Europe’s Bargain Hotspots

Many North Americans looking to make a move overseas discount Europe right off the bat, thinking a retirement there is financially out of reach.

This is a mistake.

While of course you’ll pay a premium as a tourist in many of Europe’s capitals, the truth is that even they can be affordable choices if you know where to look and how to live like a local.

Right now, I’m in Paris and, believe it or not, my husband and I spend less here than we do when we’re at our home in Panama City, Panama.

Look beyond the big cities and you’ll find havens that offer much of the same appeal but fewer tourists, more authentic cultural experiences, and lower prices.

Here are some of my top recommendations for a retirement in Europe at a price that won’t break the bank…

1. Abruzzo, Italy

Italy has two faces. On one hand is Tuscany and the Italian Riviera, long-established brand-name destinations. Here the grand villas trade for multimillions of euros, and cities like Florence and Portofino cater to the world’s jet set.

On the other hand is Southern Italy, traditionally Tuscany’s stepsister. This part of this country is known as the cheaper alternative to chicer spots in the north.

Abruzzo, in the southeast, has everything the recognized best of Italy (that is, Tuscany) has to offer. But nobody’s paying any attention. This means lower prices and fewer tourists.

Both coast and mountains are available in Abruzzo. Across its 83 miles of coastline is one of the highest densities of “Blue Flag” beaches in all of Italy. (These stand out for their above-average quality.)

In winter, you can ski in the morning and be sitting at the beach enjoying a glass of wine in the afternoon.

It also offers dozens of quaint villages where you can embrace the quintessential Italian country living experience. A lifestyle that’s stress-free and filled with one great meal and bottle of wine after another? What more could you want?

Abruzzo is still several years away from being a recognized vacation spot and even further away from being the household name that Tuscany is, but the tide is turning.

For now, the cost of everything is unbelievably undervalued. A couple could live comfortably on US$1,600 per month or less in Abruzzo.

Tavira, Portugal

The Algarve region in southern Portugal is one of the world’s best places to live, especially for retirees. It’s well-known internationally, home to big, long-established expat communities.

All this popularity has led to important infrastructural upgrades and improved amenities, but it has also driven up prices. The region, taken as a whole, is no longer the budget destination that it used to be.

But there’s one corner of it that’s held on firmly to its authenticity, both in terms of its culture and its cost of living. Tavira is an attractive little fishing town in the eastern Algarve that features all the trappings of a traditional Algarvean settlement: cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings, lacework chimney pots, and azulejo tiles.

If you want a view to the Algarve of centuries past, before the golf courses and beach resorts were put in, look no further than Tavira. For those that know it, it’s the most beautiful, authentic town in the region.

Tavira is spliced by the River Gilão, the slow-moving waterway that sets the pace of life in this sleepy town. Entertainment options—promenades and swaying palms, open-air cafés, and restaurants serving the day’s catch—unfold on either side of the river.

Tavira is less expensive than the Algarve’s brand-name towns, like Lagos and Carvoeiro. A couple’s basic monthly budget should come to no more than US$2,500.

Kotor, Montenegro

Croatia is Europe‘s most sought-after destination right now, loved for its dramatic landscapes, clear ocean waters, and medieval cities.

Right across the border from Dubrovnik, though, offering the same appeal without the tourist crowds and inflated prices, is Kotor.

Kotor is a fairy-tale historical town surrounded by towering mountains on one side and the dazzling Adriatic on the other, which combine to create otherworldly views. It overlooks the same stretch of water as Italy, boasting stunning fjords and a pristine landscape.

It’s tiny but densely packed with interesting things to see and do. Its Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and widely considered the best-preserved medieval town in the Mediterranean. It even features ancient stone walls, which line the city on two of three sides and stretch for about 3 miles. Kotor delivers Old World charm in spades.

Kotor is still undiscovered by mainstream tourism, especially among Americans. The result is an undeveloped tourism market and non-tourist prices. About US$2,000 per month is all you need to live a comfortable life in Kotor.

We’ll be diving into all Montenegro has to offer next month at our online Access Montenegro Workshop. More on that, here.

Gozo, Malta

Most visitors to Malta never make it to Gozo, Malta’s sister island. They’re missing out. Gozo has a more romantic feel to it than densely populated Malta where each town spills into the next and there’s little in the way of landscape.

In Gozo, there’s more of a sense of adventure, the potential to go off grid and enjoy some of the best views of the sparkling Med. Yet, in less than 15 minutes, you can also be in a lively town, people-watching from an outdoor table at a trendy bar or café.

Gozo offers a simple lifestyle, with a scattering of traditional villages, all featuring homes, restaurants, and businesses organized around a central church and town square.

None of Gozo’s villages has a population bigger than 7,000, so a safe, small-town feeling permeates across the island.

For such a small island, Gozo houses several surprises, like ruins so old they make the pyramids look adolescent and an oceanic blue hole that is a diver’s paradise. But what’s most shocking about Gozo is how underrated it is. It receives none of the congestion that mainland Malta experiences.

Gozo is only 3 miles from Malta, but this slight separation and the need to take a ferry to travel there have been enough to preserve Gozo’s small-town appeal.

If you’re after a traditional village setting shared by expats and locals, as well as proximity to the sea, access to Europe, and a cost of living of about US$2,000 per month for a couple, you’ve got to go to Gozo.

Northern Cyprus, Cyprus

Cyprus is the third largest and third most populous island in the Mediterranean, sitting at its far eastern edge. It’s divided from east to west: The southern two-thirds of the island is called the Republic of Cyprus, and the northern third is officially called the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, commonly known as just Northern Cyprus.

The Republic of Cyprus joined the eurozone in 2008 and uses the euro for all transactions, including real estate. Northern Cyprus is an exception to this list, because it uses the Turkish lira as its currency, not the euro. But the lira has lost half its value compared to the dollar in the past year alone, and prices were cheap even before the devaluation.

Here you could live a luxury lifestyle on the beach for as little as $1,200 euros a month—really. A healthy meal and a cold glass of wine costs just 10 euros a person, for example. Real estate costs as little as one third of the cost of similar property just over the border in the Republic of Cyprus.

What else does Northern Cyprus offer? It’s blessed with year-round warm weather, clear blue waters, and over 400 miles of coastline.

English is so commonly spoken, you’d never have to learn the local language (in fact, the locals even speak English amongst themselves).

The food is light and fresh, fish and salad served with every meal. The landscape is dramatic, with a mountain range to the south, the sea to the north, and an extended peninsula that offers some of the most fantastic beaches in the country.

Until next time,

Kathleen Peddicord
Founding Publisher, Overseas Opportunity Letter