PORTUGAL BEST PLACE TO RETIRE IN 2020 ( nod to a friend ) On Thursday, Internati

PORTUGAL BEST PLACE TO RETIRE IN 2020

( nod to a friend )

On Thursday, International Living magazine released its 2020 list of the best countries to retire abroad, and Portugal snagged the No. 1 spot, earning high marks for quality health care, a reasonable cost of living and the ease with which you can fit into life there (people are friendly, and, while it’s not an English-speaking country, many locals speak English). It climbed from the No. 7 spot a year prior.

Panama took the No. 2 spot on the list, with high marks for the benefits/discounts it gives retirees (its pensionado program affords seniors discounts on everything from entertainment to train and bus fares to restaurants and prescriptions) and the ease of getting visas and residency. Panama is also relatively safe, with a low cost of living and decent health care.

10 best countries to retire abroad

1. Portugal

2. Panama

3. Costa Rica

4. Mexico

5. Colombia

6. Ecuador

7. Malaysia

8. Spain

9. France

10. Vietnam

To rank these countries, the magazine asked its correspondents and on-the-ground experts living in 24 different countries to rate their countries based on housing, benefits/discounts, visas/residency, ease of fitting in, development, climate, health care, governance, cost of living and other factors.