The Best Countries for Retirees

Dreaming of a permanent vacation? If you’re entering your golden years and contemplating a new chapter abroad (or know a loved one who is), there’s a myriad of criteria to take into consideration when choosing a foreign country to retire in. For guidance, we looked to the Global Retirement Index (GRI), developed by Natixis Investment Managers and CoreData Research to examine the factors driving retirement security. Their ratings on safety, affordability, and accessibility for American expats make the following seven countries ideal places to enjoy a quieter pace of life.

Portugal

Portugal has become an increasingly popular choice for American retirees due to its warm, sunny climate (comparable to Southern California), excellent health care, and easily obtainable retirement visa — commonly known as the Portugal D7 Visa or the Passive Income Visa. With low levels of violent crime, Portugal consistently ranks among the world’s safest and most peaceful countries, according to the 2025 Global Peace Index. From the golden beaches of the Algarve region to the bustling streets of Lisbon or Porto, there is much to do and see in this stunning European country, which offers the perfect blend of high quality of life, affordability, and natural beauty.

Italy

It’s easy to live la dolce vita (“the sweet life”) in Italy as a retiree. One of the most-loved destinations in Europe for Americans, the nation offers a diverse landscape ranging from the colorful fishing villages of the Italian Riviera to the rolling vineyards of Tuscany. Italy also has a lower crime rate than the United States, according to the 2025 Global Peace Index, and the mild climate, vibrant culture and nightlife, and high-quality health care offered to residents make retiring here very appealing. Retirees can also benefit from a special 7% flat tax regime on their foreign-sourced income and are eligible for a retirement visa, called the Elective Residency Visa, which allows non-EU citizens to reside in Italy without working if they can prove sufficient passive income. 

Greece

With hundreds of islands to choose from, retirees in Greece can live steps away from ancient ruins, dramatic cliffs, sandy coves, or hillsides dotted with olive trees. Greece’s Mediterranean climate consists of the occasional cool sea breeze combined with sunny days that rarely see sweltering temperatures. The country is currently under a Level 1 travel advisory administered by the U.S. Department of State (the lowest level), meaning it has a relatively low crime rate. The country also offers several incentives for retirees, such as a special tax program that can lead to lower taxes for foreign pensioners and a Golden Visa program, which grants a five-year residency permit in exchange for a real estate investment. 

Malaysia

With high-quality health care at a low cost, modern infrastructure, and impressive safety scores, it’s easy to see why more and more Americans are flocking to this Southeast Asian country to retire. Malaysia was named the safest country to visit in Asia in 2024, and retirees have figured out they can get a lot of bang for their buck here. Housing, food, and transportation are all affordable, plus English is widely spoken in major cities. Retirees must meet specific age and financial requirements to qualify for a retirement visa like Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H), but for many, the effort is worth it. 

Malta

With its strong expat community and high safety rankings, the European island nation of Malta should be on your radar if you’re considering retirement abroad. Malta was ranked one of the top 20 countries in the world to retire in 2025, according to the GRI, beating Canada and the United States when it comes to life expectancy, affordable health care, and material well-being. Located between Sicily and the North African coast, the country has a pleasant Mediterranean climate and English as its official language, eliminating language barriers for expats. Malta also has a beneficial tax system for retirees: The Global Residence Programme offers a 15% flat tax on income remitted to Malta from abroad.

Costa Rica

Known for its peaceful culture, lush rainforest landscape, and sustainable initiatives, Costa Rica is ideal for those seeking a little more adventure in their golden years. A popular retirement haven for Americans due to high-quality health care offered at a low cost, this Central American nation is devoted to the pura vida (“pure life”) mantra, focused on appreciating life’s simple pleasures and prioritizing time spent in nature. The Costa Rica retirement visa, called the Pensionado Visa, allows retirees earning at least $1,000 per month to obtain temporary residency. 

Panama

The Central American nation of Panama also offers a retirement visa called a Pensionado Visa that comes with valuable perks. These include significant discounts on a wide variety of goods and services, such as airfare, bus tickets, train tickets, hotel stays, utility bills, medical and health care bills, and prescriptions. As another top-ranking nation in the GRI when it comes to safety scores, Panama is a politically stable country that uses the U.S. dollar as its currency. The major metropolis of Panama City also boasts impressively modern infrastructure, including the only metro system in Central America.