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Retirement comparison · 2026

Retirement Countries Compared

The countries we compare for retirees, side by side: the visa and the income it asks for, healthcare, pensioner tax regimes and the road to citizenship. Pick two and open the head-to-head comparison.

In short

Use this page to narrow the field before you read the full guides. Each card shows the retirement or passive-income route, the income it asks for, the monthly cost in the capital and the comparisons that include the country. The table below adds healthcare and special tax regimes — the two points that change a retirement budget most. All figures come from our country fact registers, checked against official sources.

Retirement comparison: key factsLast verified 27 September 2026
Social Security abroadUS citizens can keep receiving Social Security payments while living in European countries (payments cannot be sent to a few countries such as Belarus) Source: Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States (SSA)
Medicare abroadMedicare usually does not cover health care outside the US — plan for local or private insurance in Europe Source: Travel outside the U.S. (Medicare.gov)
Income required (single)€2,616.78 net per month (€31,401 a year) in 2026, after rent above €386.43 Source: oesterreich.gv.at: settlement permit, gainful employment excluded · City of Vienna: secured means of subsistence
1-bed apartmentabout €1,170/month (range €850–1,800) estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Vienna (Sep 2026)
Living costs, single personabout €1,170/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Vienna (Sep 2026)
CitizenshipAfter 10 years (6 with B2 German, or B1 plus 3 years of integration activity); prior citizenship usually given up Source: Citizenship Act (StbG), RIS
Visitor permit ("pink slip")Temporary residence for people who will not work: up to 1 year, renewable; needs income from abroad, health insurance and a lease Source: GK Law Firm: the pink slip (temporary residence permit for visitors) · Theofanidis: temporary residence permit in Cyprus
1-bed apartment, Nicosiaabout €720/month in the centre, €620 outside estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Nicosia (Sep 2026)
Living costs, single person (Nicosia)about €850/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Nicosia (Sep 2026)
Citizenship8 years (7 of the last 10 + the final 12 months continuous), Greek B1 and the "Knowledge of Contemporary Cyprus" exam; dual citizenship allowed Source: KPMG Cyprus: revised rules for citizenship based on years of residence · European Commission: Cyprus new citizenship legislation (2024)
Visitor visa (visiteur)For people living on their own means who will not work in France; income at least the net SMIC — €1,477.93 a month (from June 2026) Source: Service-Public: temporary residence card "visiteur" · Service-Public: SMIC (minimum wage)
1-bed apartment, Parisabout €1,385/month in the centre, €1,035 outside estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Paris (Sep 2026)
Living costs, single person (Paris)about €1,045/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Paris (Sep 2026)
Citizenship5 years (2 after two years of French higher education); B2 French from 2026, civic exam and interview; fee €255; dual citizenship allowed Source: Service-Public: naturalisation by decree · US Department of State: dual nationality
Financially independent person (FIP)€3,500 a month (€42,000 a year), +20% for a spouse and +15% per child; no work in Greece Source: TaxLaw Greece: residence permit for financially independent persons (Feb 2026)
1-bed apartment, Athensabout €665/month in the centre, €575 outside estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Athens (Sep 2026)
Living costs, single person (Athens)about €835/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Athens (Sep 2026)
Citizenship7 years of legal, continuous residence (usually after long-term residence; 12 years on other permits); PEGP exam (B1 Greek + civics, €150); fee €550; dual citizenship allowed Source: Mitos (gov.gr): naturalisation of foreign nationals · gov.gr: PEGP naturalisation knowledge exam · US Department of State: dual nationality
Elective residence visaAbout €31,000 a year of passive income per adult (US consulates ask about €62,000 for a couple); registered lease or deed; no work of any kind, including remote work Source: Consulate General of Italy in Houston: elective residence visa checklist (Dec 2025) · Embassy of Italy in Washington: elective residence visa
1-bed apartment, Romeabout €1,085/month in the centre, €780 outside (Numbeo, Sep 2026) estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Rome (Sep 2026)
Living costs, single person (Rome)about €845/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Rome (Sep 2026)
Citizenship by residence10 years of legal residence, B1 Italian and enough income; €250 fee; dual citizenship allowed Source: InfoImmigrazione: citizenship by residence (Jul 2026) · Chamber of Deputies: Italian citizenship law — current rules
Pensioner permit: minimum pension€1,231/month personal, regular pension (from 1 Apr 2026) Source: PMLP: Necessary means of subsistence (from 1 Apr 2026)
1-bed apartmentabout €520/month (range €400–600) estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Riga (Sep 2026)
Living costs, single personabout €870/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Riga (Sep 2026)
Malta Retirement ProgrammePension at least 75% of your taxable income; 15% tax on pension remitted to Malta, minimum €7,500 a year (+€500 per dependant); €2,500 fee; at least 90 days a year in Malta (rules until end-2026) Source: CSB Group: MRP · CSB Group: Malta tax residence programmes from 2027
Rent1-bedroom in Valletta about €1,263 a month in the centre (€993 outside); Sliema about €1,564; Gozo about €813 (Numbeo, 2026) Source: Cost of Living in Valletta (Numbeo) · Cost of Living in Sliema (Numbeo) · Cost of Living in Gozo (Numbeo)
Living costsA single person spends about €880 a month without rent in Valletta (Numbeo, June 2026) — about €2,140 with a central 1-bedroom Source: Cost of Living in Valletta (Numbeo)
CitizenshipBy naturalisation after 1 year of continuous residence plus 4 years in the preceding 6, at the minister's discretion; dual citizenship allowed Source: Maltese Citizenship Act Cap.188
D7 passive income visaPassive income of at least €920 a month in 2026 (+50% for a spouse, +30% per child); consulates usually expect about 12 months of that (€11,040) in a Portuguese bank Source: What Portugal's 2026 Minimum Wage Rise Means for Visas: Portugalist · Portugalist: D7 visa requirements 2026
Lisbon rent1-bedroom about €1,425 a month in the centre and €1,063 outside (Numbeo, September 2026) Source: Numbeo: Cost of living in Lisbon
Lisbon living costsA single person spends about €760 a month without rent — about €2,185 with a central 1-bedroom (Numbeo, September 2026) Source: Numbeo: Cost of living in Lisbon
CitizenshipSince 19 May 2026: 10 years of legal residence (7 for EU and Portuguese-speaking countries), counted from when the first permit is issued; applications pending before then keep the old 5-year rule Source: Lei Organica n.o 1/2026: Diario da Republica · Portugal Citizenship Law Published: LiveinPT
Non-lucrative visaPassive income or savings of 400% of IPREM — €2,400 a month or €28,800 a year in 2026 — plus €600 a month (€7,200 a year) per dependant; no work of any kind, including remote work Source: Consulate General of Spain in New York – Non-Working Residence Visa · Consulate General of Spain in Chicago – Non-Lucrative Residence Visa
1-bed apartment, Madridabout €1,332 a month in the centre, €1,066 outside (Numbeo, October 2026) estimate Source: Numbeo – Cost of Living in Madrid
Living costs, single person (Madrid)about €820 a month without rent — about €2,150 with a central 1-bedroom estimate Source: Numbeo – Cost of Living in Madrid
Citizenship10 years of legal, continuous residence for Americans (2 for Ibero-American countries, Portugal, Andorra, the Philippines and Equatorial Guinea; 1 if married to a Spaniard), plus the DELE A2 Spanish and CCSE civics exams Source: Código Civil (BOE) arts. 22–23 · Instituto Cervantes – Nacionalidad española (DELE A2 y CCSE)
RetireesFrom age 55, with sufficient funds and special personal ties to Switzerland, and no work anywhere; both canton and federal authorities must approve Source: Retirement residence permits for Switzerland (Fragomen)
1-bed apartment, Bernabout €1,665/month in the centre, €1,260 outside estimate Source: Numbeo – Cost of living in Bern
Living costs, single person (Bern)about €1,450/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo – Cost of living in Bern
Citizenship10 years of residence (3 of the last 5), a C permit, 2–5 years in the canton, spoken B1 and written A2 in a national language, and integration Source: Ordinary Swiss naturalisation: the 10-year rule (Richmond Chambers)
HealthcareLegal residents can use the public SNS with a user number; private hospital plans cost about €13–77 a month at age 40 Source: gov.pt: Pedir o número de utente do SNS · DECO PROteste: Seguros de saúde Multicare, Médis
IFICI (successor to NHR)20% flat tax for 10 years on income from qualifying highly skilled jobs, research and startups, with most foreign income exempt — not pensions; you must not have lived in Portugal in the previous 5 years Source: Incentivo fiscal a investigacao cientifica e inovacao: AT leaflet · Startup Portugal: Legal Bites #03 IFICI
HealthcarePrivate health insurance needed; state-funded care covers only people working in Latvia and permanent residents Source: Health Care Financing Law, likumi.lv
Public health insurance (PUMa)Workers from the start of their job; others after 3 months of stable residence Source: Service-Public: universal health protection (PUMa)
Impatriate regimeTax relief for people recruited from abroad, until the end of the 8th year Source: impots.gouv.fr: impatriate regime
HealthcareWorkers and the self-employed are covered by the public SNS; others can buy in through the Convenio Especial after 1 year on the padrón — €60 a month under 65, €157 from 65 Source: Convenio especial de prestación de asistencia sanitaria (Ministerio de Sanidad)
Beckham regime24% on employment income up to €600,000 (47% above) for the year of arrival plus 5 years, if you were not resident in the previous 5 years and move for a job, remote work (incl. the digital nomad visa), a directorship or an innovative business — not for non-lucrative visa holders. Optional: file Modelo 149 within 6 months of starting work Source: Artículo 93 Ley del IRPF (Iberley – consolidated text) · Modelo 149 – Instrucciones para cumplimentar la comunicación (Agencia Tributaria)
HealthcareWorkers are enrolled in the national health service (SSN) for free; retirees and others not working in Italy pay at least €2,000 a year to join voluntarily (since 2024) Source: Arletti Partners: voluntary national health service enrolment (€2,000 minimum)
7% regime for pensioners7% on all foreign income for 10 years if you receive a foreign pension and move to a southern town of up to 30,000 people (since April 2026); no Italian tax on foreign assets Source: Fiscomania: 7% flat tax for foreign pensioners — towns up to 30,000 · Il Sole 24 Ore: no foreign-asset reporting for the 7% regime
ÖGK self-insurance€565.25 per month (2026); needs residence in Austria, 6-month waiting period Source: ÖGK: voluntary self-insurance 2026
HealthcarePublic cover (EOPYY) comes through Greek social-security (EFKA) contributions; FIP and golden visa holders need private insurance Source: Argophilia: optional health insurance for third-country pensioners · TaxLaw Greece: residence permit for financially independent persons (Feb 2026)
7% regime for pensionersIf you receive a foreign pension, all your foreign income can be taxed at a flat 7% for up to 15 years; not tax resident in Greece in 5 of the previous 6 years; apply by 31 March Source: Income Tax Code art. 5B: 7% regime for foreign pensioners · PwC Tax Summaries: Greece — individual tax incentives
Public healthcare (GESY)For permanent residents and employees; holders of a visitor permit usually need private insurance Source: New to Cyprus: GESY 2026 — who can register
Non-domNon-domiciled residents pay no defence contribution on dividends and interest for up to 17 of 20 years; from 2026 an optional €250,000 per 5 years extends it Source: Global Citizen Solutions: Cyprus non-dom tax residence · Evidentrust: Cyprus non-dom after 17 years — €250,000 option
HealthcareFree public healthcare for people paying Maltese social security; permit holders on the Nomad, GRP, retirement and MPRP routes need private health insurance Source: Malta EESSI healthcare info
Non-domiciled residentsForeign income is taxed only if brought to Malta; a €5,000 minimum tax applies if foreign income is €35,000 or more Source: PwC Tax Summaries: Malta — individual taxes
Health premiumsAverage monthly premium CHF 392.30 in 2026, rising to CHF 412 (+5%) in 2027; adults pay CHF 487.60 on average in 2027 Source: Health insurance premiums set to rise by an average of 5% in 2027 (Swissinfo)

Side by Side

Visa, Healthcare and Tax in One Table

What each country offers retirees once the visa is granted.

CountryRetirement routeHealthcareSpecial tax regime
PortugalD7 visa — passive income from €920 a month (2026)Legal residents can use the public SNSIFICI — 20% flat for 10 years on qualifying skilled jobs; not for pensions
LatviaPensioner permit — pension at least €1,231 a month (2026); private health insuranceState-funded care only for people working in Latvia and permanent residentsNone
FranceVisitor visa — income at least €1,477.93 net a month; no work in FrancePUMa: workers from day one, others after 3 months of stable residenceImpatriate regime — tax relief until the end of the 8th year
SpainNon-lucrative visa — €2,400 a month; no work at all, not even remotePublic SNS for workers; others can buy in after 1 year — €60 a month under 65Beckham regime — 24% flat up to €600,000 for 6 years (incl. digital nomads)
ItalyElective residence visa — about €31,000 a year of passive income; no work at allFree SSN for workers; others pay at least €2,000 a year to join7% flat on foreign income for pensioners in small southern towns (10 years)
AustriaSettlement permit without work — €2,616.78 net a month (single, 2026); yearly quota; A1 GermanThrough work (7.65% of salary) or ÖGK self-insurance at €565 a month after 6 months—
GreeceFinancially independent person — €3,500 a month; no workPublic cover through social-security contributions; FIP and golden-visa holders need private insurance7% flat on all foreign income for retirees with a foreign pension, up to 15 years
CyprusVisitor permit ("pink slip") or Category F — income from abroad, no workPublic GESY for permanent residents and employees; visitor-permit holders need private coverNon-dom: no tax on foreign dividends and interest for up to 17 years; 5% option on foreign pensions
MaltaMalta Retirement Programme — pension at least 75% of income; 15% tax, minimum €7,500Free public care if you pay Maltese social security; nomad, retiree and MPRP holders need private coverNon-dom: foreign income taxed only if brought to Malta (€5,000 minimum tax)
SwitzerlandFrom age 55 with funds and special ties to Switzerland; no workCompulsory private basic insurance — about CHF 392 a month on average (2026)None

Shortlists

Which Country Fits Your Retirement?

Generated from the same data — open a country to read the full conditions.

Modest pension

Lowest income asked by the retirement route.

Lowest living costs

Central 1-bedroom plus everyday costs in the capital, a month.

A European passport

Shortest road to citizenship — residence, language and exam rules apply.

Means assessed case by case

No fixed income figure — the authorities look at your whole situation.

For Americans

Two Things That Apply in Every Country

  • Social Security

    US citizens can keep receiving Social Security payments while living in European countries (payments cannot be sent to a few countries such as Belarus)

  • Medicare

    Medicare usually does not cover health care outside the US — plan for local or private insurance in Europe

Where to retire in Europe — country by country →Retirement head-to-head comparisons →Retirement visas in Europe explained →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which European country has the lowest income requirement for retirees?

The cards above are sorted by the income each retirement route asks for, lowest first. Some countries — shown last — have no fixed figure and assess your means case by case.

Can I keep my US Social Security if I retire in Europe?

US citizens can keep receiving Social Security payments while living in European countries (payments cannot be sent to a few countries such as Belarus)

Can you help me choose where to retire?

Yes. Book a free consultation — we look at your income, health cover and plans and tell you honestly which country and visa fit.

Across Europe

Every guide and comparison

Written by US GO EU TeamResearched from official sources in each country · How we research and update

✓ Facts verified 27 September 2026

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