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
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
Ecuador
Retirement visa from $1,446/mo · est. $782/mo to live
Healthcare index 78.
- Retirement visa
- Low cost
- Path to residency
Malaysia
Retirement visa from $3,333/mo · est. $814/mo to live
Healthcare index 71.
- Retirement visa
- Low cost
- English widely spoken
Thailand
Retirement visa needs $23,749 on deposit · est. $885/mo to live
Healthcare index 78.
- Retirement visa
- Special expat tax regime
- 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
Turkey
Retirement visa from $773/mo · est. $1,066/mo to live
Healthcare index 71.
- Retirement visa
- Path to residency
- Special expat tax regime
Mexico
Retirement visa from $3,738/mo · est. $1,132/mo to live
Healthcare index 72.
- Retirement visa
- Path to residency
- Large expat community
Indonesia
Retirement visa from $2,000/mo · est. $608/mo to live
Healthcare index 62.
- Retirement visa
- Low cost
- Path to residency
San Marino
Retirement visa with a lump-sum deposit · est. $1,477/mo to live
Healthcare index 83.
- Retirement visa
Paraguay
Retirement visa from $1,300/mo · est. $841/mo to live
Healthcare index 74.
- Retirement visa
- Low cost
- Path to residency
Sri Lanka
Retirement visa from $1,500/mo · est. $641/mo to live
Healthcare index 71.
- Retirement visa
- Low cost
- English widely spoken
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
Mauritius
Retirement visa from $24,000/yr · est. $900/mo to live
Healthcare index 60.
- Retirement visa
- English widely spoken
- Path to residency
New Zealand
est. $1,926/mo to live
Healthcare index 68.
- Retirement visa
- English widely spoken
- Path to residency
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
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
Switzerland
Retirement visa from $2,519/mo · est. $3,393/mo to live
Healthcare index 69.
- Retirement visa
- English widely spoken
- Path to residency
Chile
Retirement visa from $1,000/mo · est. $1,041/mo to live
Healthcare index 64.
- 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
Latvia
Residence via investment · est. $1,207/mo to live
Investor or golden residence, capital required; not a retirement visa. Healthcare index 64.
- Investment residence
- 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
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
Morocco
Retirement visa from $1,500/mo · est. $699/mo to live
Healthcare index 47.
- Retirement visa
- Low cost
- Path to residency
Brazil
Retirement visa from $2,000/mo · est. $800/mo to live
Healthcare index 59.
- Retirement visa
- Low cost
- Path to residency
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
Malta
Retirement visa with a lump-sum deposit · est. $1,868/mo to live
Healthcare index 53.
- Retirement visa
- English widely spoken
- Path to residency
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