What are your dreams for retirement? Do you want to retire out to your cottage on the lake? Or do you want to just stay where you are and travel the world, doing whatever you want to do when you want to do it? Or possibly you want to pack up your entire life and move to a different country for the rest of your life, which isn't as hard as it sounds.

A lot of retirees think about packing up shop and moving on, but they worry about whether they will be afford living in another country, and they also worry about their safety when they get there. There are places that are both safe and cheap that love when ex-pats decide to move there. Let's take a look at 8 of them.

1. Portugal

Portugal is a beautiful country filled with history and culture. All you need to be able to move there is a Permanent Residence Visa, and you need to prove that you have the money to be able to support yourself.

Other perks include their very low cost of living, the amazing beaches, delicious food, and a rather impressive selection of local wines.

2. Malaysia

This southeast Asian country is one of the cheapest countries to retire to in the region, but it also ranks in the top 50 safest countries in the world. You can apply for a "Malaysia My Second Home" Visa which grants you continued stay for 10 years at a time.

What's not to like? It's an island, the country offers great health care options, and the coast is virtually one continuous beach front.

3. Austria

Most people wouldn't assume to find many western-European countries on this list, but Austria is actually quite affordable. You will need to apply for a residence permit if you plan on staying more than six months, and you need to prove that you can afford to support yourself.

The standards of living are high, but the cost is significantly low. It's considered an affordable version of Switzerland with the same level of culture and natural beauty.

4. Costa Rica

Who doesn't want to live out the rest of their life on a tropical island? Trick question, who wouldn't? Costa Rica decided it was going to offer a special benefits package to anyone who wanted to leave their home country to retire there. You need to apply for a Pensionado Visa and prove that you have at least $1000 a month in retirement income. Once that is done you can live your life like a tourist, enjoying everything they get when they come for a visit.

Haven't seen something you like yet? Keep reading to see some other amazing options.

5. Australia

You can apply directly for permanent residency right away if you have a high net worth, but otherwise you will need to apply for a visitor visa every six months until you have been there for four years, in which case you can apply for permanent residency then.

The island continent/nation is a beautiful place to live. It has everything that the continental U.S. has, but has the benefit of being an island located in the south-Pacific. U.S. ex-pats have it good there because of the high value of the U.S. dollar.

6. Chile

You can immediately apply for a retirement visa to live there as long as you can prove that you can support yourself and wont be a burden on the system. Chile has fantastic culture and food, and the South American nation has a high standard of living, and is very welcoming towards ex-pats looking to retire. They are a rather major earthquake zone, but over the years they have prepared themselves well for quakes.

7. Slovenia

It's pretty easy to make your way to Slovenia. All you need is to stay for 90 days and then apply for a residence permit. You must also show that you have proof of health insurance, and an income.

Slovenia's capital Ljubljana just won the award for being Europe's "Greenest Capital" for its record of incredible environmental standards. Slovenia has it all: beaches, forests, mountains, lakes, and even several castles from medieval times.

8. Spain

You are allowed to stay in Spain for up to 90 days without any form of visa. After that, you have to apply for a residence visa from your home country's Spanish embassy or consulate. Spain is famous for its natural beauty, laid back culture, and its rather spectacular food. It is even home to 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Which of these countries would you most like to live in? Let us know in the comments.