Today, Monday (12/1), the travel magazine International Living published the 2026 edition of its traditional report on the best countries for retirement. The 34th edition evaluated the world’s top destinations for retirees in categories such as cost of living, health, housing, visas, climate and ease of integration.
The new edition of the ranking showed that a new destination took the lead: Greece. “Greece’s rise to number one represents a shift in the retirement landscape in Europe,” says Jennifer Stevens, editor-in-chief of International Living magazine. “For years, Portugal and Spain led the market, but recent changes in visas and rising costs have pushed retirees to look for other destinations,” he adds.
The southern European country, known for its paradise islands, has become famous for being cheaper than neighboring countries, but still offering an excellent quality of life. “Greece now offers what many seek: a beautiful, welcoming and affordable European base with viable housing options and an enriching lifestyle in every sense of the word,” says Stevens.
Greece has risen six places since the 2025 edition of the rankings. The government grants residence permits to foreigners who buy homes for 250,000 euros (about 1.5 million Brazilian reals), which is less than the fees in other European countries.
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Greek islands to enjoy the European summer
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Oia Santorini Greece
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Santorini is one of the main tourist attractions in Greece
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Two-bedroom apartments start at €600 (R$3,700) on the islands and at least €300 (R$1,800) on the mainland.
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Another advantage of Greece, according to the magazine, is the possibility of living close to nature, in less crowded areas, but close to advanced medical facilities, exhibitions, supermarkets and airports.
Brazilians do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in Greece.
Second place on the list went to a Latin country: Panama. The small Central American country took second place thanks to several benefits, such as the “Pensionado Program,” which offers a series of benefits to retirees, such as a 50% discount on cultural options, 30% on transportation, 15% on airline tickets, and 15% on medical expenses.
Another highlight of the country is the cost and benefit. Rent for well-located 90 square meter apartments starts at US$550 (R$2,900), depending on the rating.
Brazilians do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in Panama.
Learn about the 10 best countries for retirement in 2026:
- Greece
- Panama
- Costa Rica
- Portugal
- Mexico
- Italy
- France
- Spain
- Thailand
- Malaysia