Americans looking to retire and stretch their dollar are turning to overseas real estate to spend their golden years.
Live and Invest Overseas has released its latest list of the best places to retire abroad, and there are some familiar stalwarts combined with unexpected new destinations.
“This year’s retirement index is one of the most critical ones yet,” says Kathleen Peddicord, founding publisher of Live and Invest Overseas. Live and Invest Overseas is a resource offering advice for people who want to live, retire, and invest abroad, and it has a newsletter with more than 500,000 subscribers.
“Recent polls show about a third of Americans—around 117 million people—would like to go and settle in another country,” she says. “A concept that once felt ‘out there,’ limited to budget travelers or serious adventurers, is now squarely in the mainstream.”
To determine rank, the index took into account 14 factors of “key relocation criteria,” including cost of living, climate, health care quality and costs, entertainment and recreation, English-speaking population, expat community, infrastructure and access to the U.S., environmental factors and crime, real estate restrictions, and residency and taxes.
Global indices such as the Legatum Prosperity Index and Global Peace Index, data from organizations such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Legatum Institute, as well as the Live and Invest Overseas staff’s real-world experiences went into determining the list.
“Our team is made up of real-life expats, so we have first-hand experience with this,” says Peddicord.
Lower cost of living
The average American aged 65 and up spends $5,007 a month to live, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
All of the retiree havens on this list have a lower monthly cost of living that is between 34% and 71% cheaper than in the United States.
The Live and Invest Overseas team also determined whether the foreign locale could give the American retiree a comparable quality of life to that in the U.S.
Although U.S. home prices are softening, with the national median list price down 0.6% year over year to $399,950, they are still typically more expensive than comparable homes overseas.
“People are realizing that, in many places around the world, it’s possible to buy prime coastal and city properties for much less than comparable homes would cost in the United States,” says Peddicord.
The quality of health care
Americans may be surprised to learn that health care in the U.S. ranks rather low on the Legatum Prosperity Index, at No. 69 out of 167 countries. Given the ever-rising costs of health care, it may make sense to relocate to a country with high-quality, but more affordable, health care.
In fact, health care costs have become so burdensome in the U.S. that even high net worth individuals are relocating abroad due to escalating expenses.
The U.S. tops the list as the world’s most expensive private health care market, with average annual international private medical insurance premiums of about $18,000 per person, according to a recent report by Henley & Partners.
The demand for overseas relocation planning among affluent families has surged by 43% in 2025 compared to the previous year, with health care costs playing a crucial role in migration decisions.
“In many of the havens we’ve pinpointed overseas, you can enjoy the advantages of health care akin to U.S. standards, such as JCI-accredited facilities and English-speaking professionals trained in the U.S. and Canada, but without the exorbitant costs,” Peddicord tells Realtor.com®.
Safety abroad
It also stands to reason that retirees will be concerned about safety, but perhaps they might be surprised to learn that the U.S. doesn’t rank high in that category either. It is No. 128 out of 163 countries in the Global Peace Index, far below Canada’s No. 14 rank.
With 11 out of 12 havens ranked higher than the U.S. in personal safety, chances are high that the places on this list are as safe as, or safer than, the U.S., something that might surprise the average American.
“If a person’s only experience of a country is the nightly news, it’s understandable that their view of safety there is likely skewed,” Peddicord says.
“If a person’s only experience of a country is the nightly news, it’s understandable that their view of safety there is likely skewed,” Peddicord says.
You’re not in Kansas anymore
And, mostly, do not relocate abroad with the idea that wherever you land will be “America but better.” Each country has its own culture, customs, and language.
“Don’t go seeking a place with better versions of what you’re unhappy about at home—those expectations aren’t likely to be perfectly met,” Aaron Henry, owner of Bangkok-based marketing firm Foundeast.com, previously told Realtor.com.
And keep in mind you can’t plan for everything: There may be unforeseen costs, weather, and infrastructure issues involved with living abroad.
Additionally, if you’re someone who doesn’t adapt well to change, you may not find the financial savings to be worth the move.
“If you are stuck in your ways and not very tolerant of change, expat life will not work out for you,” Cynthia Staton previously told Realtor.com of her retirement in Cuenca, Ecuador.
“If you can’t adjust to a different culture, you might want to stay home,” her husband, Edd, added.
Getting there
Additionally, it isn’t as easy as packing a few bags and hopping on the nearest flight to the expat community of your choice. You will need to consider visa requirements.
There are countries that offer Golden Visas, where you can receive permanent residency or even citizenship through real estate or other types of investments.
“More countries than people realize offer real estate–linked investment migration opportunities,” Thomas Scott, group head of real estate at global citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners, told Realtor.com.
The bonus is that not only will a real estate investment give you a place to live (usually a requirement for a residency visa) but could give you a good investment as well.
Each country on this list will have different minimums, and some—such as Portugal—have ended their real estate-linked golden visas. You may want to consult an immigration attorney.
If you’re adventurous, adaptable, and do proper due diligence, living abroad in your golden years may be the best decision you’ve ever made.
1. Boquete, Panama
Monthly budget: $2,400
This small mountain town is home to only about 25,000 people, a fifth of whom are expats from North America and Europe.
Here, you will get a year-round spring climate, a lush countryside bursting with rainbows, and plenty of restaurants, spas, nightlife, and medical clinics (with English-speaking staff). Bonus: You’re only about 45 minutes from David, the country’s second-largest city, and 50 minutes from the Pacific Ocean.
Peddicord, who splits her time between the U.S., Paris, and Panama City, first began visiting Boquete 26 years ago.
“It was an off-the-beaten track mountain town that few outside of Panama had even heard of,” she tells Realtor.com.
“Back then, retiring in Boquete was a pioneering move. Now, Boquete is possibly the easiest move into expat life you could make.
“The infrastructure is solid, you can get by in English, and there’s a thriving and welcoming expat community. In the past, the one thing in short supply in Boquete was a lack of quality housing. But today, that challenge has been met with impressive new developments springing up. And that’s all in addition to Boquete’s eternal attractions, most notably year-round springlike weather, stunning, lush mountain surrounds, and world-class coffee.”
Keep in mind that, from May to December, Panama has a wet season, with thick downpours that usually hit in the afternoon.
“We knew a couple who moved to Panama,” Cynthia Staton told Realtor.com. “They were happy until the wet season hit, and bugs were coming into their house to keep from drowning.”
Peddicord adds: “If you’re looking for year-round sunshine then, you’re right, Boquete won’t top your list.”
2. Algarve, Portugal
Monthly budget: $3,085
This coastal European country is no stranger to Americans’ fantasies of living abroad.
Last year, Portugal topped expat resource group Expatsi‘s survey of where Americans most hope to move. The little country has become so popular that even Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly snapped up a home there, where Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie also lives.
The Algarve, on the country’s southern tip, is where locals and foreigners both flock in droves for the balmy weather and endless, sandy beaches. English is spoken widely, the health care system is one of the best in the world, and there are 150 miles of spectacular coastline for sunbathers and explorers alike.
“Few places in the world could be called perfect, but Portugal’s Algarve is about as close as it gets,” says the Live and Invest Overseas report.
But keep in mind that in 2024, the country phased out its Golden Visa through real estate investment. However, if you have the capital, you can still get residency through another qualifying investment.
Portugal has become so popular in recent years that it may not be as easy to retire there as in the past, and applying for the country’s Passive Income Earner’s or D7 Visa can be a long process.
3. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Monthly budget: $3,305
A popular spring break destination, this small city squeezed between the ocean and the mountains is also a hot place for retirees.
“Whether it’s sailing, snorkeling, whale watching in the winter months, or simply walking along the beach and getting your own feet salty, Puerto Vallarta is a premier destination for ocean-lovers,” says the report.
This beach town has high-quality health care systems, an international medical clinic with English-speaking doctors, and a large expat community that can balloon to 40,000 to 50,000 in the high season.
The city also ranks as one of the safest cities in Mexico and has a bilingual police unit focused on tourist crime.
4. Gascony, France
Monthly budget: $2,085
Situated near the Pyrenees and stretching up to the Garonne River, Gascony is a place where you’re more likely to see livestock on the roads than traffic jams. It is dotted with picturesque towns, including Fourcès and Lupiac, which are favored by the Live and Invest Overseas staff.
“This part of France can be easily affordable, especially if you live like a local and make use of the local markets, which sell affordable local goods and produce,” says the report.
The area offers excellent health care, breathtaking vistas, and extremely low crime.
You would, however, do best to learn at least conversational French. A driver’s license can be especially taxing to secure, with a rigorous written exam given in French, and utilities can be expensive.
5. Crete, Greece
Monthly budget: $1,830
The biggest island in Greece is Crete, and it’s one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.
With its white-washed buildings, glass-clear waters, pink-sand beaches, and tavernas with delicious Greek food and local wines, Crete can be paradise.
For expats, the report recommends the village of Chania, which has “a labyrinth of homes, museums, boutiques, restaurants, bars, and ancient churches, partly encircled by the ancient city walls.”
With more than 18,000 expats in Crete, you will have no problem making English-speaking friends (most Greeks, too, speak at least some English), and rents can be as little as $500 a month.
But keep in mind that summers can be hot and crowded with tourists, and the winters can be cold and rainy.
Additionally, Greece’s hot, dry summers leaves it vulnerable to heat waves and wildfires. In July, fires swept through Crete, forcing the evacuation of 5,000 tourists.
Additionally, this being an island, you will have to hop on a ferry if you want to travel anywhere, and you may need to travel to mainland Athens or Thessaloniki if you require complex medical care.
6. Tarragona, Spain
Monthly budget: $2,008
Located in Spain’s Catalonia region, Tarragona offers a more laid-back vibe than popular retiree destinations Madrid or Valencia.
“This is authentic Spanish life with the same big-city conveniences, great weather, rich history, beaches, and sunshine, but without the hustle, bustle, high prices, or tourist hoards,” says the report.
Tarragona is very walkable and has plenty of history, with jaw-dropping Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. It has a very low cost of living for Europe, a temperate Mediterranean climate, and high quality medical care.
Summers in Spain can be uncomfortably hot, and you will definitely want to learn some Spanish.
7. Santa Familia, Belize
Monthly budget: $2,035
Located on the mainland in western Belize, Cayo is a land of rivers and rainforest.
Belize’s “rich history dates back thousands of years. Maya relics are embedded throughout the vast natural landscape and are an intrinsic part of what is today a burgeoning bohemian community,” says the report.
Perfect for nature lovers and adventurers, Belize boasts rivers, caves, mountains, jungles, and beaches.
The report recommends the village of Santa Familia and the small expat community of Carmelita Gardens. With English as the official language here, there is no need to worry about communicating.
Although Belize has a higher crime rate than the rest of the havens on the list, the report points out that crime is usually relegated to Belize City.
8. Hua Hin, Thailand
Monthly: $1,442
Known as a summer retreat for Thailand’s elite (Prince Nares built a castle there in 1911), the area boasts not only spectacular beaches but also plenty of hospitals, golf courses, condos, restaurants, and hotels.
The area is home to around 64,000 people, about 5,000 of them expats, says the report. English is widely spoken, and unlike much of Thailand, this area doesn’t experience heavy rains.
“What expats particularly enjoy about Hua Hin is its cleanliness, the widespread use of English, the lack of corruption, and the low-cost, high-standard of living,” says the report.
Keep in mind that foreigners can’t own land outright in Thailand, but they can own a condo or portable house. While this might be bad news for foreign investors, it helps keep real estate prices in check.
9. Kotor, Montenegro
Monthly budget: $2,224
This tiny country in Central Europe offers views of the Adriatic Sea and 57 miles of coastline dotted with towering mountains and stunning fjords.
Here, you can find medieval villages as well as modern homes and luxuries. There are also private residential developments such as Porto Montenegro and Lustica Bay, offering superyacht marinas and upscale living for those who can afford it. But if you can’t, you still get to live within all the luxury for a low cost of living.
Health care is free to residents, but many expats have a private health plan. Those who love culture will find it here, with visiting operas and a local symphony orchestra. According to the report, there is virtually no crime, and English is widely spoken.
Keep in mind that Montenegro is part of the Balkans, not Europe, which may affect your travel plans.
10. Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
Monthly budget: $2,225
This stunning Caribbean island boasts 800 miles of coastline, pristine beaches, a multicultural vibe, and retirement-friendly visa options.
“New arrivals here can enjoy beautiful beaches, join a welcoming cosmopolitan community, and live an affordable, active lifestyle, with the added benefits of ease of access from the States and Canada, and user-friendly residency options,” says the report.
While it remains one of the more affordable Caribbean islands, its increasing popularity means that prices are going up.
Las Terrenas has a public hospital and several private clinics. It is home to about 25,000 people, of which around 6,000 are expats from Canada, the U.S., France, Italy, Germany, the U.K., and beyond.
While crime is a bit higher here than in the other havens on the list, expats report feeling safe in Las Terrenas.
