The most practical destinations to retire abroad if you want a low cost of living, a straightforward residency route and good English-friendliness, ranked on Expat Focus data.
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#1 Philippines
Strongest on cost of living and English-friendliness. Weaker on healthcare and expat community.
- Cost of living: Very low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Limited
- Safety: Moderate
- Tax: Territorial for foreigners
- Visa: SRRV retiree visa ($15k+ deposit)
- Climate: Warm (~28°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Minimal
Read the full Philippines guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#2 South Africa
Strongest on English-friendliness and cost of living. Weaker on healthcare and safety.
- Cost of living: Very low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Limited
- Safety: Higher risk
- Tax: Worldwide, 45% top, only 1% employee social
- Visa: Retirement visa ZAR 37k/mo, 5yr PR, English, dual
- Climate: Warm (~17°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Moderate
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#3 Belize
Strongest on English-friendliness and property affordability. Weaker on healthcare and safety.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Limited
- Safety: Higher risk
- Tax: Territorial, flat 25%, QRP retirees exempt
- Visa: QRP retiree USD 2,000/mo, fast PR, English
- Climate: Warm (~27°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Established
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#4 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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#5 Jamaica
Strongest on English-friendliness and residency ease. Weaker on healthcare and safety.
- Cost of living: Moderate
- Property: Moderate
- Healthcare: Limited
- Safety: Higher risk
- Tax: Worldwide, 30% top rate, no CGT
- Visa: Retiree PR ~$2,000/mo, 3yr PR, English, dual
- Climate: Warm (~27°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Minimal
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#6 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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#7 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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#8 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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#9 Trinidad and Tobago
Strongest on English-friendliness and property affordability. Weaker on residency ease and safety.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Higher risk
- Tax: Worldwide, 25%/30%, no CGT or wealth tax
- Visa: Work permit, marriage, or 5 year residence
- Climate: Warm (~27°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Established
Read the full Trinidad and Tobago guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#10 Antigua and Barbuda
Strongest on English-friendliness and tax friendliness. Weaker on healthcare and safety.
- Cost of living: Moderate
- Property: Affordable
- Healthcare: Moderate
- Safety: Some concerns
- Tax: No personal income tax at all
- Visa: Citizenship by investment or nomad visa, English
- Climate: Warm (~27°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Very large
Read the full Antigua and Barbuda guide · Compare expat health insurance
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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.