Annual Global Retirement Index 2026

Retiring abroad in 2026 has never been easier—or more affordable. Picture this: spending your days relaxing beneath palm fronds on a Caribbean beach, enjoying farm-fresh produce in a mountain haven with year-round spring weather, or wandering the storied streets of a cultured European city… or perhaps all of the above.

With so many incredible destinations to choose from, finding the perfect one might seem daunting. But here’s the key: selecting where to live isn’t solely about logic—it’s about finding a place that feels right for you.

So, let’s start by imagining your ideal retreat. Is it the beach or the mountains? A vibrant city or a quaint town? A year-round sunny climate or a taste of all four seasons? Do you prefer a cosmopolitan vibe or a quiet, slower pace?

While you’re mulling over these lifestyle choices, we’re handling the practical details. We’re sorting through where your money goes furthest, where the healthcare is both excellent and affordable, where safety and comfort are prioritized, and where you’ll feel welcomed and at ease.

Over the past year, our team has been hard at work traveling, analyzing data, and connecting with our global network of contacts—all to bring you our top retirement havens for 2026.

Every year, we refine and enhance our Annual Global Retirement Index. Our process is rigorous. Our correspondents, contributors, and editors—many of whom began as IL readers themselves—help us zero in on what truly matters for a fulfilling retirement abroad.

Each expert provides us with hard data and first-hand insights from the places they call home. They know precisely what’s important for you to enjoy a comfortable retirement because they’ve experienced it themselves.

Now, some countries are vast and diverse, and not every corner will be the right fit. We narrow our research to highlight the specific regions within each country that offer the best blend of lifestyle, cost, and appeal.

Is the Annual Global Retirement Index subjective? Absolutely—by design. We trust the expertise and insights of in-country expats who have immersed themselves in their host nations. Their real-world experiences offer a genuine understanding of what it’s like to live in each location.

At the end of the day, only you can decide what will make you happiest. But we can point you to the places most likely to fit your dreams (and budget).

Our Annual Global Retirement Index reveals the best places in the world to retire overseas today. It guides you toward destinations that merit your attention, saving you the time, frustration, and expense of figuring it out alone.

Here at International Living, we’ve been showing readers where to go for over 40 years now. So, we know the questions to ask and know the critical issues to consider.

We take the time and invest the funds… so you don’t have to.

And we’ve gathered all our resources to bring you the Annual Global Retirement Index 2026 report.

Read on to learn more…

Sincerely,