Best Countries to Retire in 2025

Nowadays, it’s pretty popular for people to retire abroad. According to PensionBee 66% indicated that their desire to retire abroad has led them to "save or plan to save more for their pension pot."

Retirees may choose to relocate for various reasons, such as opting for a country with more favorable tax benefits, seeking new travel opportunities, or simply desiring a change of scenery. You can enjoy retiring and traveling, getting the best of your golden years. There are places from megapolises or mountain areas to small towns. So, what is the best country to retire in? Let’s find out.

What are the best places for retirement?

Many countries offer great conditions and benefits for retirement, so it may be exciting and convenient for many people to consider retiring abroad. Retirees consider healthcare accessibility and affordability, peace and safety, pastimes, and activities as the main factors when choosing a place to retire. We have gathered some of the best places for retirement, so you can check it out and learn more about the best countries to retire.

Best countries to retire

What are the best options to retire overseas? There are many different countries to go to enjoy your retirement, so we prepared a list of the best countries to retire.

Portugal

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An expat retirement guide about Portugal is highly demanded. This amazing country is very popular among retirees. Portugal is a lovely country for people to retire for many reasons:

• The Mediterranean mild climate,
• Plenty of activities,
• Many walking roads,
• Friendly community,
• Affordable living.

It’s amazing to move to Portugal, as this country is wonderful. There are many things retirees can see and do. Lots of breathtaking landscapes, historic places, architectural sites, walkable cities, and the Atlantic Ocean coastlines.

There are many exacts in Portugal, and you can consider Porto, Lisbon, or Algarve as the most popular choices to move to. The cost of living in these cities is a little bit higher than average in Portugal, however, it’s still pretty affordable. A couple needs around $3,000-4,000 a month for a comfortable life. Also, you need to think about accommodation options, whether you want to rent or buy a house/apartment. Utilities cost around $90-160, and up to $300-500 for groceries and toiletries.

Healthcare is affordable and accessible, private insurance for two costs $600 per month, and it’s pretty reliable. Both public and private healthcare are great and trustworthy, however, a private system allows you to get individual care. A private doctor’s appointment costs $17.50 and private insurance covers $80 of your expenses. Connection in Portugal is also pretty cheap, you can get the best eSIM for Portugal for $1,55/GB.

Mexico

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Fabulous Mexico is another great option for people to move to in their golden years. Hot weather, excellent tourism, numerous wonderful beaches, many safe cities, affordable prices, and proximity to the USA, it’s all about Mexico.

This country is vibrant and expat-friendly. You can be sure there are many expat communities throughout the country. You can go to Riviera Maya, San Miguel de Allende, or enjoy amazing Cozumel. While people sometimes worry about safety in Mexico, we need to clarify that there are some unsafe regions in Mexico that are not really appropriate for tourism, however, it appears in every country, and there are still plenty of absolutely safe and peaceful cities. Most of the popular destinations are known for police presence and low crime rates.

Read also: Top places to visit in Mexico

The cost of living is also pretty affordable for most retirees. For example, a one-bedroom apartment in Riviera Maya costs around $500 a month, even though it’s a popular tourist place in Mexico known for its white beaches. There are a variety of accommodation options, whether you prefer a luxury suite or just a common apartment. Healthcare is also pretty cheap, and you can be sure it’s reliable. Doctors are known for their great approach to any patient, and insurance only costs $60-100 a month.

As for mobile connection you can enjoy the best travel eSIM for Mexico for just $1,57 per GB.

Costa Rica

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This vibe of laid-back living, exploring the country, peaceful resting, and exciting adventures is always the best in Costa Rica. For those who appreciate ecotourism and like nature, fascinating landscapes, crystal-clear water, and biodiversity, it’s a real heaven on earth. Its unique «pura vida» lifestyle is perfect for people who value a slow, peaceful, and stress-free lifestyle. People there appreciate nature and live in harmony with their environment.

Many benefits make people move to Costa Rica. While being an expat, you can like some certain things to retire in Costa Rica:

• Affordability,
• High-quality healthcare,
• Different climate zones,
• Friendly community,
• Simple residency process.

Housing options cost $500-900, depending on the region and your preferences. Healthcare is affordable and high-quality. You can get private insurance for $50-250, while a private doctor’s appointment costs around $50. Also, it’s pretty simple to get a temporary visa for retirees in Costa Rica. The «Pensioner Visa (Pensionado)» is convenient for retirees with $1000+ monthly income, and you can qualify for a permanent residency after 3 years of legal residency.

You can get the unlimited eSIM data plan for $39 per 30 days, so you won’t need to overspend.

Top expat countries to retire to

Some countries are more popular among expats, and there are whole expat communities abroad in many regions. Let’s check out the best expat countries to retire, and learn more about top places in this year.

Spain

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Spain is one of the most popular tourist countries in the world. Lots of people come to Spain to enjoy its rich cultural heritage, significant historic sites, warm climate, and great quality of life. There are many tourist destinations, buzzing cities, peaceful towns, coastal resorts, and more. Expats usually move to the most popular cities in Spain, Madrid, and Barcelona. These cities are the cultural and economic centers of the country, even though the costs of living are higher in both Barcelona and Madrid.

The cost of living in Madrid is higher than in most cities in Spain. You may need around $2000-3000 per month for a comfortable life, however, it ranges based on your preferences and expectations. A studio rent costs around $900, but it ranges from $400 to $1000 based on the region. Also, you need to save around $110 for utilities, and $200-250 for private health insurance. Medication is pretty cheap, and basic dental care is covered by insurance. Mobile connection and internet is also affordable, you can get a travel eSIM for Spain for $1,45/GB.

Thailand

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Thailand is perfect for those who seek affordable retirement destinations, luxury life at a reasonable price, great culture, amazing and delicious cuisine, and a variety of activities and attractions. Thai culture and aesthetics are popular worldwide, and Thai food is considered to be one of the best in Asia.

Thailand living is known for its affordability and cheap prices. You can rent a modern luxury apartment in the center of Bangkok just for $600 a month. It can be even less in other cities, where you can rent a large apartment for $400-500 a month. $15 is pretty enough for food in Bangkok per day, and you can expect around $100 for transportation per month. Healthcare is amazing and cheap. It usually costs up to 30% of what you would usually pay in the USA, and insurance costs around $100.

With the Thailand Retirement Visa, the residency process is simple and convenient for retirees who are eligible for getting such a visa. It allows you to explore the country and spend your golden years stress-free in this amazing Asia paradise. Make sure to visit some of the most popular places in Thailand to learn more about its culture, nature, and architecture.

Italy

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Italian vibes are popular worldwide. This country is full of opportunities for tourism, slow and peaceful living, walking tours, and an immaculate friendly community. Italy is renowned for its laid-back lifestyle and safety among retirees. As a tourist destination, the country is just perfect for anyone, as you can find endless attractions and activities there to spend your time with joy exploring many ancient cities. Also, Italy is surrounded by five seas, so you can enjoy its amazing coastline along almost the whole country.

The cost of living is pretty affordable, and you need around $2500-3000 a month for a comfortable life. Rent costs about $600-850 per month, depending on the city and location of the apartment. Healthcare is accessible, and you can get private health insurance for $120-350 per month. A residency process is quite ordinary and allows retirees to move to Italy legally if they comply with the requirements.

Those who live in Italy appreciate its laid-back living, cultural heritage, and plenty of travel destinations. Also, it’s quite popular in Italy to live in small towns, so if you seek peace, you may love to move to some towns rather than big cities. People there enjoy pastimes, spend time with family and friends, and value traditions. Moreover, today you can enjoy a stable connection no matter where you go, all due to the best virtual SIM for Italy.

Read also: Prepaid SIM Card for Italy: Where and How to Buy it for Internet Connection

Best country to retire with family

If you plan to retire with your family, there are some options popular for their affordable living and variety of activities for families. So, here are the best foreign countries to retire with family.

Panama

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Panama is known as one of the options for retirees with families. It’s wealthy, modern, safe, with a great mild climate, and breathtaking nature. Cities are clean and well-maintained, so you may not expect it, but Panama City is full of fashionable skyscrapers, and excellent roads, it’s a green city, and absolutely affordable.

Living in Panama is somehow even cheaper, as you need about $2400 for a comfortable living and up to $3000 for a luxury lifestyle. You can rent a modern, swanky apartment for $1000 a month, pay around $60 for car insurance, and around $50-120 for health insurance. You can apply for a visa (the Pensionado Visa) if your income is equal to or more than $1000 monthly. Retirees get many benefits in Panama, such as a 25% discount on medications, 25% off their power bill, discounts on theater and movie tickets, discounts at restaurants, and more.

Life in Panama is quite peaceful and very safe. It truly might be the best country to retire in the world. You can enjoy trips to beaches or mountains, warm and sunny weather without hurricanes, proximity to the USA, and modern life.

New Zealand

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This country is one of the best countries for expats to retire and ranks among the top happiest countries in the world. There are many attractions, and retirees also value accessible and reliable public healthcare. New Zealand is also popular among retirees for:

• Fascinating nature,
• Warm climate,
• Proximity to Australia,
• High-quality healthcare,
• Peaceful living,
• Safety.

The cost of living in New Zealand is pretty high, so you may need up to $5,000 a month for a comfortable life in such areas as Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch. A rent costs up to $1500-2000 per month in the same areas for a one-bedroom apartment. A visa process can be quite complicated if you don’t comply with certain requirements.

The retirement visa in New Zealand requires an investment in the country. However, once you can settle down, you will definitely love it there and enjoy every day in this amazing country. There are many places you will definitely want to visit and share pictures from there with your friends. Moreover, today you can enjoy great mobile internet there with the top eSIM for New Zealand.

Factors to consider before retiring abroad

Before retiring abroad and moving somewhere, you need to check the top countries to retire in and consider some factors to choose the most appropriate option. There are some points you need to pay attention to before choosing a country to retire in:

• Cost of living,
• Healthcare access,
• Visa and residency options,
• Culture and language,
• Expat community,
• Climate and lifestyle.

These are the most important factors to consider while choosing the best places to retire, so make sure to check out all the significant points for you and learn more about them.

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Retirement abroad: best places

As you can see, there are plenty of options for a great retirement abroad. Choosing to retire abroad is a significant decision that can lead to new adventures and a fulfilling lifestyle. Whether you're drawn to the vibrant culture of Spain, the serene beaches of Costa Rica, or the rich history of Portugal, the possibilities are endless.

As you plan for retirement, consider what matters most to you – be it climate, cost of living, or cultural experiences – and explore the options that best suit your desires for this exciting new chapter in life.

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