Portugal

Portugal secures the #1 spot by topping International Living's retirement index for six straight years. A retiree couple lives well on $2,500–$3,000/month covering rent, dining, and healthcare, outperforming #2 Costa Rica's $2000–3500 range for similar quality. The NHR tax regime offers 10-year tax breaks on most foreign pensions, while EU-standard public healthcare costs a fraction of private U.S. plans. English-speaking doctors abound in Algarve, the Silver Coast, and Lisbon, with 100+ years of expat community support.