Best Countries for Americans to Retire (2025 Guide for U.S. Citizens)

• How are the best countries for Americans to retire in measured?
• 10 Best Countries for Americans to Retire
• Retirement and passive-income visas: what are they and how do they work?
• What financial considerations should American retirees look out for?
• Frequently Asked Questions

How are the best countries for Americans to retire in measured?

We lean on the 2025 Global Retirement Report, which looks at 44 countries with retirement or passive-income residence options. It scores each place using 20 indicators grouped into six common-sense buckets so you’re not guessing what “best” really means:

• Procedure: How straightforward is the paperwork? (application steps, timing, visa duration/renewals, bringing family)
• Citizenship and mobility: Is there a path to long-term residency or citizenship and what’s overall travel freedom like?
• Economics: Day-to-day value and stability (think purchasing power, inflation context, and economic resilience).
• Taxes: How retiree-friendly is the system? (territorial vs worldwide taxation, pension treatment, double-tax considerations and so forth)
• Quality of Life: The feel of daily living including climate, environment, services, culture, and general livability.
• Safety and integration: Personal safety plus how easy it is to fit in—social integration and expat friendliness.

We also explore features that retirees are most likely to look such as monthly expense bands (rent, utilities, groceries), healthcare access (public vs private), expat health insurance options, residency requirements (income/assets and time-in-country), climate preferences, English-friendliness, and basic property/banking considerations.

10 Best Countries for Americans to Retire

Finding the best country for Americans to retire means balancing affordability, healthcare access, lifestyle perks, and ease of integration. Using the GIU’s annual global retirement index as our benchmark, we’ve compiled a list of destinations that consistently rank high in quality of life, safety, and expat-friendliness.

These best foreign countries for Americans to retire offer diverse climates and cultures — from sun-soaked European coastlines to affordable tropical havens. Most provide retirement-specific visas, favorable tax laws, and strong expat communities to make settling in easier.

At-a-glance comparison: Best retirement countries for Americans

1. Portugal

• Why retire here? Mediterranean climate feel, safe cities, friendly expat hubs, great food and gorgeous coastlines.
• Budget for a couple: $1,800 to $2,600/month outside Lisbon and Porto (coastal hotspots higher).
• Visa path: D7 (Passive Income) or Digital Nomad. These have long-term residency with a citizenship pathway.
• Healthcare access: Strong public SNS. Affordable private expat health insurance top-ups widely available.
• Language and integration: English workable in major hubs. Welcoming communities across the Algarve and Lisbon Coast.
• Property and rent: Varies sharply by town and proximity to the sea. Explore suburban rail towns for value
• Social Security stretch: Good in smaller cities or towns. Capitals and prime coastal areas cost more.

Portugal keeps leading lists of the best places to retire in the world for a reason. Everyday life is easy with walkable neighborhoods, reliable transit, ocean air, and plenty of sunshine. According to the Global Retirement Report, Portugal ranks #1 overall, a rank driven by its balance of quality of life, safety, accessible procedures, and integration. For many Americans, the clincher is how livable mid-sized cities and coastal towns feel compared with other Western European countries.

Portugal healthcare for foreigners is excellent, with many retirees opting for a low-cost private plan even when they can access the public system. Day-to-day costs remain manageable outside prime postcodes: cafés, markets, public transport, and utilities all contribute to an easy rhythm. The Portugal D7 Visa is a long-standing favorite for retirees with passive income, and the Portugal Digital Nomad route helps semi-retired remote earners. Both can be stepping stones to permanent residence and, with time, citizenship, plus visa-free movement across the Schengen Area.

2. Mauritius

• Why retire here? Year-round warmth, beach living, orderly administration and English is usable in services.
• Budget for a couple: $2,100 to $2,900+ per month (coastal resort areas pricier than inland towns).
• Visa path: Residence Permit for Retired Non-Citizens (clear income requirement and options for family reunification)
• Healthcare access: Solid private clinics in urban/coastal belts. Most retirees keep private expat health insurance.
• Language and integration: English/French/Creole mix. The compact size of the island makes settling simple.
• Property and rent: Coastal villas and apartments command a premium while inland offers better value for money.
• Social Security stretch: Moderate (varies by location and lifestyle).

Mauritius is a calm, sun-drenched option if you want island life without opaque rules. Services are efficient, English is workable for administration, and the retiree permit lays out the income requirement plainly. Healthcare is concentrated where most retirees live, which is around the north and west coasts and the central plateau, with private insurance the norm for faster medical care access. Daily life is outdoorsy with lots of beach walks, sailing, hiking in Black River Gorges, and a lively restaurant scene that blends Indian, Creole, Chinese, and European food influences.

3. Spain

• Why retire here? Mediterranean lifestyle, world-class healthcare, vibrant cities and coastal towns.
• Budget for a couple: $2,000 to $2,800 per month (Valencia, Alicante and Andalusia often lower than capitals).
• Visa path: Spain Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) for passive income; Digital Nomad Visa for remote earners.
• Healthcare access: Top-tier public system and private healthcare policies widely available.
• Language ad integration: English workable in major hubs but learning Spanish unlocks full value of staying in this country.
• Property and rent: Wide range with strong value in second-tier cities (such as Málaga, Valladolid, and La Coruña) and off-season rentals.
• Social Security stretch: Good outside prime tourist corridors

Spain suits retirees who want to visit museums in the morning and a seaside paseo at sunset. The Non-Lucrative Visa remains the classic path for pension-based lifestyles, while the Spain Digital Nomad option helps semi-retired professionals who still want to work for a few more years. The country’s coastal second-tier cities are the sweet spot for those seeking the best EU countries to retire in on a budget with robust healthcare, excellent transit, and vibrant markets, without the capital-city price tag.

4. Uruguay

• Why retire here: Stable institutions, safety, and easy beach-to-city living.
• Budget for a couple: $2,000 to $2,700 per month (neighborhood pricing varies and seaside locales command more).
• Visa path: Uruguay Independent Means Visa offers retiree-type residency with a transparent process and permanence pathway.
• Healthcare access: Solid public system and mutualista (nonprofit, membership-based private healthcare) plans are popular for faster medical care.
• Language and integration: Spanish countrywide with English-speaking expat pockets in specifically Montevideo and coastal towns.
• Property and rent: Transparent purchase and rental markets with seafront apartments being perennial favorites.
• Social Security stretch: Good with neighborhood-level selection.

Uruguay delivers steady, rules-based living and is considered to be the safest South American country. Montevideo’s rambla (waterfront promenade), leafy neighborhoods, and café culture give retirees an understated European feel in South America. Paperwork is logical, healthcare is accessible, and smaller beach towns (Piriápolis and parts of Maldonado) offer a slower pace without isolation. If you want predictability and four distinct seasons, this is a strong pick among the best expat retirement countries in the Americas.

5. Austria

• Why retire here? Pristine cities, efficient transit, cultural depth, and superb services.
• Budget for a couple: €3,000+ per month in higher-cost areas (Vienna, Salzburg and lake districts).
• Visa path: Residence permit for financially independent persons.
• Healthcare access: Excellent universal care with private health insurance top-ups being common for speed and more choice.
• Language and integration: German primarily with high English proficiency in urban and medical settings.
• Property and rent: Regulated rental market and ownership rules vary by province.
• Social Security stretch: Limited, country is best for those with a higher, more predictable retirement income.

Austria is the definition of high comfort: immaculate transit, alpine scenery, and world-class culture. It’s not a budget destination, but if your retirement finances allow, the everyday experience is hard to fault. You get clean streets, punctual services, outstanding hospitals, and summer lakes in your front yard. Choose districts beyond Vienna’s 1st district for better value or base yourself in a secondary city (such as Graz, Salzburg, Linz, Innsbruck, and Bregenz) with superb railway links.

6. Italy

• Why retire here? Heritage cities, food culture, varied climates, and planning levers for retirees
• Budget for a couple: €2,500 to €3,200 per month in many mid-sized cities (capitals and islands tend to be higher).
• Visa path: Elective Residency Visa (passive income) and Digital Nomad Visa for eligible earners.
• Healthcare access: Universal public healthcare and extensive private clinics in cities and university towns.
• Taxes and notes: Special 7% flat-tax option on foreign pensions in select smaller municipalities (conditions apply).
• Language and integration: Italian is helpful beyond tourist centers and local communities are welcoming.
• Property and rent: Excellent value in smaller cities and many retirees go on the hunt for cheaper, fixer-upper properties.
• Social Security stretch: Moderate but look inland or in secondary cities (like Bologna, Verona, and Genoa).

Italy rewards slow living with morning markets, afternoon espresso and evening passeggiata. For retirees with passive income, the Italy Elective Residency Visa is the standard route while planners can explore the 7% pension regime in select towns, which makes smaller-city Italy surprisingly attainable. University hubs (Bologna, Padua) blend world-class healthcare with culture and manageable rents.

7. Slovenia

• Why retire here? Green, clean and safe with superb access to the Alps and Adriatic mountains.
• Budget for a couple: $1,900 to $2,600 per month (Ljubljana tends to be higher and regional towns lower).
• Visa path: Residence on stable income. Developing long-stay options in progress for remote earners.
• Healthcare access: Universal public healthcare and supplemental private health insurance is popular.
• Language and integration: Slovenian is the norm/primary language spoken with English being workable in cities and around tourism areas.
• Property and rent: Smaller but tidy market with strong value beyond the main tourist belt.
• Social Security stretch: Good with careful city selection.

If you want nature without the crowds, Slovenia is a delight. Lake Bled postcards, wine hills, and forested valleys all within a compact footprint. Ljubljana, the capital, is manageable and bike-friendly with trains linking you to Italy, Austria, and Croatia in a matter of hours. Healthcare is reliable, paperwork is orderly, and everyday costs feel fair by EU standards, especially outside the capital.

8. Malta

• Why retire here? English-speaking EU island, compact convenience and strong healthcare
• Budget for a couple: $2,500 to $3,000 per month (Gozo and non-seafront neighborhoods offer better value for money).
• Visa path: Malta Retirement Programme (MRP); remittance-basis at 15% with a minimum annual tax (conditions apply)
• Healthcare access: Reputable public system with accessible private clinics and hospitals.
• Language and integration: English is the official language and expat communities tend to form quickly on this small island.
• Property and rent: Apartments dominate the real estate landscape. Seafront properties carry a premium but offer short hops to healthcare and shops.
• Social Security stretch: Moderate. Opt for Gozo and outer neighborhoods to save money.

Malta is for retirees who want EU comforts without a sprawling metropolis: short distances, lively harbors, and a social scene that’s easy to plug into. Healthcare access is strong for the island’s size, and flights to Italy and Greece make weekend escapes simple and quick. The MRP offers a clear structure for foreign-income retirees, you just need to confirm the remittance-basis details with a tax adviser beforehand.

9. Latvia

• Why retire here? EU entry point with lower costs, forests, Baltic beaches and historic city cores.
• Budget for a couple: €1,700 to €2,400+ per month depending on rent, insulation/heating costs, and location.
• Visa path: No dedicated “retirement visa,” but multi-year residence permits available with renewals.
• Healthcare access: Public system for residents alongside affordable private clinics in Riga and regional centers.
• Language and integration: Latvian is primary language but English is workable in urban and tourist areas.
• Property and rent: Good value beyond top tourist areas but consider energy efficiency in older housing (which tends to be cheaper).
• Social Security stretch: Good if you pair it with careful neighborhood selection.

Latvia is the quiet EU value pick with leafy parks, Art Nouveau façades, and long, golden Baltic sunsets. It’s a distinct four-season climate, so look closely at apartment insulation and heating costs. Once you become a resident, you can access public medical care with many retirees opting for a private clinic plan for convenience. The payoff is a calmer rhythm in the country’s capital of Riga that still feels manageable and creative.

10. Chile

Malta’s sunny shores, rich culture, and English-speaking environment make it one of the best countries in Europe for American retirees.

This Mediterranean island nation offers affordable housing compared to other Western countries, along with excellent healthcare in both the public system and private sector. Its remittance-based tax structures and modern facilities makes retiring in Malta an easy choice.

• Costs: $2,500 to $3,000/month; prices drop in smaller towns outside tourist hubs.
• Healthcare: Excellent care in public hospitals and private health insurance from €100 to €200/month.
• Visa: Malta Retirement Program offers tax advantages for foreign income not remitted to Malta.
• Who it suits: Retirees wanting English-speaking doctors, quality of life, and easy access to other countries.

Retirement and passive-income visas: what are they and how do they work?

Most popular retiree routes fall into two simple categories, namely retirement or pension visas and passive-income (non-work) visas. Below is an overview with examples from our top 10 list:

A) Retirement/Pension Visas

• Who they’re for: Retirees with predictable pension/social-security-style income.
• What you show: Proof of stable pension income (and often health insurance, clean record, and accommodation).
• What you get: Temporary residence (often 1 to 2 years) with renewals. Many countries allow family reunification. Some lead to permanent residence/citizenship.
• Examples from our list:
  • Mauritius: Residence Permit for Retired Non-Citizens (clear monthly income requirement, compact and English-usable administration).
  • Chile: Retired / “Rentista” Temporary Residence (apply from abroad; income must cover needs; spouse can be included).
  • Uruguay: Residency via independent means/retiree route (transparent pathway and strong institutions).

B) Passive-Income / Non-Lucrative Visas (prove you can live without local employment)

• Who they’re for: Retirees or semi-retired folks with dividends, rentals, annuities, or savings.
• What you show: Bank statements, passive-income proof, private health insurance, background checks, and lodging.
• What you get: Residence without the right to work locally (remote income may be allowed depending on the visa); renewals typically require you to maintain income and spend some time in-country.
• Examples from our list:
  • Portugal: D7 (Passive Income); also a Digital Nomad Visa for remote-work income.
  • Spain: Non-Lucrative Visa (classic non-work residence) and Digital Nomad Visa for remote earners.
  • Italy: Elective Residency Visa (passive income + accommodation + insurance).
  • Austria: Residence Permit for financially independent persons (income/assets, housing, comprehensive insurance).
  • Slovenia: Residence based on stable income; long-stay options for remote earners are evolving.
  • Malta: Malta Retirement Programme (MRP) (remittance-basis at a fixed rate with a minimum tax; conditions apply).
  • Latvia: Residence permits (no single “retirement visa,” but multi-year permits with renewals are possible).

Core documents you’ll almost always need:

• Passport photos and completed consular forms and fees.
• Proof of income (pension/SSA/annuity statements, investment income).
• Bank statements (3 to 12 months, depending on the country requesting it).
• Private/expat health insurance (with coverage limits meeting local rules).
• Police clearance (FBI/State) and apostilles/translations as required.
• Proof of accommodation (lease, deed, or invitation).

What financial considerations should American retirees look out for?

Retiring overseas can lower day-to-day costs but taxes and recurring expenses still require some planning.

1) Know how you’ll be taxed

• U.S. filing never stops: U.S. citizens must file annually and may owe U.S. tax on worldwide income (as the United States relies on a citizenship-based taxation system). Social Security may be taxable depending on your total income.
• Territorial vs. worldwide systems: Some countries (for example, Mauritius, sometimes Malta on a remittance basis) primarily tax local/remitted income. Others countries (Portugal, Spain, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Latvia, Chile, Uruguay) generally tax worldwide income once you’re tax resident.
• Treaties and credits: Leverage tax treaties and the IRS Foreign Tax Credit to avoid double taxation on the same income stream.
• Bank reporting: If your combined foreign accounts exceed U.S. thresholds, FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Reporting) or FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance) may apply.

2) Map your income streams

• Social Security and pensions: Confirm payment eligibility and any local taxation. Many retirees pair a U.S. bank (for deposits) with a local account (for daily spending).
• RMDs and dividends: Plan Required Minimum Distributions (minimum amount that IRA and retirement plan owners must withdraw annually) and portfolio withdrawals so they don’t push you into higher rate bands locally.
• Rental/other income. If you’ll keep U.S. property or start part-time consulting, model the impact on local residency rules and tax status.

3) Build a destination-specific budget

• Monthly expenses: housing (rent, HOA fees, etc.), utilities (ask about winter heating in countries like Latvia, Austria and Slovenia), groceries, transport, mobile/internet and leisure activities.
• Healthcare: even with public access (in, for example, Portugal, Spain, Austria and Malta), most retirees keep private/expat insurance for faster service, priced annually.
• Annual/one-offs: residence permit fees, renewals, translations/apostilles, private school (if relocating with dependents), flights back to the U.S., gifts and holidays.
• Emergency buffer: keep 6 to 12 months of living costs in a liquid account (both in a U.S. and international bank account).

4) Currency and banking hygiene

• Exchange risk: Keep part of your cash flow in USD and part in local currency (for example, in Euro) to make moving money easier.
• Low-fee transfers: Use multi-currency accounts or low-fee providers (like Revolut) and avoid making repeated high-margin card withdrawals.
• Proof of funds: Keep PDFs of statements and pension letters as consulates and banks often ask for them.

5) Purchase vs. rent

• Try before you buy: Think about renting for 6 to 12 months first in order to make an informed decision about true costs, neighborhoods you feel more comfortable living in long-term and so forth.
• Car ownership: In transit-rich countries, you may be able to skip the car and save thousands annually.