Beyond Benidorm: The Best Places for Brits to Retire Abroad

Many British retirees move abroad because they want to experience a new culture, and they fully integrate themselves into it.

For decades, retired expats have tended to flock to familiar favourites, with France, Spain and Australia often topping the list.

Yet, with the cost of living climbing, post-Brexit visa rules shifting, tax systems evolving, and global lifestyle trends changing, a fresh set of destinations has come to the fore.

Today, the decision on where to retire hinges on far more than just sunshine and property prices; it also involves navigating post-Brexit legal changes and financial consequences.

So, do the long-standing favourites still hold up? Which countries are gaining traction? And what practical, financial, and legal factors now demand consideration?

These are some of the questions we ask (and answer) in our 2025 Worldwide Retirement and Emigration Destinations report.

Countries were assessed using 10 factors: visa access, cost of living, taxation, healthcare, economy and stability, climate and lifestyle, safety, language and integration, property ownership, and travel connectivity.

The top-scoring destinations overall were Ireland, Portugal and Cyprus. This was largely down to factors such as ease of residency, tax advantages, safety and cultural familiarity for Britons.

Here is a snapshot of what we found out:

• Visa Access

Post-Brexit, Britons face stricter visa requirements in EU countries, except for Ireland under the Common Travel Area.

Some non-EU destinations like Panama, Thailand, and Malta offer dedicated retirement visas.

• Cost of Living

Thailand offers the lowest living costs, with Portugal, Panama, Spain, Cyprus, and Greece also highly affordable outside tourist hubs.

Malta, Italy, Ireland, and rural France are moderate, while Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S. vary by region.

Australia is costly. Southern Europe and select tropics offer the best value.

• Taxation

Several destinations offer favourable pension tax regimes or no inheritance tax (for example, Cyprus, Greece, Italy’s southern regions, Malta, Panama). Meanwhile, some countries have complex tax systems requiring careful planning.

• Healthcare

Many European destinations (France, Spain, Portugal, Malta) provide high-quality public healthcare, often accessible to UK pensioners via the S1 scheme. Thailand and Panama excel in affordable private healthcare.

• Climate and Lifestyle

Mediterranean countries score highly for climate and lifestyle appeal. Countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Canada offer outdoor living but at higher costs and greater distances from the UK.

• Safety

Ireland, Cyprus, Portugal, and New Zealand rank among the safest, with easy cultural integration for Britons. Language barriers exist in some countries unless English is widely spoken or expat hubs are established.

• Travel Connectivity

Proximity to the UK remains a major factor; Ireland, Spain, France, and Portugal offer short, frequent flights, while destinations like Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand require long-haul travel.

Here is a breakdown of how the top 10 countries scored: