The study considered life expectancy, cost of living, housing prices, population above the age of 65, safety, visa accessibility, beach quality, and healthcare as determining factors.

Portugal topped off the list with a score of 7.83 out of 10. The tip of Europe is notably the second lowest on the cost-of-living index, only being more expensive than Bulgaria, and has the third cheapest housing prices. It’s also third in sunshine hours, has the second-highest elderly population and the second-best peace index. Overall, it didn’t rank first in any specific category, but it’s a consistently friendly country to retirees.

Author: https://movingtospain.com/;

Tied for second place are Spain and Italy, both with a score of 7.31. Both Southern European countries have things going for them: Spain is third best in cost of living, while Italy ranks second in healthcare quality. Italy also presents the largest elderly share of the population among the top 10, as well as the third highest life expectancy, a stat led by Spain. Spain also has the most blue flag beaches of anyone, while Italy runs in third.

Author: https://movingtospain.com/;

The top five is completed by Greece and Bulgaria, two neighbours in the Balkans. They share the top two spaces for cheapest housing prices, Bulgaria coming out cheaper, while the Slavic country also provides the cheapest cost of living. Greece ranks second in sunshine hours, and third in elderly population, with Bulgaria ranking fourth in that field. Greece also has the second most blue-flag beaches.

Author: https://movingtospain.com/;

The top 10 is rounded out by France, Slovenia, Croatia, Malta, and Ireland. The notable placements among these include Croatia as the third lowest cost of living, and Malta and Slovenia as first and third best in healthcare, respectively. Malta absolutely dominates every other European country in sunshine hours, racking up 2,993 a year, over 300 above Spain and Portugal’s counts. Malta also ranks second in life expectancy. In the peace index, Ireland comes out on top, with Slovenia placing third.

Author: https://movingtospain.com/;

One important thing to note is that out of the top 10, Slovenia, Croatia, and Malta are the only three to not dispose of a retirement visa, another factor the study took into account. There are other options for visas to live in a country without an EU passport, but for the purposes of the list, movingtospain “looked at countries with a specific retirement visa without hurdles like language ability.”

Author

Star in the 2015 music video for the hit single “Headlights” by German musician, DJ and record producer Robin Schulz featuring American singer-songwriter Ilsey. Also a journalist.

Jay Bodsworth