Portugal tops the list again this year. Its D7 visa asks for roughly €820 a month in passive income, and retirees report living comfortably outside Lisbon on €1,500 to €2,000 total. Add in public healthcare access after residency and mild weather, and it’s easy to see why Americans keep picking it.
Panama isn’t far behind. The Pensionado visa needs just $1,000 monthly income and comes with tax breaks on foreign pension income plus discounts on everything from utilities to movie tickets. Many retirees settle in Boquete or Coronado for under $1,800 a month.
Vietnam is the surprise entry. There’s no dedicated retirement visa, so most retirees renew long stay visas annually, but $1,200 a month covers rent, food and healthcare in cities like Da Nang. Private clinics are affordable even without insurance.
Mexico and Ecuador round out the group, both offering visa income thresholds under $1,500 and established expat communities that make the paperwork and culture shock easier to handle.
The pattern across all five: none demand six figure savings, just steady income and realistic budgeting.
My Take…
Portugal, again. Because of course. €820 a month buys the D7 visa, and apparently €1,500 to €2,000 gets you a whole life outside Lisbon. Healthcare, mild weather, the works. Basically the retirement version of picking Friends over Seinfeld: safe, comfortable, everyone does it.
Click on the link below for the full article:
https://qz.com/best-countries-retire-abroad-fixed-income-2026#panama
