Later this week we’ll be releasing the Live And Invest 2026 Overseas Retirement Index and it’s fair to say we’re more than a little excited…
We’ve scoured the globe, exploring far-flung locations across Europe, Latin America, and Asia, to bring you our list of exceptional havens.
Whether you seek sun-soaked islands, cultural marvels, or off-the-beaten-path adventures, there’s something for you on our list of the world’s best places to retire in 2026.
Indeed,2026 might be the most exciting year on record to produce a list of the world’s best places to retire. More people than ever before are considering moving abroad—a lifestyle choice that not long ago was considered unusual if not completely contrarian.
Because moving abroad is such a hot topic, more information about it is available than ever before. But more information doesn’t always equate to good information…
Many of those currently producing lists of the world’s best places to retire gloss over the most important stuff, like how to get residency, what your tax picture will be, and other practical considerations. They also omit the potential downsides and ugly truths…
Instead, these list-makers provide a superficial overview, focusing on what’s fun and exciting about moving abroad rather than getting into the nitty-gritty of it. These kinds of “best of” lists make for enjoyable reading… but they’re not useful for much else.
If you’re serious about moving abroad, you should seek advice from people who know what they’re talking about… people with a long track record and decades of experience with this topic, rather than those who only recently jumped on the bandwagon…
You should also seek advice from people who actually live the lifestyle that they recommend to readers… people who have gone through the trials and tribulations of launching life in a new country… In other words, fellow expats.
That’s exactly what our annual Overseas Retirement Index provides.
Join us January 8. for our annual global index reveal.
Our editorial team is made up of real-life expats who’ve been lucky enough to explore the world extensively. We have first-hand experience with moving abroad, and we’re among the few that can honestly say, “I’ve been in your shoes,” as you consider this big life change.
We brought that perspective to bear as we crafted our list of the ultimate retirement havens to consider in 2026. We know what’s important to expats and hold no punches, giving as comprehensive an overview as possible for each place that we recommended.
The 2026 Overseas Retirement Index emphasizes havens that welcome expats with open arms. These places offer better weather, slower paces of life, vibrant culture, and lower costs of living… and choosing any one of them could turn the page to a richer, more fulfilling chapter of your life.
So… where in the world are they…?
Join us this Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET for our Discover 2026’s Top 12 Retirement Havens Webinar to get the inside track from our gathered experts. This special event is free for you to attend. All you need to do is sign up here
For now, we’d like to give you a taste of what’s in store…
Our Overseas Retirement Index stands apart from all the rest for several reasons but one key one is that we don’t just point to countries and say “go there”… rather we pinpoint destinations sometimes to a region, more often to a particular town, city, or village.
After all, telling you Mexico, for example, makes sense for retirement isn’t exactly helpful… Mexico is a country of over 131 million people covering 761,610 square miles… We know you need to know where in Mexico makes sense… just as you need to know where in any country stands out for an easy and enjoyable expat life.
From cool-weather colonial gems in the highlands to sun-soaked resorts along the coast, Mexico offers a wealth of havens for expats seeking a more affordable and enjoyable lifestyle in retirement.
Long established havens include San Miguel de Allende, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, Lake Chapala, Cabo San Lucas, and beyond… but where exactly is our 2026 pick…?
All will be revealed in the 2026 Overseas Retirement Index, released this Thursday. For now, what we can tell you is it’s a spot that’s home to a welcoming expat community… you can easily access home comforts and first-class health care… you can even get by in English… And you can enjoy the good life here on a monthly budget of around $3,300—for a couple.
Then there’s our Portugal pick… It’s got sunshine, every imaginable recreation and entertainment option, great food, friendly locals, and if you know where to look, life here can be a bargain.
And then there’s Panama… a country that really packs a punch when it comes to expat havens…
The capital, Panama City, offers every imaginable convenience, glittering malls, air-conditioned gyms, golf, social clubs, top-notch dining options, and a well-organized expat community…
Or perhaps you’d like to go barefoot in a beach town like Bocas del Toro, Pedasí, or Playa Venao… Or enjoy the best of both world’s with easy access to the sea and the city in Coronado…
Your options abound here but for us, this 2026, there’s one place that stands out above the rest…
We reveal every pick and explore them in-depth in the soon-to-be-released 2026 Overseas Retirement Index… coming this Thursday. Stay tuned…
Sincerely,
Victoria Harmer
Editor, Overseas Opportunity Letter
