What you need to know
A cheap retirement abroad is only cheap if healthcare costs don't surprise you. The top retirement destinations combine three things: affordable day-to-day costs, a functioning private healthcare system, and a long-stay visa with a realistic income threshold.
Egypt leads our retirement ranking. Portugal, Spain, Mexico and Thailand round out the global top tier — all with dedicated retirement visas requiring USD $1,500–$3,000/month in passive income.
Don't underestimate the import-pension tax angle: countries like Portugal phased out the NHR regime in 2024, while Greece, Italy and Cyprus still offer flat-tax pension programmes.