Peaceful and convenient places to live after retirement

Life expectancy today is 20 years longer than in 1950, and more and more people are choosing to live out their later years abroad.

Selling your home and leaving friends and family behind to start a new life abroad is a significant step that requires careful consideration before making a decision.

The American magazine International Living has just published its annual Global Retirement Index, which assesses the world's top destinations for retirees based on criteria including cost of living, healthcare, housing, visas, climate, and ease of integration.

The new number one spot for 2026 is a sun-drenched Southern European country, with thousands of picturesque islands that have made it a tourist hotspot, but International Living says it also has everything a long-term holiday needs.

“Greece’s rise to number one marks a shift in the European retirement landscape,” said Jennifer Stevens, executive editor of International Living.

"For many years, Portugal and Spain were leading the way, but recent visa changes and rising costs have led retirees to look elsewhere."

Greece now offers what many are looking for – a beautiful, friendly and affordable European settlement with accessible residency options and a rich lifestyle in every sense.”

Below are the top 10 countries in the 2026 index, based on recent data, along with input from International Living's global network of over 200 experts and expatriates.

Greece

Greece's Golden Visa program, which grants residency to foreigners who invest at least 250,000 euros (about $290,000) in real estate, is one of the most accessible in Europe, according to International Living. It also scores highly for climate, health care, and housing.

Patricia Mahan and Dan Matarazzo, from the United States, bought a two-bedroom house for $150,000 in Kritsa, a village in Crete, in 2023. “We wanted to move closer to the sea,” Mahan told CNN last year. “In an affordable place.”

Other priorities influencing their decision were that they “wanted a village life” but “needed to be close to amenities such as modern medical facilities, a nearby airport, a weekly farmers' market, supermarkets, and various shops to furnish our home.”

Panama

Panama tops all the countries in the visa/retirement benefits category. The country has long been a draw for US retirees, and its Pensionado Program offers impressive perks: 50% off entertainment, 30% off transportation, 25% off airfare, 15% off medical bills, and discounts on everything from electricity to dining out.

"Panama's healthcare system is on par with the US in terms of quality – but at a lower cost," the International Index report states. "A hospital stay that might cost $30,000 in Miami could be as low as $3,200 here, including CT scans and medication."

Costa Rica

Costa Rica ranks first in the climate index and is a country that places great importance on the environment. According to International Living, 25% of the country's land area is protected rainforest, and 99% of its electricity comes from renewable energy.

"This is also one of the few countries that has reversed deforestation, and is now home to 10,000 plant species and 850 bird species," CNN reported.

Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula is one of only five “blue zones” in the world, areas known for the longevity of their residents. Although not yet of retirement age, an American woman named Kema Ward-Hopper moved with her family to Pueblo Nuevo in Nicoya in 2018 after undergoing breast cancer treatment.

“I think the health benefits of blue zones come later in life,” she told CNN in 2025. “But we do notice that we feel better here. Our cardiovascular and lung health seem to be better.”

Tourists visit the Duomo cathedral in Milan, Italy. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Portugal

Portugal ranks second only to France in the healthcare category of this index and also scores highly in climate and development/governance.

Portugal has ended its Golden Visa program for residential property development, but other investment visas remain. International Living says that for most retirees looking to move here, “the standard D7 ‘passive income’ visa is ideal – it requires proof of a steady income rather than a large investment (as little as $1,011 per month).”

Cynthia Wilson, a Seattle woman, and her husband, Craig Bjork, were approved for D7 visas and in 2022, they moved to the small town of Marinha Grande, located on the Silver Coast, near the popular surfing beach of Nazaré.

“I will return to the US in an urn,” Wilson told CNN in 2024. “It is cheaper for Americans to live here, unless you live in Lisbon, Porto or the Algarve. Those places are like trying to live in San Francisco or Manhattan.”

Mexico

“Up to one million Americans and Canadians call Mexico home – the largest North American expatriate community on Earth,” says International Living.

Mexico scores highly in the visa/retirement benefits, development, and governance categories. International Living's report cited "excellent highways, high-speed internet, and modern infrastructure. Add to that a remarkably low cost of living, first-class health care, and an easy path to settlement."

Janet Blaser, a native of New York, moved from California to Mexico 20 years ago. “I came to Mazatlán, which sounds cheesy, but it really touched my heart,” she told CNN earlier this year. “It was easy to meet people,” she said. “So I felt really welcome.”

Italy

Italy's highest-scoring category in the index is friendliness, which reflects ease of integration and what International Living calls "gut feeling," as it's a decision that "involves both the heart and the head."

This city also performed well in the healthcare category, on par with Greece with a score of 89/100.

Doug and Leah Johnson, a couple from Massachusetts, bought and renovated a 14th-century apartment in the town of Vasanello, in the Lazio region of Italy. They spent only 9,000 euros in 2019 (a little over $10,000).

“The great thing about Italy is that they really preserve the old buildings. It’s not easy to destroy an important structure,” Doug told CNN in 2023.

He also said he was very welcomed by the locals. “I think a lot of it was the novelty of having Americans invest in and love their community,” he said. “Sometimes we would go into a store and buy a cappuccino or a loaf of bread and they wouldn’t let us pay.”

France

International Living praised France’s “famous universal health care system,” which scored 97, the highest of any country ranked. However, French lawmakers are currently considering a proposal to end free health care for foreign retirees and require them to make minimal contributions.

Whatever the outcome, France is likely to remain a very attractive destination for retirees, with its perfect combination of climate, culture and cuisine.

In December 2021, Mary Jane Wilkie left New York for Paris at the age of 79. This year, she told CNN that it was the best decision she ever made.

“In the end, I knew I didn’t want to say on my deathbed, ‘I always wanted to move to France but I didn’t,’” Wilkie said. “Once you know what you don’t want to say on your deathbed, you know what you want to do with your life.”

Spain

Health (94) and friendliness (90) are the categories in which Spain performs best, while the cost of living (75) is slightly lower.

Regina and John Zdravich, a couple from Indiana, USA, moved to Spain in 2018 and eventually bought a house in Garcia, Catalonia, for €165,000 (approximately $184,000). They made this decision after encountering obstacles in their attempts to move to Italy.

The couple were granted non-productive visas, a type of visa that allows non-EU citizens to live in Spain without working or engaging in any professional activity.

Catalonia has its own public healthcare system, and it is accessible to all residents.

“John had back surgery, we didn't have to pay a dime,” Regina told CNN in 2024. “You come in and get a prescription, and then you can use it individually.”

Thailand

Thailand is one of the highest-scoring destinations for cost of living, behind only Vietnam and Sri Lanka. The country also scores highly for climate, development and governance.

Jim Dolan, an American, and his wife Som built a house in Som's native Thailand after their home in the US was flooded during a hurricane.

“Our financial situation was so bad that we couldn’t live the life that people thought was the dream,” Jim told CNN in 2024. ““That was around the time I was approaching retirement age. And so we decided to move at that time.”

Jim applied for a marriage visa in Thailand and the couple then bought a piece of land “seen unseen” in Sam Roi Yot, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, for about $50,000.

“It’s very quiet. Very peaceful. Very safe,” Jim said. “I feel safer in Thailand than in any city I’ve ever lived in in the United States.”

Malaysia

Cost of living (94) and development and governance (90) are items in which Malaysia scores highly, but has relatively low scores (45) in the attractiveness ranking.

“Malaysia offers a unique combination of modern infrastructure, cultural diversity and natural beauty. With affordable living costs and the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, it is becoming an increasingly popular destination for retirees seeking a warm tropical climate,” said International Living.

CNN Travel has chosen Penang island as one of our destinations for 2022. We praise it for its diverse cuisine, a rich mix of traditional Malay, Chinese and Indian dishes, as well as the historic architecture in its capital, George Town.

Penang Hill is a UNESCO-recognized Biosphere Reserve, boasting excellent hiking trails and over 200 species of orchids.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nhung-dia-diem-yen-binh-va-tien-nghi-de-sinh-song-sau-khi-ve-huu-post1081472.vnp