Best countries to retire abroad
About this page
Ranked on retirement visa income thresholds, monthly living costs, healthcare and safety.
This ranking starts with the retirement visa. A country is only listed when it publishes a retirement route and a minimum income or lump-sum requirement, so every entry is somewhere you can actually apply.
The score then weighs the monthly income the visa requires, what living there costs, healthcare quality, safety, English-speaking doctors and the path to permanent residency. Income thresholds are converted to US dollars at a single exchange rate, and the date of that rate is shown on the methodology page.
Countries with too little published data are left out rather than placed at the bottom. Use the list to shortlist, then check the visa rules with the official source before you plan a move.
These are general rankings, not immigration advice.
Countries at travel advisory level 3 or 4 are not ranked here.
Read the full methodRetire ranking
Philippines
Retirement visa from $1,500/mo · est. $707/mo to live
Healthcare index 67.
- Retirement visa
- Low cost
- English widely spoken
Portugal
Retirement visa from $1,031/mo · est. $1,600/mo to live
Healthcare index 72.
- Retirement visa
- English widely spoken
- Path to residency
Ecuador
Retirement visa from $1,446/mo · est. $782/mo to live
Healthcare index 78.
- Retirement visa
- Low cost
- Path to residency
Spain
Retirement visa from $2,600/mo · est. $1,628/mo to live
Healthcare index 77.
- Retirement visa
- Path to residency
- Special expat tax regime
Malaysia
Retirement visa from $3,333/mo · est. $814/mo to live
Healthcare index 71.
- Retirement visa
- Low cost
- English widely spoken
Turkey
Retirement visa from $773/mo · est. $1,066/mo to live
Healthcare index 71.
- Retirement visa
- Path to residency
- Special expat tax regime
Indonesia
Retirement visa from $2,000/mo · est. $608/mo to live
Healthcare index 62.
- Retirement visa
- Low cost
- Path to residency
Paraguay
Retirement visa from $1,300/mo · est. $841/mo to live
Healthcare index 74.
- Retirement visa
- Path to residency
Mexico
Retirement visa from $3,738/mo · est. $1,132/mo to live
Healthcare index 72.
- Retirement visa
- Path to residency
- Large expat community
Andorra
Retirement visa from $3,658/mo · est. $1,877/mo to live
Healthcare index 79.
- Retirement visa
- Clean air
- Special expat tax regime
Italy
Retirement visa from $2,895/mo · est. $1,678/mo to live
Healthcare index 65.
- Retirement visa
- Path to residency
- Special expat tax regime
France
Retirement visa from $1,500/mo · est. $1,770/mo to live
Healthcare index 77.
- Retirement visa
- Special expat tax regime
- Large expat community
Greece
Retirement visa from $3,997/mo · est. $1,336/mo to live
Healthcare index 59.
- Retirement visa
- English widely spoken
- Path to residency
Panama
Retirement visa from $1,000/mo · est. $1,577/mo to live
Healthcare index 62.
- Retirement visa
- Path to residency
- Special expat tax regime
Argentina
Retirement visa from $1,500/mo · est. $1,107/mo to live
Healthcare index 68.
- Retirement visa
- Path to residency
- Clean air
Switzerland
Retirement visa from $2,519/mo · est. $3,393/mo to live
Healthcare index 69.
- Retirement visa
- English widely spoken
- Path to residency
Uruguay
Retirement visa from $1,500/mo · est. $1,376/mo to live
Healthcare index 69.
- Retirement visa
- Path to residency
Morocco
Retirement visa from $1,500/mo · est. $699/mo to live
Healthcare index 47.
- Retirement visa
- Low cost
- Path to residency
San Marino
Retirement visa from $11,186/mo · est. $1,477/mo to live
Healthcare index 83.
- Retirement visa
Costa Rica
Retirement visa from $1,000/mo · est. $1,587/mo to live
Healthcare index 65.
- Retirement visa
- Path to residency
- Special expat tax regime
South Africa
Retirement visa from $2,050/mo · est. $1,034/mo to live
Healthcare index 64.
- Retirement visa
- English widely spoken
- Path to residency
Peru
Retirement visa from $1,000/mo · est. $795/mo to live
Healthcare index 57.
- Retirement visa
- Low cost
- Path to residency
Thailand
Retirement visa from $30,000/mo · est. $885/mo to live
Healthcare index 78.
- Retirement visa
- Special expat tax regime
- Large expat community
Canada
est. $2,174/mo to live
Healthcare index 69.
- Retirement visa
- English widely spoken
- Path to residency
Tunisia
est. $627/mo to live
Healthcare index 57.
- Retirement visa
- Low cost
Dominican Republic
Retirement visa from $1,500/mo · est. $995/mo to live
Healthcare index 45.
- Retirement visa
- Path to residency
- Large expat community
Belize
Retirement visa from $2,000/mo · est. $1,313/mo to live
Healthcare index 54.
- Retirement visa
- English widely spoken
- Path to residency
Mauritius
Retirement visa from $24,000/mo · est. $900/mo to live
Healthcare index 60.
- Retirement visa
- English widely spoken
- Path to residency
Monaco
Retirement visa with a lump-sum deposit · est. $8,185/mo to live
Healthcare index 75.
- Retirement visa
- English widely spoken
- 0% capital gains
Ghana
est. $943/mo to live
Healthcare index 33.
- Retirement visa
- English widely spoken
- Path to residency
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