Portugal ideal for retirees

Portugal has been named the best country to retire in for 2020.

The annual Global Retirement Index, carried out by American firm International Living, saw Portugal voted the best place to retire in 2020 thanks to its low cost of living, climate and healthcare system.

The European country topped the table for retirees, beating off competition from Panama in second place, Costa Rica in third and Mexico in fourth.

“It’s the best-value destination in western Europe today,” International Living’s executive editor Jennifer Stevens said. “A place where not only do dollars really stretch, but where the quality of life is high, healthcare is excellent and low-cost, the pace is slow and pleasant and the populace is unendingly welcoming.”

The index uses real-life expat experiences to rank the 24 countries included in it, awarding them points for factors based on 10 categories, including housing, cost of living and healthcare.

High scores for Portugal in the climate category (88), entertainment (91) and housing (93), helped Portugal obtain a final score of 86.

Here are the top-10 best places to retire:

  1. Portugal

2, Panama

  1. Costa Rica
  2. Mexico
  3. Colombia
  4. Ecuador
  5. Malaysia
  6. Spain
  7. France
  8. Vietnam

Article published 16th January 2020