (Google Maps). We also gave extra points based on the weather averages taken from World Weather Online. In order for you to better understand provided information, we should note that hospital to population ratio theoretically tells us how many people are assigned to one city’s private or public hospital. The weather averages indicate the average highs and lows throughout the year. After we covered everything, it’s time to check out the list .
10. La Paz
IM Score: 11
Rent Cost: $260
Meal Cost: $4.22
Hospital to Population Ratio: 22,944
Temperature: 40/56°F
Rainy Days: 11/31
Sunny Days: 0/22
Did you notice how a country’s capital is always a good retirement destination, but never the best? It’s the same thing with Bolivia’s capital, La Paz. Although it isn’t the largest city in the country, its metropolitan area is the most populous. Thanks to the city’s high altitude, the climate in La Paz is characterized by dry winters and summers with lots of rain. There are plenty of things to see and experience here, given the fact that La Paz represents one of the most important cultural centers of Bolivia.
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9. Santa Cruz de la Sierra
IM Score: 15
Rent Cost: $330
Meal Cost: $3.61
Hospital to Population Ratio: 25,739
Temperature: 70/92°F
Rainy Days: 5/23
Sunny Days: 8/25
This is the city with the most expensive rent on our list of best places to retire in Bolivia. Big rent prices shouldn’t be a surprise since Santa Cruz de la Sierra is the country’s most populous city and one of the cities with the fastest growth in the world. It represents the Bolivia’s biggest economic center and is a destination that hosts the largest number of expats. The fast development influenced the culture offer as well, ranging from museum to contemporary art shows. You’ll love the climate here since it is warm almost all year long and there is not a lot of rain compared to other destinations.
8. Tarija
IM Score: 12
Rent Cost: $255
Meal Cost: $4.35
Hospital to Population Ratio: 12,823
Temperature: 60/75°F
Rainy Days: 4/28
Sunny Days: 1/23
If you can’t stand much heat or rain, you’ll find it quite pleasant in Tarija. The city has a mild climate with warm summers and occasional cold periods in winter. Tarija is loved by tourists, due to its cultural offering and beautiful landscapes paired with high-quality cuisine.
7. El Alto
IM Score: 16
Rent Cost: $210
Meal Cost: $2.88
Hospital to Population Ratio: 26,324
Temperature: 49/56°F
Rainy Days: 12/31
Sunny Days: 0/22
Located near the city’s capital La Paz, El Alto has a similar feel but remains a more affordable option. The city started as a suburb of La Paz, but now it became more populated than the capital and developed into a strong economic center of Bolivia. One of the most famous attractions of El Alto is the city’s open market, the biggest of its kind in the whole country, which will be a unique experience for all newcomers.
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6. Riberalta
IM Score: 17
Rent Cost: $230
Meal Cost: $4.8
Hospital to Population Ratio: 7,158
Temperature: 87/94°F
Rainy Days: 0/30
Sunny Days: 0/29
Riberalta that ranked 6th on our list of best places to retire in Bolivia is the least populated city on the list and presents a perfect destination for those who don’t want to deal with the noise of big cities. It is a perfect base for those who want to explore rural parts of Bolivia and see the other side of the country. One thing you may not like is the high temperatures, but you can always take a dip in the Beni river.
5. Cochabamba
IM Score: 18
Rent Cost: $210
Meal Cost: $3.61
Hospital to Population Ratio: 19,705
Temperature: 62/69°F
Rainy Days: 7/31
Sunny Days: 0/16
We are continuing our list of best places to retire in Bolivia with Cochabamba that is known by the locals as “the city of Spring”, referring to the spring-like weather that is present all year long. The city is viewed as progressive and offers something for everyone’s taste. You’ll most certainly enjoy its buzz and vibrant appeal. Still, you should make sure you are close to the city’s center since the more remote parts of Cochabamba are plagued with infrastructure issues.
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4. Oruro
IM Score: 22
Rent Cost: $145
Meal Cost: $3.61
Hospital to Population Ratio: 16,542
Temperature: 50/69°F
Rainy Days: 1/30
Sunny Days: 0/29
Although the summers in Oruro are pleasant, you should have in mind that during the winter, it can get a lot colder than in some other entries on our list of best places to retire in Bolivia. There are plenty of attractions in the city and the surrounding areas, especially during the time of Carnaval de Oruro, one of the biggest of its kind in South America.
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3. Potosi
IM Score: 24
Rent Cost: $200
Meal Cost: $2.91
Hospital to Population Ratio: 11,664
Temperature: 51/59°F
Rainy Days: 2/29
Sunny Days: 0/27
You better be used to cold weather and high altitude if you want to live in Potosi since it is one of the highest cities in the world, sitting at 13,343 ft. Potosi has a rich history, producing more than 50% of the world’s silver in the 16th century and being one of the wealthiest cities in South America. Now the city isn’t as developed as you would think, but it is still a city where you could enjoy living.
2. Trinidad
IM Score: 24
Rent Cost: $150
Meal Cost: $3.21
Hospital to Population Ratio: 8,454
Temperature: 80/93°F
Rainy Days: 1/27
Sunny Days: 2/30
If you are a nature freak, you’ll fit right in Trinidad, next on the list of best places to retire in Bolivia. The city is surrounded by rivers, lakes, forest and has an amazing offer of natural attractions. You can choose to take a tour, or just admire the world around you in one of the numerous resorts and lagoons scattered around Trinidad. Another perk of living here is the fact that Trinidad is developing fast and it could soon be one of the more important cities in Bolivia.
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1. Sucre
IM Score: 24
Rent Cost: $115
Meal Cost: $1.95
Hospital to Population Ratio: 23,748
Temperature: 61/71°F
Rainy Days: 7/29
Sunny Days: 0/23
The last entry on our list of best places to retire in Bolivia really has it all. The weather is great, offering mild temperatures all year round. The prices are among the lowest in Bolivia and you’ll get to enjoy in lots of natural and cultural attractions in and around the city. Some even refer to it as the “most beautiful city in Bolivia”. This is contributed by the city’s architectural landscape that features beautiful classic and old buildings including churches, museums, and palaces. One thing is for sure. If you pick Sucre, you have made a choice you won’t regret.
