According to a Retirement Report produced by the Global Intelligence Unit, Portugal was elected in 2025 as the best country in the world to retire.
Portugal scored 92.61 points in 100 as scored highly in the Safety and Integration and Quality of Life areas as number 2 as well as in Citizenship and Mobility as the 4th best country.
The Global Retirement Report covered 44 countries in 4 different continents.
In the world ranking, Portugal was followed by Mauritius and Spain.
Direct Golden Visa competitors’ countries like Italy, Malta, Greece and Cyprus were elected respectively in the 6th, 8th, 12th and 14th positions.
What is the Global Retirement Report?
The Global Retirement Report is based on a data-driven analysis of different alternatives for retired visa holders. It uses 20 indicators into 6 different topics: Procedure, Citizenship and Mobility, Economics, Taxes, Quality of Life and Safety and Integration.
Southern European countries like Portugal excel in quality of life, healthcare, mobility and family inclusion. Portugal also offers now an attractive tax program denominated IFICI.
Who can move to Portugal?
Apart from the main applicant for the Golden Visa or other D Visas, the path for coming to Portugal also includes:
- The spouse or legal partner
- Minor children
- Dependent adult children
- Dependent parents
- Minor siblings under the applicant’s care
Healthcare in Portugal
Portugal provides healthcare services at very affordable costs compared with countries like US and UK.
Residents in Portugal can use both public healthcare as well as private healthcare linked with insurance policies. Private healthcare plans cost less than €100/month, compared to 4–8 times more in the US.
Cost of living advantages
Apart from healthcare, the daily cost of living is much lower than most of the developed countries.
For example, according to Numbeo, the overall cost of living in Portugal, including rent, is around 32% lower than in the United States.
When comparing major cities, the differences are even more striking:
- Lisbon is 39% cheaper than Washington, D.C.
- Lisbon is more than 52% cheaper than New York City
Lifestyle benefits for retirees
While financial savings are important, most retirees moving to Portugal highlight lifestyle factors as the real value:
- Safety: Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world, with strict gun control.
- Relaxed lifestyle: A healthier balance between work and life.
- History and culture: The oldest borders in Europe, 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, and a deep cultural heritage.
- Food & wine: High quality and affordable compared to US prices.
Best retirement destinations in Portugal
In addition to Lisbon, popular destinations such as Porto, Cascais, and the Algarve attract many retirees and families who are looking for a balance of affordability and quality of life.
English is widely spoken in Portugal and expat communities are spread across the country.
Visa options for retirees
Both the Golden Visa program as well as the D7 Passive Income Visa are the most popular pathways for retirees who are coming to live in Portugal.
The Portuguese Golden Visa is currently one of the few remaining reputable programs in Europe and it is expected that a future set of measures will improve the program, leading to an increase of the demand to levels higher than ever before.
Why choose The Blue Portugal?
The Blue Portugal is a leading immigration company in Portugal and has an enviable track record and reputation in serving its customers, many of them being retired already.
Our strength is finding the appropriate solution according to your need and providing detailed analysis on the different investment options for you to make an informed decision.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
