Some Americans planning for retirement may find their ideal post-work lifestyle in another country rather than the United States.
According to TIAA's 2025 American Retirement Confidence Survey, about a third of the 1,000 American respondents ages 18 to 65 are not confident they can afford their day-to-day expenses for the rest of their lives due to the fluctuating state of the economy.
Seeking a lower cost of living, people are considering retiring abroad more than ever, especially as the idea enters the mainstream media and becomes less intimidating. Not only are some other countries more affordable, but they can also offer better health care, climate and safety.
Debunking the expat lifestyle: The most expensive country for expats (and the cheapest)
For those interested in making the leap, Live and Invest Overseas – a resource for how to live, retire and invest abroad – recently released its annual index of the best overseas retirement destinations for 2026. To develop the ranking, Live and Invest Overseas analysts weighed 14 factors, ranging from cost of living to real estate restrictions and recreation, drawing on on-the-ground experiences from its team of expats and data from sources such as the Legatum Prosperity Index and the Global Peace Index.
