Key Points

A new report ranked Spain as the best country for international retirement due to its affordable cost of living and excellent health care. The country also had a perfect 10/10 score for travel connectivity.

France was second, with the report highlighting that it offers excellent value in regions like Normandy, Brittany, and Dordogne.

Retirement offers new adventures and the chance to live in a different country. But before packing a suitcase and heading into retirement sunset, a new ranking revealed that some countries are better suited for retirees than others.

International financial consulting firm Hoxton Wealth recently published the findings of its 2025 Worldwide Retirement & Emigration Destinations report, focusing on cost of living, taxation, health care quality, and economic stability. While the ranking was aimed at its U.K. clients, the quality of life themes are relevant to any retiree choosing a country to relocate to.

The report highlighted Spain as the best option for international retirement, due to the affordable cost of living and excellent health care. Hoxton Wealth ranked the Iberian Peninsula country as “extremely attractive for pensioners with moderate-to-high retirement income.” The company also noted that Spain’s dry and sunny Mediterranean climate, along with its laid-back lifestyle, are perfect for seniors.

The ranking also considered Spain’s low crime rates and high safety statistics. The country achieved a perfect 10/10 score for travel connectivity, which assessed how easily retirees could travel to or from the destination.

Following Spain, France ranked the second-best country for seniors, offering excellent value in regions such as Normandy, Brittany, and Dordogne. The firm advised against moving to Paris or the Côte d’Azur due to the high cost of living in these areas. France had perfect scores for safety, travel connectivity, and climate and lifestyle.

Portugal secured the third spot due to the availability of a D7 visa, which is aimed at retirees and remote workers with a passive income of at least €870 (approximately $1,015) per month. The report stated that Portugal has one of the lowest cost of living in Western Europe, and the quality of its health care is high and widely available. However, Hoxton Wealth also pointed out that due to high demand, “visa processing times have slowed in recent years and bureaucracy can be opaque and inconsistent.”

Australia, New Zealand, and Canada rounded out the top five.

You can read the full report on howxtonwealth.com.

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