Realtor says U.S. retirees are moving to these 4 countries for a better life

U.S. retirees are fleeing high costs and divisive politics. Realtor.com explains why the top destinations work so well

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Something has shifted in the American retirement calculus. For decades, the standard script ran like this: work hard, save up, then settle into a house in Florida or Arizona and spend your days on the golf course. That script is being rewritten — fast.

The share of Americans over 55 who want to retire abroad has more than quadrupled since 1974, according to a Monmouth University Poll. Today, roughly 17% of older Americans want out. And it is not just a passing mood: A third of all Americans — around 117 million people — say they would like to settle in another country.

The motivations are layered. Expat advisers point to a society running hot — a relentless pace, political polarization, and a consumer culture that prizes accumulation over experience. Cost is the other engine driving the shift. The average retired American household spends around $5,000 a month, yet the average Social........

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