Yesterday we launched our 2026 Overseas Retirement Index—the 18th in Live And Invest Overseas’ history.
It’s the most comprehensive and useful guide to where and how to retire overseas this year available anywhere, packed with data and in-depth analysis to help you determine which of the 12 tempting spots could be the place to launch the new life of your wildest retirement dreams.
Overseas Living Letter readers have exclusive access to the full 168-page report. If you’re not yet an Overseas Living Letter subscriber you can sign up here with this special offer to gain instant access.
When sizing up a potential expat haven, there are 14 factors that every retiree needs to consider. We call these our Key Relocation Criteria and included among them are health care, climate, the level of English spoken, and residency options.
We determined these 14 factors through decades of advising folks about how to move abroad and making many international relocations ourselves. Our team is made up of real-life expats, so we have first-hand experience with this.
One of the most crucial of those factors for retirees is cost of living. Here’s a look the destination that received an A+ grade in this all-important category thus crowning it the world’s most affordable retirement haven for 2026…
Live Like Royalty On Just $1,442 A Month
In this beautiful beach town you can enjoy rich living on a modest budget. The bang for buck you get here is truly remarkable.
Studio apartments in well-equipped complexes can be rented for under $400 a month. One-bedroom, furnished apartments can be found for $550 a month. For $700 a month, you could rent a well-located two-bedroom villa or three-bedroom townhouse.
You can buy studio condos here for under $50,000. One bedroom condos start around $70,000 and houses from around $85,000.
A couple can dine out for as little as $10. Opt for more upscale restaurants and you’ll pay around $25 for two. Include a bottle of wine and a table in a sea view restaurant and dinner still won’t set you back more than $50, including tax and tip. Coffees run from $1 to $2, a beer is around $2, and a glass of wine around $5.
For golfers, 18 holes will set you back anywhere from $45 to $120 depending on your pick of the nearby courses.
Health care is high-quality and so affordable that you can pay out of pocket. A GP visit will cost around $30 and a 24-hour stay in the local JCI-accredited hospital is $233 for a standard room which has A/C, a TV, bathroom, intercom, a sofa for relatives, and WiFi. That price includes meals and a nursing fee.
Sincerely,
Victoria Harmer
Editor, Overseas Opportunity Letter
