If Social Security Is All You Have, These 5 Countries Want You!

#retireabroad #socialsecurity #livingabroad #expatlife What if your Social Security check is the only money coming in? The average retired worker got about $2,086 in July 2026, and these five countries set their retiree visa bar below that line. Counted down, with the monthly income each one asks for (as of October 2026): → 5. The Philippines — SRRV, $800 a month at 50+ plus a $15,000 bank deposit → 4. Portugal — D7 visa, €920 a month (about $1,030), public SNS healthcare → 3. Ecuador — pensioner residence, $1,446 a month, everyday life in US dollars → 2. Costa Rica — pensionado residency, $1,000 a month, join the public Caja → 1. Panama — pensionado residency, $1,000 a month, permanent from day one, discounts by law 0:00 - One check, five countries 0:31 - The line: the average Social Security check 0:56 - No. 5 The Philippines 3:55 - No. 4 Portugal 6:36 - No. 3 Ecuador 9:21 - No. 2 Costa Rica 11:41 - No. 1 Panama, our top pick 12:32 - Panama's retiree discounts, Law 6 of 1987 15:13 - All five side by side Where every number comes from: • Social Security average benefit: SSA Monthly Statistical Snapshot, July 2026 — https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/quickfacts... • Payments abroad: SSA, Your Payments While You Are Outside the US — https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf • Philippines: Philippine Retirement Authority, SRRV — https://www.pra.gov.ph/srrvisa • Portugal: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, national visas — https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visa... • Ecuador: gob.ec, retiree temporary residence — https://www.gob.ec/mremh/tramites/concesio... • Costa Rica: Dirección General de Migración — https://migracion.go.cr/regularizacion/ • Panama: Servicio Nacional de Migración, pensionado — https://www.migracion.gob.pa/wp-content/up... • Panama discounts: Law 6 of 1987 — https://docs.panama.justia.com/federales/l... • Safety levels: US State Department travel advisories — https://travel.state.gov/ • Rent: Numbeo cost of living, October 2026 — https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/ • Medicare abroad: medicare.gov — https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/travel-o.... Archive photos come from Wikimedia Commons (each credit is listed in the pinned credits comment); footage is licensed Magnific stock. Treat this as a starting point rather than legal or tax advice. Income bars rise, perks expire and fees get revised, so confirm every figure with the consulate or immigration office of your chosen country before selling the house. On your own monthly check, which of these five gets your vote, and which state are you in right now? All Greener Borders shortlists:    • Greener Borders: Where Americans Can Live ...   Other shortlists worth a look: 5 Countries Where Americans Can Stay a Full Year — No Visa Needed! |    • Видео