Best Countries to Retire in Europe
Europe is one of the world's most popular retirement destinations, offering universal healthcare systems, exceptional safety, and a rich cultural lifestyle. From Portugal's affordable Algarve coast to France's world-leading healthcare, we rank European countries on what matters most to retirees using WHO, World Bank, and OECD data.
Key facts
- #1: Malta top-ranked Europe country in this list, weighted across 7 dimensions.
- $1,600/mo cheapest in the regional top 10 — Czechia, single-person cost of living.
- Safest: Slovenia highest normalised safety score among the regional top 10.
- 37 countries in Europe scored on the dimensions that matter most for this audience.
- $2,159/mo avg mean monthly cost across all qualifying Europe countries.
37 Countries Ranked
Ranked using persona-optimized weights across 7 dimensions. Scores reflect institutional public-domain datasets.
Malta
Southern Europe
Portugal
Southern Europe
Slovenia
Southern Europe
Spain
Southern Europe
Czechia
Central Europe
Ireland
Western Europe
Netherlands
Western Europe
Austria
Central Europe
Belgium
Western Europe
Greece
Southern Europe
Switzerland
Central Europe
Croatia
Southern Europe
Montenegro
Southeastern Europe
Italy
Southern Europe
Finland
Northern Europe
Denmark
Northern Europe
Estonia
Northern Europe
Iceland
Northern Europe
Poland
Central Europe
Albania
Southeastern Europe
Hungary
Eastern Europe
Cyprus
Southern Europe
Luxembourg
Western Europe
Germany
Western Europe
Sweden
Northern Europe
Bulgaria
Southeastern Europe
Slovakia
Eastern Europe
Lithuania
Northern Europe
United Kingdom
Northern Europe
Romania
Eastern Europe
Norway
Northern Europe
Latvia
Northern Europe
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Southeastern Europe
France
Western Europe
Serbia
Southeastern Europe
North Macedonia
Southeastern Europe
Moldova
Eastern Europe
What does healthcare cost for retirees in Europe?
Healthcare is the deciding factor in most retirement moves, and it is exactly what a ranking score hides. For 8 of the Europe destinations above, WhereNext tracks the expat healthcare reality — the system type, whether retirees can access it, and modeled private-insurance and out-of-pocket costs — not just an index. The insurance figures are base adult rates; retirees pay more, and premiums rise sharply with age and pre-existing conditions, so model your own with the healthcare-cost tool.
Portugal
Universal public (SNS)
- SNS access after obtaining health number (número de utente); small copays apply.
- Private insurance (base adult rate): $56–$104/mo
- English-speaking doctors: available
Spain
Universal public (SNS)
- Public SNS via social security enrollment; non-EU may need private insurance initially.
- Private insurance (base adult rate): $70–$130/mo
- English-speaking doctors: available
Czechia
Universal mandatory insurance (VZP and others)
- Must have Czech health insurance from day one; employer-enrolled or self-purchased.
- Private insurance (base adult rate): $49–$91/mo
- English-speaking doctors: available
Ireland
Two-tier public/private (HSE)
- Residents access public HSE system; long waits drive most expats to private insurance.
- Private insurance (base adult rate): $140–$260/mo
- English-speaking doctors: common
Netherlands
Universal mandatory insurance (Zorgverzekeringswet)
- Must buy basic health insurance (basisverzekering) within 4 months of registration.
- Private insurance (base adult rate): $91–$169/mo
- English-speaking doctors: common
Austria
Universal statutory insurance (ÖGK)
- Employees auto-enrolled; e-card issued after registration. EU citizens via EHIC.
- Private insurance (base adult rate): $105–$195/mo
- English-speaking doctors: common
Belgium
Universal mandatory insurance (mutualité/ziekenfonds)
- Must join a mutualité after registration; significant reimbursements on most services.
- Private insurance (base adult rate): $105–$195/mo
- English-speaking doctors: common
Greece
Universal public (ESY/EOPYY)
- EOPYY covers insured residents; social security enrollment via employment or voluntary payment.
- Private insurance (base adult rate): $56–$104/mo
- English-speaking doctors: available
Malta
Southern Europe
Malta excels in your top priority (healthcare) with a score of 95, backed by strong safety.
View Full Country ProfileFree Relocation Tools
Plan your move with data-driven calculators and comparison tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which European countries are cheapest to retire in?
How does European healthcare compare for retirees?
Do European countries offer retirement visas?
Retirement Country Rankings 2026 in Other Regions
Ready to Find Your Best Country?
Take the 2-minute quiz to get personalized rankings based on your budget, citizenship, climate preference, and priorities.
Start Your QuizGet a personalized report for retirement country rankings 2026 in Europe
These rankings show averages. A premium report uses YOUR income, nationality, and priorities to calculate real tax rates, visa eligibility, city-level prices, and a 90-day action plan.
This plan is not currently for sale while its figures are being re-verified against their sources.
See sample →Get the WhereNext weekly digest
The weekly relocation brief: dated rule, cost and ranking changes with primary sources. One email a week — unsubscribe in one click.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.