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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIn International Living’s 2024 Annual Global Retirement Index, Costa Rica ranked first among the best places to retire abroad, followed by Portugal, Mexico, Panama and Spain. The ranking is a dated shortlist from one publisher—not a universal recommendation or a current visa, healthcare or cost guide. The right choice depends on your citizenship, finances, health needs and personal preferences.
Where were the best places to retire abroad in 2024?
International Living’s 2024 Index put these ten countries in the following order. The ranking was reported by Erin Bendig for Kiplinger and republished by IG Wealth Management.
| 2024 rank | Country | What the ranking can tell you |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Costa Rica | The report highlighted healthcare, cost, climate variety and natural setting. Its reported extension of tourist stays from 90 to 180 days is not a retirement-residency entitlement; check current entry and residency rules. |
| 2 | Portugal | Second in the Index. Compare housing, available residency routes, healthcare access and regional living costs against your own circumstances; the ranking does not establish current visa or tax rules. |
| 3 | Mexico | Third in the Index. The national rank does not mean that visa, healthcare, safety or cost conditions are the same in every region. |
| 4 | Panama | Fourth in the Index. Its place reflects the report’s broad consideration of visas, benefits and cost, not verification of current Pensionado program terms or eligibility. |
| 5 | Spain | Fifth in the Index. Climate and social fit are only part of the decision; individual residency eligibility, healthcare access and local costs need separate checking. |
| 6 | Ecuador | Sixth in the Index. Its inclusion is not a current assessment of safety or visa conditions. |
| 7 | Greece | Seventh in the Index. Secondary reporting by Greek Travel Pages (GTP Headlines) gives its overall score and category scores; see the breakdown below. |
| 8 | Malaysia | Eighth in the Index. The ranking does not establish current residency or healthcare conditions. |
| 9 | France | Ninth in the Index. Its placement reflects a broad comparison, not a determination that it suits a particular retiree. |
| 10 | Colombia | Tenth in the Index. Treat the rank as a starting point and assess present-day local conditions and personal needs independently. |
What did the 2024 retirement ranking assess?
As described in Kiplinger’s report, the Index considered housing, including renting and ownership; visas and retiree benefits; cost of living; healthcare quality and cost; development and governance; climate variety; and affinity, or social fit. It drew on information from contributors living in the destinations.
Those dimensions combine practical questions with subjective judgments. A country’s score for affinity or climate variety cannot predict whether you will feel at home there, and a national healthcare assessment cannot establish your eligibility for care or the quality of a particular local provider. Use the Index to choose places to investigate, not as a standardized measure of your likely happiness, budget or medical access.
#1 Best Overall
Greece’s reported 2024 scores
GTP Headlines reported the following figures for Greece from the 2024 Index:
| Category | Reported score |
|---|---|
| Overall | 77 |
| Housing | 60 |
| Cost of living | 79 |
| Visa and benefits | 76 |
| Affinity | 86 |
| Climate | 70 |
| Development | 78 |
| Healthcare | 82 |
GTP also reported the Index’s broad estimates that housing could be as much as 75% below U.S. prices and living costs 30%–50% below U.S. costs. These are secondary estimates from 2024, not current price comparisons or a budget promise. Actual expenses depend on location, housing, healthcare and lifestyle.
Rank #2
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How does the 2024 list compare with the later ranking?
International Living’s 2026 Index ranked Greece first, Panama second, Costa Rica third, Portugal fourth and Mexico fifth. That later order does not correct the 2024 list: it is a different edition, and rankings can change from year to year. Neither edition should substitute for checking current rules and costs in the specific place you are considering.
How to compare countries before choosing one
Once you have a shortlist, compare the details that affect your legal status, finances, healthcare and day-to-day life. Check rules with the destination’s official immigration service or embassy, because requirements can depend on your citizenship and change over time.
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Legal permission to stay
- Find out whether your citizenship qualifies for a long-term or retirement residence route.
- Check application evidence, income requirements, renewal conditions and any recent rule changes with official sources.
- Do not treat permission for a short tourist visit as permission to retire or reside long term.
Healthcare and insurance
- Check whether you can enroll in public healthcare, when coverage begins and what care is available where you plan to live.
- Research private care, out-of-pocket prices and the availability of medicines you rely on.
- Review insurance coverage for medical and dental care and medical evacuation. The U.S. Department of State notes that Medicare does not cover healthcare costs abroad.
Total budget and currency exposure
Estimate housing, utilities, food, transport, healthcare and trips home together rather than relying on a single national cost estimate. Include the effect of exchange-rate movements on income, savings and regular expenses; currency fluctuations can change what your retirement income buys.
Tax, legal documents and personal fit
- Check tax and reporting duties in both your home country and the destination. U.S. citizens retain U.S. tax obligations when living abroad and must also follow destination-country tax law.
- Ask qualified professionals how local law treats wills, trusts and powers of attorney.
- Consider language, climate and microclimate, pace of life, accessibility, social connections and distance from family alongside financial and practical factors.
Planning notes for U.S. citizens retiring abroad
The U.S. Department of State’s retirement-abroad guidance, last updated August 11, 2025, advises U.S. citizens to check retirement or immigration visas with the destination’s government or embassy, understand local rights and laws, plan for exchange-rate changes and local banking, and research healthcare availability and quality. It also recommends arranging health insurance that may cover private medical and dental care and medical evacuation, and complying with U.S. and host-country tax law. These are U.S.-specific recommendations; people of other nationalities should check their own government’s guidance and obligations.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #4
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