International Living’s 2026 Annual Global Retirement Index, released Tuesday, is designed as a roadmap to help retirees find the overseas destination for their afterwork years that best suits their lifestyle, priorities and dreams.
International Living notes that it does not aim for a purely scientific analysis. Instead, it focuses on practicality and usability. The index draws from first-hand experiences of correspondents and contributors who live in these retirement havens. They are not beholden to tourism boards, real estate agents or relocation services; their only priority is to give retirees honest, actionable advice.
For its 2026 index, International Living used seven categories to determine the best locations in the world for retirement:
Housing: IL considers factors like the price of a property in expat-friendly locations and property taxes. It also examines long-term leases; the cost of renting a two-bedroom, 900-square-foot furnished apartment in a midrange area; and whether renters’ rights are well protected by law.
Visas and benefits: IL examines availability of tourist visas, legalities of extending a stay, ease of becoming a permanent resident and the availability of special retiree options. It also looks at retiree benefits and discounts on health care, prescription medication, entertainment, eating out, travel, utilities and local transport.
Cost of living: IL takes into consideration the needs and wants of an expat retirees, from the cost of rent and utilities to groceries to a flight home to visit family in North America. The lower the cost of living, the higher the score.
Affinity rating: IL asks its experts to rank destinations according to whether they would be happy to move there. It asks readers where they would like to move.
Health care: IL’s health care score is based on both quality and cost.
Development and governance: IL ranks a place highly if the roads are good and clean, public transport is excellent and the internet is fast and reliable, and if the political environment is stable, infrastructure is well-maintained and the banking system is efficient.
Climate: Given the differences among people on what constitutes a perfect climate, IL bases its score on how many climate options a place offers.
See the accompanying gallery for IL’s 10 best destinations abroad to retire in 2026.
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