Calculator
Pin 71 cities to your retirement budget
Verified rent + utilities + groceries + transport + age-adjusted health insurance. Toggle 'monthly budget' vs 'how long will my savings last.' URL-shareable.
Worked example
What a typical comparison looks like
US retiree, age 65 earning $3,000/mo Social Security + IRA
Phoenix, AZ ($4,200/mo all-in)Lisbon, Portugal ($2,400/mo all-in)
D7 passive-income visa qualifies; private healthcare ~€80/mo replaces Medicare gap.
~−$21,600 / yr
Lower tax
UK retiree, age 67 earning £24,000 state + private pension
Bristol, UK (£2,200/mo all-in)Valencia, Spain (€1,700/mo all-in)
Non-Lucrative visa requires ~€2,400/mo income; UK state pension frozen — re-check residency rules.
≈ wash
Comparable
Canadian couple, age 60 earning CAD 4,500/mo combined
Toronto, ON (CAD 6,200/mo)Chiang Mai, Thailand ($1,800/mo total for 2)
Thai LTR (Wealthy Pensioner) needs $80K/yr passive income; DTV is a softer 5-yr alternative.
~−CAD 30,000 / yr
Lower tax
Indicative monthly all-in budgets only — not retirement-planning advice. Use the calculator below for your specific city, household size, and lifestyle preferences. Visa eligibility varies by nationality + income; confirm at the consulate.
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Quick answer
Key facts
- 71 retirement-friendly cities verified rent + utilities + healthcare per city · pin and compare side-by-side.
- Two modes monthly-budget (does $X cover retirement here?) · longevity (how many years will $Y last?).
- Age-adjusted healthcare international health insurance bands by age — Medicare doesn't work abroad.
- $2,000/mo qualifying cities Chiang Mai · Da Nang · Medellín · Budapest · Penang · Cuenca · Lisbon (outside center) · etc.
- Sources World Bank ICP 2021 · Ookla Speedtest · WHO healthcare estimates · Climate-Data.org · CC BY 4.0.
Have kids (or grandkids) in school during the move?
The calculator above covers food, rent, transport, and healthcare. Private school is a separate, large line item — and the published tuition is not the real annual cost. Here's the bridge for a typical Lisbon international school:
What private school in Lisbon actually costs
Published tuition vs. the real annual figure after capital levies, transport, exam fees, and uniforms.
Verified · WhereNext school DB · stjulians.com
- Published tuition$16,800
- Transport+$2,100
- Capital levy+$1,700
- Activities + uniforms+$1,300
- Lunch + trips+$1,150
- Other levies+$750
- True annual cost$23,800
Published tuition $16,800 · true annual cost $23,800 · +$7,000/yr (~+42%) in additional cost
What's inside “Other levies”
- Registration + admin — +$750 · Application + assessment fees + carrying cost on refundable deposit.
| Category | USD/yr | Cumulative | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published tuition | $16,800 | $16,800 | Headline figure on the fee schedule. |
| Capital levy | +$1,700 | $18,500 | Capital contribution €6-10K one-time amortized over schooling years. |
| Transport | +$2,100 | $20,600 | School shuttle from central Lisbon to outer-ring campuses (Carcavelos, Sintra). |
| Registration + admin | +$750 | $21,350 | Application + assessment fees + carrying cost on refundable deposit. |
| Activities + uniforms | +$1,300 | $22,650 | Sports kits, drama, music tuition, mandatory uniform refresh. |
| Lunch + trips | +$1,150 | $23,800 | School lunch ~€9-11/day + termly residential trips Y3+. |
| True annual cost | $23,800 | $23,800 | +$7,000/yr above published tuition (~+42%). |
How is this different from other retirement calculators?
Most retirement calculators tell you how much to save. This one tells you where your savings go furthest. It uses real, verified cost data from 71 cities worldwide — verified rent and utility costs sourced from World Bank ICP 2021 plus public-domain local rental indices, and age-adjusted international health insurance estimates. Every number has a source. You can pin cities side-by-side, toggle between city center and outside rent, and switch between “monthly budget” and “how long will my savings last” modes. Share your results with a partner or financial advisor via URL.
Can I retire on $2,000 a month abroad?
Yes — in dozens of cities. At $2,000/month with international health insurance, you can live comfortably in Chiang Mai (~$1,100/mo), Da Nang (~$900/mo), Medellín (~$1,200/mo), Budapest (~$1,150/mo), and many more. The calculator shows exactly which cities fit, with a real cost breakdown — not estimated averages. Source: WhereNext flagship city data from Ookla Speedtest, WHO, World Bank, and other public-domain datasets.
Does Medicare work abroad?
No. Medicare does not cover healthcare outside the US. Every American retiree abroad needs international health insurance ($100–$600/mo by age). This tool includes age-adjusted healthcare estimates. For deeper analysis, see our healthcare cost calculator.
What about taxes when retiring abroad?
US citizens owe federal taxes on worldwide income. Your former state may also claim you. Read our US state taxes guide for the 7-step clean-break checklist. For country-specific rates, use our tax comparison tool.
▶▼Methodology & related tools
Data sources & methodology
Costs are from 71 flagship cities with verified data from World Bank ICP 2021, Ookla Speedtest (October 2025), Climate-Data.org, EF EPI, and local government sources. Healthcare is estimated for international health insurance (not local public systems). Grocery costs are derived from meal prices. Currency conversions at 2026-04-11 spot rates.
Related: FIRE Calculator · Healthcare Costs · Budget Builder · Retire on $2,000/mo