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A 7% flat tax on foreign income, a $2,000-a-month budget for a couple, healthcare that rivals anywhere in Europe — why International Living's 35th annual index just knocked Portugal and Spain out of the top spot
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International Living's Annual Global Retirement Index, now in its 35th year and evaluating 24 popular retirement destinations across categories including healthcare, cost of living, housing, visas, and climate, named a new country to the top spot for 2026, the first time in years that longtime favorites Portugal and Spain have been displaced from the position.
"Greece's rise to number one marks a shift in Europe's retirement landscape," said Jennifer Stevens, International Living's executive editor. "For years, Portugal and Spain led the way, but recent visa changes and rising costs have retirees looking elsewhere."
