Cost, ownership and visa — weighted
Most “best places to retire” lists rank on sunshine and a vague cost-of-living index. This one weights three things that decide whether you can actually do it: what it costs to live there, whether a foreigner can own the home, and whether there is a retirement visa you can renew.
| # | Country | Monthly (couple) | Can a foreigner own? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laos | £1,250 | All land is state-owned, so foreigners cannot hold freehold land. Since the 2019 Land Law ... |
| 2 | Colombia | £1,400 | Foreigners can own residential property outright (100% freehold) in their own name, with t... |
| 3 | Cambodia | £1,400 | Foreigners can own condominium units outright with a strata title, on the first floor and ... |
| 4 | Cape Verde | £1,600 | Foreigners can buy property freehold with few restrictions, and purchases are registered i... |
| 5 | Ecuador | £1,600 | Foreigners enjoy the same property rights as Ecuadorians and can buy freehold with just a ... |
| 6 | Egypt | £1,050 | Foreigners can generally own residential property freehold across most of Egypt, subject t... |
| 7 | Dominican Republic | £1,650 | Foreigners buy with the same rights as citizens, taking full fee-simple (freehold) title i... |
| 8 | Philippines | £1,650 | Foreigners can own a condominium unit outright (freehold) as long as foreign ownership acr... |
| 9 | Turkey | £1,800 | Foreigners from most countries can buy freehold property outright, registered in their own... |
| 10 | Malaysia | £1,900 | Foreigners can own property above a state-set minimum price threshold. |
| 11 | Morocco | £1,900 | Foreigners can buy urban residential and commercial property freehold, registered in their... |
| 12 | Sri Lanka | £1,350 | Foreigners cannot buy land outright, but since 2018 can purchase freehold apartments or co... |
Cost carries the most weight, because it is the constraint most people are actually working within. Ownership comes next: a country where foreigners can hold freehold title in their own name scores full marks, one where you are limited to a lease or a right-to-use scores less. Then the visa — a dedicated retirement or pension route scores higher than getting by on tourist entries.
What the ranking deliberately does not include is weather, food or how nice the beaches are. Those matter enormously and you already know your own preferences; they are not something a table can decide for you.
A calm, green, landlocked country of the Mekong, French-Indochina charm and very low costs; Vientiane and UNESCO-listed Luang Prabang attract retirees who want quiet and slow living over crowds.
Ownership: All land is state-owned, so foreigners cannot hold freehold land. Since the 2019 Land Law and 2024 Condominium Decree, foreigners can own registered condominium units outright, while houses and villas are taken through long leases (commonly 30 years, up to 50 with the state).
Visa: Laos has no formal retirement visa. In practice, those aged 50+ obtain a long-stay (LA-B2) permit through a licensed local sponsor or agent for an annual fee, generally without a fixed income or deposit requirement.
See which of these fits what you are actually after — four questions, two minutes.