Retiring abroad is a chance to live well for less, somewhere that looks after you. These destinations balance affordability, healthcare and a realistic residency route, the three things that make retirement abroad actually work.
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#1 Bulgaria
Strongest on cost of living and property affordability. Weaker on English-friendliness and expat community.
- Cost of living: Very low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide, flat 10% rate
- Visa: Low pension threshold ~933 BGN/mo, 5yr PR
- Climate: Cool (~11°C)
- English: Moderate
- Expat community: Moderate
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#2 Portugal
Strongest on healthcare and English-friendliness. Weaker on property affordability and tax friendliness.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Affordable
- Healthcare: Excellent
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide income, 48% top rate
- Visa: D7 passive-income visa (~€820/mo)
- Climate: Warm (~17°C)
- English: Very widely spoken
- Expat community: Established
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#3 Argentina
Strongest on property affordability and cost of living. Weaker on safety and tax friendliness.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Moderate
- Tax: Worldwide, 35% top rate, wealth tax
- Visa: Rentista visa, 2yr PR and citizenship, dual
- Climate: Warm (~18°C)
- English: Moderate
- Expat community: Moderate
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#4 Greece
Strongest on healthcare and safety. Weaker on cost of living and tax friendliness.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Affordable
- Healthcare: Excellent
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide; 7% flat pensioner regime
- Visa: Financially-independent visa (~€3,500/mo)
- Climate: Warm (~19°C)
- English: Widely spoken
- Expat community: Established
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#5 Malta
Strongest on English-friendliness and expat community. Weaker on tax friendliness and cost of living.
- Cost of living: Moderate
- Property: Affordable
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Very safe
- Tax: Remittance basis; 15% flat regimes
- Visa: Residence/retirement programmes
- Climate: Warm (~19°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Very large
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#6 Chile
Strongest on cost of living and property affordability. Weaker on tax friendliness and safety.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Affordable
- Healthcare: Moderate
- Safety: Some concerns
- Tax: Worldwide, 35.5% top, 3yr new-resident break
- Visa: Rentista ~$1,000-1,500/mo, 2yr PR, dual
- Climate: Warm (~15°C)
- English: Moderate
- Expat community: Established
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#7 Czech Republic
Strongest on safety and healthcare. Weaker on residency ease and tax friendliness.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Affordable
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide, 15%/23% progressive rates
- Visa: No retiree visa, nomad program for US/UK, 5yr PR
- Climate: Cool (~9°C)
- English: Widely spoken
- Expat community: Established
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#8 Croatia
Strongest on property affordability and English-friendliness. Weaker on healthcare and tax friendliness.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide, up to 33%, nomad exemption
- Visa: No retiree visa, nomad EUR 3,622/mo, 5yr PR
- Climate: Warm (~17°C)
- English: Very widely spoken
- Expat community: Established
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#9 Colombia
Strongest on cost of living and property affordability. Weaker on tax friendliness and safety.
- Cost of living: Very low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Basic
- Safety: Higher risk
- Tax: Worldwide, 39% top, no US treaty, wealth tax
- Visa: Pensionado ~$1,400/mo, fast e-visa, dual
- Climate: Mild (~17°C)
- English: Limited
- Expat community: Moderate
Read the full Colombia guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#10 Cyprus
Strongest on safety and expat community. Weaker on tax friendliness and cost of living.
- Cost of living: Moderate
- Property: Affordable
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Non-dom: 0% on dividends/interest
- Visa: Category F passive-income PR
- Climate: Warm (~19°C)
- English: Widely spoken
- Expat community: Established
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How these rankings are calculated
Each destination is scored from 0 to 100 on nine factors (cost of living, property, healthcare, safety, tax, visa ease, climate, English-friendliness and expat community), then weighted to the preferences above and ranked. The healthcare score reflects the public system (spending and doctors per head); private care, which many expats use, can differ, and first-hand expat ratings are coming from our own survey. Cost and property are world-comparable price levels. Figures are general information, not personal financial, tax or immigration advice.
Data sources: Expat Focus built dataset · Expat Focus climate reference · Expat Focus reference · World Bank ICP / PPP price level · World Bank ICP 2021 housing Price Level Index · World Bank health expenditure per capita + physicians per 1,000 · World Bank intentional homicide rate · World Bank international migrant stock. See our data and licences page.