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Picturesque beaches lined with golden sand, charming cobblestone streets, breathtaking medieval castles, fresh and delicious food — these are just some of the perks you’ll enjoy living in Portugal.
On Thursday, International Living magazine released its 2020 list of the best countries to retire abroad, and Portugal snagged the No. 1 spot, earning high marks for quality health care, a reasonable cost of living and ease with which you can fit into life there (people are friendly and though it’s not an English-speaking country, many locals speak English). It climbed from the No. 7 spot a year prior.
Tricia Pimental, 69, who moved there from Utah, recently told MarketWatch that living in Portugal is “all about family, food and fun” — and an affordable price tag. International Living estimates that a couple could live a good life on $2,200 a month; Tricia’s estimates were about the same. Other perks of this country: It’s one of the most peaceful in the world and, as Travel & Leisure writes, has a “dynamism that feels fresh and distinctive” as well as “year-round temperate weather.”
Panama took the No. 2 spot on the list, with high marks for the benefits/discounts it gives retirees (its pensionado program gives seniors discounts on everything from entertainment to train and bus fares to restaurants and prescriptions) and the ease of getting visas and residency. Panama is also relatively safe with a low cost of living and decent health care.
When MarketWatch interviewed Mary Taft, 63, who recently moved to the country from Massachusetts, she raved about her experience in the town of Boquete: “It’s a place of indescribable beauty, and the culture is complex and vibrant,” she says. “It’s not a sleepy town in the mountains; there’s arts and culture, birding, sailing, hiking, restaurants with chefs from around the world — it’s a foodie paradise. There’s so much going on here.”
10 best countries to retire abroad
1. Portugal
2. Panama
3. Costa Rica
4. Mexico
5. Colombia
6. Ecuador
7. Malaysia
8. Spain
9. France
10. Vietnam
To rank these countries, the magazine asked its correspondents and on-the-ground experts living in 24 different countries to rate their country based on housing, benefits/discounts, visas/residency, ease of fitting in, development, climate, health care, governance, cost of living, and more.
