“And even though my Spanish is limited, I can get around. You can always find a way to ask, and they never laugh at you. I'm a painter and beader, and there are many artists here.” Another plus: the availability of fresh fish and fruit. “Our diet is healthier and less expensive than in the U.S.,” she says.

 

> Housing A two-bedroom condo in Granada goes for about $158,000. Two- and three-bedroom houses elsewhere in the country, some near the beach, start at $125,000. You can rent a three-bedroom house in Granada for $1,600 a month or elsewhere in the country for $500 to $1,200 a month.

 

> Medical care Since medical and dental care is excellent and inexpensive, many expats don't carry insurance; they just pay as they go: $30 for a doctor visit, $17 for a dental X-ray, $200 for a crown. The Snyders' U.S. Colonial Penn plan covers them in Nicaragua.

 

> Logistics To get a residency visa, you have to show income of $650 a month (see consuladodenicaragua.com. ❦

 

Laurie Werner is an award-winning food and travel writer.

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