Choosing the Best Countries to Retire

Choosing where to spend your retirement is a major decision. The smart approach is to compare options methodically, then pick a route that fits your visa profile, budget, health needs, and family plans. In this post, we’ll provide a practical guide to countries that are best suited to retire in, and understand the visa pathways you can take, including citizenship by investment and residence by investment. We’ll also discuss where expert advice and support can help.

What is the Global Retirement Index?

The Global Retirement Index (GRI) is a study that examines the factors that drive retirement security and provides a comparison tool for retirement policies across countries. The GRI provides a composite score that combines indicators, such as healthcare, quality of life, material well-being, and financial security. It is a useful starting point or framework for comparing the best expat retirement countries; however, it is not definitive nor the final verdict. 

Retirement Decision Framework

To build your retirement decision framework, create a one-page checklist and score each country from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest score. Add up the scores to determine your top 3 to 5 candidates, according to these factors:

• Cost of living and housing: Consider the costs when renting versus buying, service charges, and home insurance.
• Healthcare quality and accessibility: Consider public versus private healthcare providers, insurer networks, and waiting times.
• Taxation: This involves pensions, investment income, inheritance, and double taxation treaties.
• Immigration pathways: Compare the available routes, including retirement visas, residency by investment, and citizenship by investment.
• Safety and rule of law: Factor in personal security, property rights, and contract enforcement.
• Language and integration: Research about English language prevalence, expat networks, and cultural fit.
• Infrastructure: Access to infrastructure such as airports, public transportation, telecommunication, and delivery of public services.
• Climate and environment: Decide if the climate, air quality, natural-hazard risks, and insurance costs.
• Currency and banking stability: Consider currency and foreign exchange volatility, and accessibility of banking services, such as opening accounts and transferring money.

Cost of Living with Monthly Budget

List your basic living essentials and price them in each short-listed country:

• Housing: Rent or mortgage, condo or association fees, and insurance.
• Utilities and internet: Costs for cooling and heating, water, power, and high-speed internet connection.
• Daily spend: Groceries, dining out, transportation, and entertainment.
• Healthcare: Public co-pays, private premiums, dental care, and optical care.

Healthcare Considerations

Healthcare is a major consideration for retirees. Check for hospital accreditation, the availability of specialists, emergency response times, and insurer acceptance. If you are considering moving to island nations, review medical evacuation options and flight availability. 

Financial Considerations

When it comes to taxes and pensions, it is important to understand whether the country taxes worldwide or territorial income, how foreign pensions are treated, and whether dividends and gains are taxed on receipt or remittance. Review inheritance and gift taxes as well as local community-property rules.

Where Investment Programmes Fit Retirees

Citizenship by Investment (CBI) can be a smart move if you want speed, global mobility for medical travel, and no minimum stay. It is also efficient for multigenerational planning. Residency by Investment (RBI) is ideal if your goal is EU healthcare access, Schengen access, and a time-based path to an EU passport. In some cases, a standard retirement or passive-income visa with no environment is the most cost-effective choice.

Country Shortlist

Here is a list of popular countries for retirement to jumpstart your research:

• Thailand: Warm climate, established medical industry, affordable cost of living.
• Australia: Warm climate options, top private/public hospitals and established expat communities.
• Caribbean (St Kitts & Nevis, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, and Saint Lucia): Quick citizenship process, passport-free access to many countries practical for mobility-first retirees.  
• Denmark: High life satisfaction, bike-friendly cities, and efficient healthcare and social care systems.
• Germany: Robust healthcare, reliable transport, and strong tenant protections for long-term renters.
• Greece: Mediterranean lifestyle, strong private healthcare options, investor and passive-income routes.
• Iceland: Safe, community-minded society with clean air, low crime and generous social protections.
• Ireland: English-speaking, excellent healthcare access, and easy links to Europe and North America.
• Mauritius: Island living, investor and property residence, English is widely used, favourable tax rules.
• Netherlands: Flat, walkable/bikeable towns, great infrastructure and accessible, well-rated healthcare.
• Norway: Superb public services, strong pensions framework and outstanding quality of life for active retirees.
• Portugal: Warm climate, respected healthcare, clear routes from residence to citizenship over five years.
• Slovenia: Affordable Central European base with good hospitals, alpine/coastal lifestyles and Schengen access.
• Spain: Warm climate, strong healthcare system, well-known expat hubs. 

How Premier Consultancy Simplifies Your Retirement Plans

At Premier Consultancy, we provide personalised country vetting by assessing your finances, health needs, and family plans. We will create a detailed shortlist of the best expat retirement countries to help you decide the right visa pathway.

Our team will provide guidance and support for the entire immigration process, from preparing required documents to managing translations and legalisations and running due diligence with authorities. We will also assist in property purchase through vetting agencies, title checks, and inspections, as well as with tax and estate planning, including coordinating pensions, investments, and succession with local rules and treaty positions. 

Planning for your retirement? Book a session with Premier Consultancy to compare the best countries to retire. Contact us for an appointment.

References:

2025 Global Retirement Index. Retrieved on 12 September 2025 from https://www.im.natixis.com/en-us-offshore/insights/investor-sentiment/2025/global-retirement-index

Best Places to Retire in 2025: The Annual Global Retirement Index. Retrieved on 12 September 2025 from https://internationalliving.com/the-best-places-to-retire/

The World’s Best Places to Move (Or Retire), Ranked in a New Report. Retrieved on 12 September 2025 from https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2024/11/30/the-worlds-best-places-to-move-or-retire-ranked-in-a-new-report/