Greece has jumped from 7th place in last year’s standings to first place this year in the “International Living” platform’s “Best Places to Retire in 2026” global index, with affordable housing, healthcare, sociability and low living standards boosting the country’s attractiveness for post-employment foreign nationals.

Greece beat out Panama, Costa Rica, Portugal, Mexico, Italy, France, Spain, Thailand and Malaysia to come in first.

According to a first-hand account posted in the article, Greece offers a significantly lower cost of living compared to the United States. An American retiree reports that her monthly expenses in Corfu amount to 2,900-3,000 euros, while in Boulder, Colorado, she would spend three times as much.
The cost of renting on the well-known Ionian Island ranges from 300-600 euros for houses inland to 800-1,000 euros for apartments with a sea view.

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