One of the reasons so many people are able to enjoy the expat lifestyle in the 21st century is because of the advent of global Internet. Pensioners and digital nomads alike are able to pick up their bags and go to another country where they can enjoy all the same amenities and creature comforts they had back in their home country...but at a fraction of the cost.
You can travel to any major city in the world these days and come across expats from other countries, all of them there because of one of two reasons: a lowered cost of living or a passion for exploring alternative countries and cultures. While the second is something that is usually more common among backpackers and minimalists, working professionals as well as pensioners can enjoy the first.
For example, if a pensioner is only receiving $1,000 a month in the U.S. but the average cost of living is $25,000 a year (according to the U.S. Census Bureau), they cannot even pay their basic bills. But if they go to a country like Mexico where they have a cost of living that is only around $600 to $800 per month, including access to universal healthcare for a mere $250 a year so they can have unlimited free medicine, they can live like kings. And for the digital nomads of the world the ability to reduce your cost of living so low means an early retirement after saving for just a few short years while working abroad.
