Best Places

For over 30 years, International Living has searched around the world for retirement destinations that are right for you. We have explored all manner of dream locales, assessing how well they can provide for all your retirement needs—including cost of living, retiree benefits, climate, healthcare, and much more. The result is a comprehensive resource of essential information to help you find your dream retirement overseas.

Where can you find the best quality of life in the world…the best places to live…the best climate…the healthiest places to live…the cheapest? Which countries make it into the lists as the perfect destinations for your retirement…and why? We have all the answers.

From bustling beach towns to small fishing communities, stunning stretches of sand to lush rainforests teeming with life, there’s a huge variety of choice on offer for expats. In all of the destinations we speak about, you can enjoy a relaxed lifestyle, with established expat communities, friendly, welcoming natives, good healthcare, and an ideal climate.

Each destination is desirable in its own way, but they all offer something increasingly hard to come by at home: A good quality of life for a reasonable price.

What are you waiting for? Go ahead and dive into our selection of articles to learn more about the best places in the world to retire.

Best Places Archives

“What countries offer the best tax benefits for potential retirees/expats that reside there?”

“What countries offer the best tax benefits for potential retirees/expats that reside there?”

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June 27, 2018

Are there any countries that I should look at or any that I should avoid in relation to incentives/packages for retirees? What countries offer the best tax benefits for potential retirees/expats that reside there? In many countries all over the world you can live better for less. But as well as offering a lower cost of Read more...: “What countries offer the best tax benefits for potential retirees/expats that reside there?”

Affordable Italy: 3 Best Retirement Regions

Affordable Italy: 3 Best Retirement Regions

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June 26, 2018

Who wouldn’t want to live in Italy, Europe’s most intriguing and seductive country? Just think of its warmth, style, and wonderful food...its excitable people and their zest for life...its art treasures and the architectural glories of its magnificent past. Even if you’ve never been there, Italy is one of those...

Avoid the Crowds and Explore the World’s 5 Best Secret Beaches

Avoid the Crowds and Explore the World’s 5 Best Secret Beaches

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June 11, 2018

A great beach can be one of the deciding factors when considering a move overseas. But, what constitutes a great beach is different for everybody. Some people are looking for quiet natural beauty, where the only sound is the breaking waves and the only other visitors are seagulls. Somewhere away from the crowded tourist spots Read more...: Avoid the Crowds and Explore the World’s 5 Best Secret Beaches

Should we retire in Costa Rica or Panama?

Should we retire in Costa Rica or Panama?

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June 8, 2018

My husband and I are starting to consider seriously retiring in either of Costa Rica or Panama in the next couple of years. We need a country with easily accessible and excellent healthcare, plus one to which our Canadian pensions are easily portable. Our combined retirement income would amount to approximately $2100.00 net per month. Read more...: Should we retire in Costa Rica or Panama?

Which country would best suit a single person retiring on $2000 a month?

Which country would best suit a single person retiring on $2000 a month?

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May 16, 2018

Which country would best suit a single person retiring on $2000 a month? I am a single woman aged 60 and I want to retire overseas in the next two years. I will require modest living requirements just somewhere where the crime rate is not high as general safety would be a concern...

Want to Retire Early? Here’s How

Want to Retire Early? Here’s How

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May 7, 2018

The ultimate dream for many North Americans is to retire early. But the problem is, how do you afford it? In a time when people are working past retirement age just so they can afford to maintain their current lifestyle (a recent U.S. jobs report states that almost 19% of people 65 or older are working at least Read more...: Want to Retire Early? Here’s How