Top Retirement Destinations Ranked: Safety, Cost, Healthcare, Visas (U.S. Compared)

Top Retirement Destinations Ranked: Safety, Cost, Healthcare, Visas (U.S. Compared)

By Karl & Tina – Your Time To Travel

Retirement looks different than it did a generation ago. More couples over 50 are asking a practical question: Where can we live well, feel safe, access quality healthcare, and keep our lifestyle comfortable without runaway costs?

That’s exactly what this article answers. We took a shortlist of popular retirement and slow travel destinations and ranked them using a consistent scorecard — and we included the United States in every ranking for a direct comparison.

Important note: all monthly cost estimates below assume an upper-middle-class retired couple lifestyle — not bare-bones living and not luxury penthouse living. Think: a comfortable 1–2 bedroom rental in a desirable area, dining out regularly, transportation, activities, and healthcare planning built into the budget.

Countries Included

These are the destinations evaluated in this episode and article, plus the U.S. benchmark:

  • Portugal
  • Spain
  • France
  • Italy
  • Greece
  • Malaysia
  • Thailand
  • Costa Rica
  • Panama
  • Mexico
  • United States

How the Ranking Works

We scored each country across six categories that matter most for long-term retirement living and slow travel:

  1. Safety (Global Peace Index rank)
  2. Cost of living (upper-middle-class retired couple monthly estimate)
  3. Healthcare quality (ranked for retiree practicality)
  4. Public transportation & ease of travel (ability to live well with less car dependency)
  5. Retirement visa ease (program clarity + income requirements + typical renewals)
  6. Currency advantage vs USD (how far the dollar tends to stretch, or simplicity like Panama’s USD use)

Each category produces a rank (1 = best). We then combine category ranks to produce the final Your Time To Travel Scoreboard.

1) Safety: Global Peace Index

As retirees, we care about safety differently. We’re not just thinking about a weekend trip — we’re thinking about the stress level of daily life, the overall stability of a place, and the reality of living there long term.

The Global Peace Index (GPI) ranks 163 countries. Lower numbers indicate more peace and stability overall.

GPI Rankings (Lower = Safer)

  • Portugal: #7
  • Malaysia: #13
  • Spain: #25
  • Italy: #33
  • Greece: #45
  • Costa Rica: #54
  • France: #74
  • Panama: #84
  • Thailand: #86
  • United States: #127
  • Mexico: #135

What this means: In this group, Portugal, Malaysia, and Spain stand out as top-tier on peace and stability. The U.S. ranks near the bottom of the global table, and Mexico ranks even lower. That doesn’t mean every neighborhood in the U.S. is unsafe or every part of Mexico is dangerous — but it does give us a real-world baseline for comparative risk.

2) Cost of Living: Upper-Middle-Class Retired Couple (Monthly USD)

This category is where many retirees get their biggest “aha” moment. A lot of people assume “retiring abroad” means living cheaply. But the goal for most couples isn’t cheap — it’s comfortable, predictable, and sustainable.

Below are the estimated monthly costs we used for an upper-middle-class retired couple lifestyle:

Country Upper-Middle-Class Couple (Monthly USD)
Malaysia $3,500
Thailand $3,600
Mexico $4,200
Greece $4,500
Portugal $4,800
Panama $5,200
Spain $5,200
Italy $5,300
Costa Rica $5,500
France $6,500
United States $8,500

What this means: Malaysia and Thailand give you the strongest lifestyle value per dollar in this group. Portugal and Greece often represent a “best-of-Europe value” for retirees who want Europe’s walkability and culture without France-level pricing. The U.S. sits in a completely different cost tier for many couples trying to maintain an upper-middle lifestyle.

3) Healthcare Quality (Ranked for Retiree Practicality)

Healthcare isn’t just about great hospitals — it’s about the full retiree experience: access, outcomes, affordability, and what you can realistically use without financial pain.

Here is the healthcare ranking we used in the episode/article:

  1. France
  2. Spain
  3. Thailand
  4. Portugal
  5. Malaysia
  6. Italy
  7. United States
  8. Costa Rica
  9. Panama
  10. Mexico
  11. Greece

What this means: France and Spain set a global standard for strong healthcare systems in a retiree-friendly environment. Thailand and Malaysia stand out because their private healthcare can be excellent at a fraction of U.S. costs. The U.S. has elite medicine — but the average retiree experience often suffers due to cost and access issues.

4) Public Transportation & Ease of Travel

As we age, mobility becomes a quality-of-life issue. Retirees who can walk, take a train, hop on a metro, or travel regionally with ease often experience less daily stress — and less dependency on driving.

This category reflects a practical reality: how easy is daily life and regional travel without needing a car?

Transportation & Ease of Travel Ranking

  1. France
  2. Spain
  3. Italy
  4. Portugal
  5. Greece
  6. Thailand
  7. Malaysia
  8. Mexico
  9. United States
  10. Panama
  11. Costa Rica

What this means: Europe dominates here because it is designed for train travel and walkable living. Thailand and Malaysia do well in major metros and for regional connectivity. The U.S. ranks low largely due to car dependency outside a small number of dense metro areas.

5) Retirement Visa Ease: Income, Type, and Typical Length

A retirement dream becomes real only when you can legally stay long-term. This category looks at how straightforward it is to obtain retirement-friendly residency options, including income requirements and typical renewal structures.

Note: Visa rules can change, and requirements can vary by consulate. Always verify current requirements before applying.

Country Visa Type (Common Path) Income Requirement (As Used in Episode) Typical Length / Renewal
Panama Pensionado ~$1,000/month pension (+$250 per dependent) Permanent-style residency pathway
Costa Rica Pensionado $1,000/month lifetime pension Renewable (often structured in multi-year terms)
Portugal D7 (Passive Income) Income-based (varies by year and household) Renewable residence permits
Thailand Retirement (O / O-A pathways) 800,000 THB deposit OR 65,000 THB/month income Typically 1 year, renewable
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa 400% IPREM (plus additional for spouse/dependents) Typically 1 year, then renewals
Mexico Temporary Resident (Financial Solvency) Consulate-dependent (financial solvency thresholds vary) Up to 1 year initially, renewals may extend up to 4 years
Malaysia MM2H (Tiered) Higher financial requirements (often includes deposits) Multi-year terms vary by tier
United States N/A N/A N/A

What this means: Panama and Costa Rica are retiree favorites largely because their programs are clear and approachable. Portugal’s D7 is one of Europe’s more popular pathways for retirees. Thailand’s retirement system is well-known but requires ongoing compliance. Spain and France can be excellent lifestyle choices, but they tend to be heavier on documentation and financial proof.

6) Currency Advantage vs the U.S. Dollar

Currency can function like a quiet lifestyle boost. In places where the U.S. dollar tends to stretch further, you often feel like your retirement income goes farther — especially when your biggest costs are local (rent, dining, services, transportation).

Currency Advantage Ranking (Best → Worst)

  1. Panama (uses USD)
  2. Mexico
  3. Thailand
  4. Malaysia
  5. Costa Rica
  6. United States (baseline)
  7. Portugal (Euro)
  8. Spain (Euro)
  9. Italy (Euro)
  10. Greece (Euro)
  11. France (Euro)

What this means: Panama’s use of USD removes currency friction entirely. Mexico, Thailand, and Malaysia often provide strong purchasing power for U.S.-based income. Euro countries can still be fantastic, but they don’t typically provide the same “currency boost” effect.

Final Your Time To Travel Scoreboard (Composite Ranking)

When we combine all six categories into a single scoreboard, we get the final composite ranking — and yes, we ended with a tie for first place.

  1. Portugal (Tied for 1st)
  2. Thailand (Tied for 1st)
  3. Spain
  4. Malaysia
  5. France
  6. Italy
  7. Panama
  8. Greece
  9. Costa Rica
  10. Mexico
  11. United States

Why Portugal and Thailand Tied for First Place

Portugal and Thailand finished tied for the top spot because they excel in different — but equally valuable — ways for retirees and slow travelers over 50.

Portugal is the classic “balanced winner”: elite safety, strong healthcare access, walkable cities, and simple travel throughout Europe. Thailand is the “value champion”: incredible lifestyle comfort for the monthly cost, plus excellent private healthcare and strong infrastructure in major hubs.

When safety, cost of living, healthcare quality, transportation, visa accessibility, and currency impact are weighted together, they land as two of the strongest all-around options for retirement and long-term slow travel in this analysis.

Portugal vs Thailand — Why Each Wins

Category Portugal Thailand
Safety (GPI) Top 10 globally (#7) Mid-tier in this list (#86)
Cost of Living (Upper-Middle) Strong for Western Europe ($4,800/mo) Elite value ($3,600/mo)
Healthcare Strong public + private access Excellent private healthcare value
Transportation Walkable cities + rail + EU access Strong in major cities, easy regional travel
Retirement Visas D7 (renewable) Retirement visa (typically annual renewals)
Currency Euro stability (less USD boost) Baht often favors USD earners

Bottom line: Choose Portugal if you value safety, walkability, and Europe’s accessibility. Choose Thailand if you value affordability, healthcare value, and lifestyle flexibility.

Watch the Episode + Explore More Resources

Watch the full episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/0_1WENX4Xbw

Explore resources, guides, and our journey:
https://yourtimetotravel.life

Want Help Preparing for Life Abroad?

If this episode has you thinking seriously about retirement or slow travel overseas, don’t guess — prepare.

Our step-by-step e-guide walks you through how to plan before you go: what to sell, what to keep, how to structure finances, what to consider for healthcare, and the common mistakes retirees make overseas.

Get the guide here:
Adventure: Wanderlust & Wealth — The 50+ Guide to Selling It All and Retiring Abroad

Sources Used (Data References)

Disclaimer: Visa rules and income thresholds can change and may vary by consulate and applicant circumstances. Always verify current requirements through official government sources before applying.

Your time. Your choice. Your time to travel.

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