These Are the 5 Best Countries for Retiring Abroad

An azure bay backed by tree covered mountains in Corfu, Greece. — Explore the stunning azure waters and mountainous backdrop of Corfu’s coastline in Greece.

This article was originally published in 2018 and most recently updated on July, 28, 2026, with current information.

Oooh, I could live here is a thought that’s crossed many travelers’ minds when abroad. And if you don’t have a job where you can work remotely from another country, then retirement could be the perfect time to make that passing dream a reality.

Every year, the publication International Living releases its Annual Global Retirement Index, ranking the best countries for people in their post-work years. The 2026 index takes into account firsthand experiences of correspondents and contributors who live there, as well as quantitative costs like housing, living expenses, and health care.

Whether leaving the working world is close or a decade away, put on your radar these five countries for retiring abroad.

1. Greece

Four years ago, Leena Horner and her husband moved to Corfu. “Greece quietly transforms the way you live,” Horner wrote. “It’s not just one thing; it’s the climate, the siga siga attitude of taking life slowly, the vibrant community, and the daily connection with nature.”

The pair moved from Boulder, Colorado, and purchased their Corfu home in 2022 for €250,000, and in doing so qualified for Greek residency and potential citizenship down the line; Greece is one of a dozen-odd countries in which you can qualify for citizenship through investment. Retirees can also apply for a Financially Independent Person (FIP) visa, which requires income of or access to a minimum of €3,500 per month. And for those who are semi-retired and still working online, Greece’s digital nomad visa may be an option.

Horner says she and her husband “pay €250/month total for private insurance for the two of us, primarily catastrophic coverage with a €2,500 deductible. For most routine care, we pay out of pocket and have never spent more than €1,000/year.” She adds that booking doctor’s appointments is quick and easy, with no need for referrals, and that “the doctors take their time to get to know you . . . [and] most. . . have a strong command of English.”

She adds, “The pace of life here is relaxed, yet it is far from dull. It is consistent, communal, balanced, and unexpectedly rich.” And she’s not alone in her sentiments. Magda Kantzavelos from Los Angeles told Afar, “I feel that I’ve been given another chance to live,” she says. “I want to dress up every day, go for walks, pray, and live to the fullest—something I didn’t feel before.”

2. Panama

“Panama [is a] place where I’ve found not only fast friends but also my dream home,” says Jess Ramesch, a Panama-based writer for International Living. “In the modern, convenient beach hub of Coronado, I snagged an apartment of just over 1,000 square-feet for $155,000. I’m on a golf course, with the kind of beach and ocean views you get in Hawai‘i. Everything is bright, a delight for the eyes. This part of the world is all greens and blues in party hues, with splotches of magenta, fuchsia, firebrick, every color, every tropical bloom.”

Ramesch isn’t the only one singing the country’s praises: InterNations, a global community with 6.1 million members, found Panama to be the best country for expats to live abroad in 2024, 2025, and 2026, based on its Expat Insider survey that sourced information from nearly 8,000 emigrants representing 162 countries.

The country, linking Central and South America, also makes it easy for retirees to test out a life there: Its Panama Pensionado program offers residency for foreigners who have a monthly income or pension of at least $1,000. Thanks to its year-round tropical climate, snowbirds might find this Latin American country a welcome change.

And while Panama’s well-known canal has brought international influences through its waters for more than a century, the country still has plenty of less-traveled spots to explore like Cambutal, one of Afar’s best plac es to visit in 2023.

3. Costa Rica

A parrot mid flight in the Costa Rican rainforest. — Costa Rica overs only 0.03 percent of the globe yet has more than 5 percent of the world’s biodiversity.

Pura vida, Costa Rica’s mantra, means more to locals than its literal translation of “pure life”—it describes an optimistic outlook, which might just be the secret to the country’s high ranking on the 2025 Global Retirement Index. International Living cited Costa Rica’s nature-rich environment as a great reason to move there, with ample opportunities to be active and plenty of accessible fresh fruits and seafood. (The country covers only 0.03 percent of the globe, yet has more than 5 percent of its biodiversity.)

“My Costa Rican adventure began in 1997 as an exchange student. Feeling part of a Tico friend group made me fall in love with the country,” wrote Bekah Bottone in International Living. “Fast forward 28 years, and my community is what helps me get through life’s ups and downs.”

Costa Rica offers a temporary retirement visa (known as its Pensionado visa) for those who have a monthly income of US$1,000. Permanent residency becomes available after three years of legal residency. For shorter stints, Costa Rica’s maximum stay period for foreigners with passports on a visa-exempt status (which includes the United States and Canada) ranges from 90 days to 180 days. Remote workers can extend their 90-day tourist visa to a full year (with the chance to renew for another year) with its digital nomad visa.

4. Portugal

Portugal has much more than delectable custard tarts and fairy-tale castles, but access to great food—including loads of citrus from the Algarve—and beautiful historic buildings certainly don’t hurt. Excellent health care is also a big factor to consider for retirees. The country has private and public systems, with the former offering personalized care with English-speaking doctors; in many public clinics, especially in Lisbon, nurses and doctors have a solid level of English, as do pharmacists.

International Living contributor Kimberly Anne, who lives in Porto, says, “What continually strikes me about life here is the effortless warmth of the people—a genuine kindness that translates into a deep sense of safety. One of my favorite things about living here is the community. While expat groups often cater to couples, as a solo person, I found my community by participating in activities with shared interests. These include a vegan group, fitness classes, hiking groups, and even dog walking.”

Cities like Lisbon may be attractive for those coming from abroad, but Portugal—which has roughly the same land size as Maine—has several other towns worth considering. Retirees wanting a slower pace of life might look to the vineyard-filled Minho region or the small town of Óbidos. Those who want cool to moderate temps and don’t mind living on an island might like Madeira, where the mercury rarely goes below 40 or above 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

View from terra-cotta rooftop deck with potted plants of cityscape with large domed church in distance — The 500-year-old city of San Miguel de Allende is popular with people from the USA who want to retire to Mexico.

5. Mexico

Mexico ranked fifth in International Living‘s Global Retirement Index and third on InterNation’s 2025 Expat Insider survey. Our neighbor to the south—which saw nearly 50 million tourists in 2025—has it all: fantastic beaches, ancient pyramids, and many delicious dishes to try. (Traditional Mexican cuisine is on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.)

“Every part of Mexico thrills me, from the cooler central highlands and lakes, to laid-back seaside towns, smaller villages, and islands. One of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, its jungles and rolling hills, snowy peaks (yes, it does snow in Mexico), and arid landscapes offer an astounding range of environments,” says International Living’s Mexico correspondent Bel Woodhouse.

Woodhouse adds that even well-known areas like the Riviera Maya island of Cozumel offer great value for their properties, reporting her waterfront, one-bedroom apartment costs $500 per month.

Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende have sizable foreign retiree populations, as does Costalegre, meaning “happy coast.” The 200-mile stretch in the western state of Jalisco is one of Afar’s best places to visit in 2025, thanks to its variety of natural wonders that include protected estuaries and jungles.

Sophie Friedman contributed to the reporting of this story.

Chloe Arrojado

Chloe’s love of travel grew out of her interest in learning languages. She’s spent time living in Italy, Spain, and as a digital nomad and she often reports on road trips and solo travel. Previously, she’s worked for publications including Afar, Frommer’s, and Entrepreneur.