10 of the best places to retire in the world
Last updated 26th July 2024
8 min read
Retiring is something to look forward to. It gives us a chance to relax and enjoy ourselves without the stress or responsibilities of work.
With global travel accessible to lots of us, retiring abroad to live out our golden years is a dream for many people in the UK. But where are the best places to retire in the world?
In this article, we’re going to look at some of the best places for retirement, and how to decide which one is right for you.
How to decide where to retire
Some people will already know exactly where they’d like to retire. It could be a favourite holiday destination, somewhere with a strong emotional connection, or a country that’s important to your heritage.
If you don’t have an exact place in mind, you might have a vague idea of the sort of climate or lifestyle you’re looking for. Or perhaps your priority is being closer to family.
It’s important to visit the countries on your shortlist, and to explore a few different towns and cities. If possible, try to spend a few weeks or months there to get a feel for daily living rather than the tourist lifestyle.
You should also try to visit at different times of the year. If you’ve only ever been to a country during the summer, you might want to experience it in the winter, too.
Here are some other things to consider that might help you to decide where to retire:
- Cost of living
- The tax status(www.gov.uk opens in a new tab)[1] of your pension
- Benefits and support for retirees
- Amenities and infrastructure
- Healthcare services
- The local language
- Visa requirements
- Whether you're eligible to drive
There’s also a lot of financial planning involved in making the right decision for your retirement.
One thing to remember is that wherever you choose doesn’t have to be your permanent home forever. You can always spend a few months or years somewhere and then move on if it doesn’t feel right.
Important to know
If you choose to retire abroad, it may mean your state pension won't increase each year (as it would if you retire in the UK). Whether or not you get yearly increases will depend on which country you move to. Check gov.uk(www.gov.uk opens in a new tab) to see which countries this applies to.
Costs of retiring abroad
If you’re serious about retiring abroad, it’s important to understand how moving to another country will affect your cost of retirement.
Moving abroad can be expensive at the best of times. Travel and shipping your belongings, or buying replacements, are the most obvious costs. You'll also need to think of the long-term financial effects of living in another country.
The cost of living, tax implications and other factors may mean you’ll have to save up more money to be able to afford to retire abroad. It helps to research each location carefully to help you decide where would suit you.
Where should I retire abroad?
We’ve put together some of the best countries to retire to from the UK, including locations in Europe, Central America and further afield. If you’re still not sure where you’d like to spend your retirement, you might find some inspiration below.
1. Portugal
Portugal has been a popular retirement destination for UK expats for some time, and is growing in popularity.
It offers an old-world charm and plenty of beaches to relax on. Plus low living costs, a world-class health care system and low crime rates[2].
The annual income needed for a visa is a minimum of €8,460[3], making it one of the cheaper options for retiring abroad. Plus, the government offers EU-funded Portuguese lessons[4] for migrants.
Another benefit that makes Portugal a great country to retire to from the UK is that it shares the same time zone. So it’s easy to stay in touch with your loved ones back home.
Popular places to retire: Porto, Alentejo, the Algarve and Lisbon.
2. France
France is perfect for easy visits to and from the UK. And it still offers great weather, amazing food and drink, and world-famous culture.
It’s one of the most sophisticated infrastructures in the world[5]. Plus, its high-quality healthcare[6] covers around 70% of medical services, as long as you’ve been living in France for at least three months.
The cost of retiring to France varies depending where you settle, so it’s worth checking out a few different towns and cities. You’ll also have to prove an annual income of at least €16,236[7].
Popular places to retire: Bordeaux, Sarlat-La-Canéda, Montpellier and Pau.
3. Spain
Spain is another popular destination for UK retirees. It offers sunny beaches, a relaxed lifestyle, great food and rich culture.
You can enjoy diverse landscapes without being too far from friends and family back home. And with excellent trains and world-leading road connectivity[8], getting around the country is a breeze.
At €28,800[9], the annual income requirement to qualify for residency in Spain is much higher than that of Portugal. But there are plenty of reasonably-priced properties across the country. There are also lots of expat communities where English is commonly spoken.
Popular places to retire: Costa del Sol, Costa del Almeria, Costa Blanca and Granada.
4. Italy
Italy can be one of the best places to retire abroad. It offers beautiful landscapes, great weather, and some of the best food and drink in the world.
On top of this, the long life expectancy[10] of the locals makes it a very appealing place to live out your later years.
The larger cities like Milan, Rome and Bologna can be expensive to live in. But Italy itself offers a relatively low cost of living, with towns in the south being more affordable[11].
However, the annual income requirements[12] for an Italian visa are quite high at €31,000 for individuals, and €38,000 for married couples.
Popular places to retire: Puglia, Tuscany, Lazio and Sicily.
5. Ireland
If a hot climate isn’t high on your retirement priority list, Ireland might be a good option for you. There’s no language barrier to worry about, and it’s well connected with the UK. This makes it easy to fly or take a ferry to visit your family.
There are plenty of beautiful places to visit throughout Ireland. It boasts world-renowned scenery, historical sites, and some of the most welcoming cities in Europe.
If you were born in the UK, you don’t need a visa[13] to live or work in Ireland. So you can just focus on choosing the right town, city or village for your ideal retirement.
Popular places to retire: Dublin, Galway, Cork and Westport.
6. Costa Rica
The natural beauty and year-round warm weather are just some of the reasons why Costa Rica has become a popular destination for retirees.
It’s also known for its forward-thinking environmental policies. This isn’t surprising, given Costa Rica is known for its stunning rainforests and coastlines. On top of this, English is widely spoken and the healthcare system is fantastic[14].
Costa Rica is also a great option for those looking for a place to retire abroad on a budget. The cost of living is cheap, and you don’t have to pay income tax on your foreign pension[15]. Plus, the annual income requirements[16] are much lower than in Spain and Italy at around $12,000.
Popular places to retire: Guanacaste, Monteverde, Nuevo Arenal and the Central Valley.
7. Canada
If you’re looking for a cooler climate and aren’t worried about being too far from home, Canada could be a great choice for your retirement.
It’s home to world-famous natural wonders like Niagara Falls, Moraine Lake and Ellesmere Island.
Canadians are known for being friendly and, along with French, English is spoken all over the country. Once you have permanent residency, you'll be eligible for government-funded free healthcare[17] after an initial three-month period.
However, there’s no retirement program or visa[18]. So the process can be complex and expensive for those looking to move to Canada from the UK.
Popular places to retire: Calgary, West Vancouver, Niagara Falls and Ottawa.
8. Australia
Australia could be a great choice if you're looking for a mix of quiet and excitement. It offers plenty of natural beauty hotspots, a great standard of healthcare[19] and a relaxed culture.
One of the obvious downsides to moving to Australia from the UK is that it’s on the other side of the globe. Direct flights average around 18 hours. And while there are set retirement visa pathways[20] for people looking to emigrate to Australia, the eligibility criteria are quite narrow.
Popular places to retire: Melbourne, Queensland, Tasmania and New South Wales.
9. Panama
Like its neighbour Costa Rica, Panama has grown in popularity with UK retirees in recent years. With its nature reserves, friendly locals, safe living environment and great healthcare[21], it’s easy to see why.
The Panama Pensionado program[22] offers lots of benefits to retirees. This includes discounts on medical bills, dental exams, eye exams, and prescription medications. It also includes a 50% discount on cinema tickets and sporting events, and a 25% discount on utility bills and airline tickets.
Popular places to retire: Casco Viejo, Santiago, El Cangrejo and El Valle de Anton.
10. Cyprus
Cyprus has 300 to 340 days of sunshine a year[22]. So it could be the perfect place to move to if you’re looking for a relaxing, sunny retirement.
The island has a laid-back lifestyle, low crime rates[23] and lots of beautiful nature to explore.
The cost of living is reasonable[24], with lots of beautiful European destinations close by. The annual income requirement for a single applicant is around €9,568[25], so it's another low-budget option for retiring abroad.
Popular places to retire: Paphos, Larnaca, Laneia and Nicosia.
Next steps
Our step-by-step retirement planning checklist can help you get everything organised if you're planning to retire abroad.
Resources
[1] gov.uk/tax-uk-income-live-abroad(opens in a new tab)
[2] immigrantinvest.com/blog/pros-and-cons-living-in-portugal-en/(opens in a new tab)
[3] getgoldenvisa.com/portugal-d7-visa(opens in a new tab)
[4] help.unhcr.org/portugal/where-to-seek-help/language-training/(opens in a new tab)
[5] liveandinvestoverseas.com/country-hub/europe/france/(opens in a new tab)
[6] movehub.com/uk/moving-abroad/france/(opens in a new tab)
[7] frenchentree.com/living-in-france/retiring/retiring-to-france-visas-path-to-permanent-residency/(opens in a new tab)
[8] investinspain.org/en/why-spain/infrastructures(opens in a new tab)
[9] iasservices.org.uk/proof-of-income-for-spanish-residency/(opens in a new tab)
[10] worldometers.info/demographics/life-expectancy/(opens in a new tab)
[11] expatriateconsultancy.com/retire-in-italy/#how-much-does-it-cost-to-retire-in-italy(opens in a new tab)
[12] immigration-italy.com/what-you-need-to-retire-in-italy/(opens in a new tab)
[13] gov.uk/guidance/living-in-ireland#visas-and-residency(opens in a new tab)
[14] internationalinsurance.com/health/systems/costa-rica(opens in a new tab)
[15] expatra.com/guides/costa-rica/living-in-costa-rica/(opens in a new tab)
[16] visaguide.world/retirement-visa/costa-rica/(opens in a new tab)
[17] expatra.com/guides/canada/happier-retiring-canada/(opens in a new tab)
[18] expatra.com/guides/canada/happier-retiring-canada/(opens in a new tab)
[19] health.gov.au/about-us/the-australian-health-system(opens in a new tab)
[20] iasservices.org.uk/emigrating-to-australia/(opens in a new tab)
[21] internationalliving.com/countries/panama/live/(opens in a new tab)
[22] embassyofpanama.org/retire-in-panama(opens in a new tab)
[23] cyprus-alliance.com/cyprus/weather(opens in a new tab)
[24] expatra.com/guides/cyprus/living-in-cyprus-the-expats-guide/(opens in a new tab)
[25] gk-lawfirm.com/practice-areas/immigration-law/cyprus-permanent-residency/category-f-visa/(opens in a new tab)
The thoughts and opinions expressed in the page are those of the authors, intended to be informative, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SunLife. See our Terms of Use for more info.