Best places to retire in Europe: all 27 EU countries ranked

Last updated: 2026-08-21

A good retirement abroad usually comes down to four things: a pleasant climate, a safe and calm setting, healthcare you can lean on, and costs that let your pension or savings stretch. Get those right and life slows down in the best way. This guide ranks all 27 EU countries for a comfortable retirement.

What makes a country good to retire in

Climate: warmer winters are easier on the body and the mood.
Affordability: a lower cost of living makes a fixed income go further.
Healthcare: the thing you will use most as the years go on.
Safety and calm: a stable, low-stress place to settle.

All 27 EU countries for retirees

Our retiree score below blends climate, affordability, healthcare and safety, best first (illustrative scores only):

Country	Retiree score*	Healthcare*	Climate
Portugal	76	72	Warm
Spain	75	80	Warm
Croatia	74	65	Warm
Cyprus	73	68	Warm
Greece	73	65	Warm
Italy	73	78	Warm
Malta	73	75	Warm
Slovenia	65	74	Mild
Bulgaria	62	58	Mild
France	62	86	Mild
Netherlands	62	85	Mild
Belgium	61	82	Mild
Luxembourg	61	85	Mild
Ireland	58	72	Mild
Czechia	56	72	Cold
Finland	56	85	Cold
Austria	55	85	Cold
Estonia	55	70	Cold
Lithuania	55	68	Cold
Slovakia	54	64	Cold
Denmark	53	86	Cold
Germany	53	85	Cold
Hungary	53	62	Cold
Latvia	53	64	Cold
Poland	53	60	Cold
Romania	53	58	Cold
Sweden	52	84	Cold

*MoveMap EU's rough relative score, illustrative only, built from climate, cost, healthcare and safety. Higher is better for a relaxed, affordable retirement.

The retiree fine print

Two things decide a lot for retirees and the score cannot capture: how your pension is taxed, which varies by country and any tax treaties, and how you access healthcare before pension age or as a non-worker, which may need private cover at first. Both are worth checking carefully for your situation.

Match it to your retirement

Whether you want a sunny coast, a quiet town or to stay close to family, the MoveMap check weighs your priorities and budget to rank all 27 EU countries for the next chapter.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best European country to retire to?

Blending climate, cost of living, healthcare and safety, our model puts Portugal first at 73/100, with Croatia and Spain at 72 and Cyprus and Malta at 71. The southern bias is not an accident: warm winters, a lower cost base and solid healthcare are the combination most retirees are actually optimising for.

Can I retire to the EU as a non-EU citizen?

Yes, and it is one of the more accessible routes. Most member states offer a residence permit for people living on passive income, Portugal's D7 and Spain's non-lucrative visa being the best known. You typically need to show stable income at or above a set threshold, private health insurance and accommodation. These permits usually forbid working locally, which is the condition people most often overlook.

Is healthcare free for retirees moving to Europe?

Not automatically. EU citizens drawing a state pension from one member state and moving to another may be covered through the S1 arrangement, with costs settled between the two countries. Non-EU retirees normally need private insurance to get the residence permit in the first place, and access to the public system usually follows legal residence and, in some countries, contributions. Check the rules for your specific nationality and pension.

How these numbers are made

Updated 2026-08-21

The 0-100 figures in this ranking are MoveMap EU's own comparative estimates, not official statistics or a third-party index. They are built to rank the 27 countries against each other from public cost, wage, language and institutional data, and they are calibrated to be directionally right rather than precise to the point. Where a figure comes from a dated external dataset, such as the tax pages, the source and check date are named on that page.

The full weighting is written up on our methodology page. Published by Dobreon sp. z o.o., Krakow, Poland (VAT PL6772528744). Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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