Retirees are saying adios to the US.
Boasting plenty of beaches, top-notch food, a wealth of nearby travel destinations, a lower cost of living and a pleasant warm climate — it’s not hard to see why American retirees are swapping out domestic locales like Florida, Georgia and South Carolina for Spain.
According to InterNations, an organization dedicated to building a global community of expats, Spain offers Americans the highest quality of life and the most abundant leisure activities — making it the top European country to move to.
Spain is also ranked among the top countries for travel, assimilation and health care — the country is ninth best on the 2025 Health Care Index, while the US is 39th.
The tax rate in Spain is slightly higher, as the country operates on the worldwide taxation system, but per Forbes, given the benefits that it offers — allowances for inheritance, property taxes, access to high-quality health care and some exemptions for those 65 and up — many expats find it worthwhile.
Global Citizen Solutions specifically ranked Spain the No. 1 country for American retirees in its 2025 report, and estimates that the average monthly cost of living is around $2,000 to $2,500 — which often includes rent.
“I started investigating the residency requirements for moving to Spain. My pensions just met the financial threshold. I started gathering documents, ordered an FBI report and got an apostille. My doctor wrote a letter saying I had no infectious diseases, and I bought Spanish health insurance,” said an American retiree, Marsha Scarbrough, who detailed her Spain expat experience in an essay for Travel + Leisure.
“I printed bank statements, took passport photos, filled out forms and paid fees online. Finally, I had everything translated into Spanish by a certified interpreter.”
For retirees and those not planning on pursuing school or work opportunities in Spain, you can move there on a non-working, or non-lucrative, visa. Visitor visas, which can last up to nine months, can also be an easy way to spend an extended period in the country before deciding to move.
Given the impending social security cuts that many Americans are set to face, moving abroad to enjoy a high quality of life without the rising costs of living in the US seems to be a popular choice for retirees.
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