1) Cost of living: Utila is,
by any standards, an inexpensive place to live. Your dollar
will go a long way on this island. Let's look at some examples;
your typical annual taxes on a family home are currently around
$70. Your electricity will run around $70 per month and your
town water bill around $10. So the basic bills are quite afordable.
A cold beer at local bar for will cost .75 cents or how about
a rum and coke for $1. Dinner out is always nice and you can
eat well here without paying too much. A typical fish dinner
will cost under $5 and a good filet mignon around $8. Another
area where you don't pay too much is for skilled and unskilled
labor. A yard worker gets $10 for a day and a maid around the
same. Carpenters currently receive $25-$30 per day.
2) Weather: Utila is blessed
with a great climate. We have plenty of sun but Utila also has
cooling trade winds out of the east for a large part of the
year. The average temperature is 82F or 28c. The short rainy
season runs from October till January, but even then we get
several days of sun between the showers. If you would like to
retire to a warm and agreeable climate, then Utila is the place
for you.
3) Lifestyle: The lifestyle
on Utila will appeal to many people as they contemplate retirement.
The slow pace of life, lack of hustle and bustle as well as
the friendly atmosphere all contribute to a feeling of well
being. The low crime rate, the small number of cars and the
clean air are appreciated by many. This is an easy going Caribbean
island with a touch of the old fashioned. There are no cruise
ships but we do have a souvenir shop. There is a lot to do but
no pressure to do it. You can enjoy busy days diving, fishing
and sailing, or relax in a hammock contemplating the joys of
life. We even have a small cinema on the island, cable TV for
the sports buffs, good internet access, and a Spanish language
school. Oh, and another great thing, we might be an island,
but the mainland is just a short 10 minute flight away. So if
you feel the need to hit the shopping mall or visit the mountains
you don't have to worry about a long journey.
4) Ease of residency: As we
explained in our page on becoming a resident, it is easy to
live and work in Honduras. You can quickly become a resident
and come and go with complete freedom. Retirees enjoy a wide
range of benefits if they can show an income of $600 originating
outside Honduras.
5) The warm welcome: Utila
is a friendly place with a friendly English speaking population.
You will quickly know everyone and they will quickly know you.
The community is welcoming and warm. You are guaranteed a smile
a minute when you walk down the street.
6) The chance to be involved:
Many retirees value the opportunity to relax and enjoy the day
with nothing planned and no responsibilities except for that
of starting the BBQ and making sure the snapper doesn't get
burned. However, if you would like to be involved in the community
here, you will find that there are many areas where Utila would
welcome your help. Teachers are always welcome to help at the
school, you might help with local youth groups or perhaps become
involved with BICA, the Bay Islands Conservation Association.
If you would like to be active, there are many opportunities
to keep busy.
