~$840
Among the lowest costs of any major capital, residence-by-investment routes. 0–27.5% progressive PIT · Hot desert
City finder
Best places to retire abroad
Affordable, sunny cities that stretch a fixed income, ranked from the lowest cost of living. Every entry combines a warm climate with a cost base below most Western capitals.
Take the 2-minute quiz →~$1,120
Major digital-nomad hub, warm year-round, large expat community. 5–35% progressive (remitted foreign income taxed since 2024) · Tropical hot · nomad visa
3🇹🇭Chiang MaiThailand
~$1,120
5–35% progressive (remitted foreign income taxed since 2024) · Tropical mild · nomad visa
4🇹🇭PhuketThailand
~$1,120
Tropical island in southern Thailand, warm year-round, five-year DTV remote-work visa. 5–35% progressive (remitted foreign income taxed since 2024) · Tropical · nomad visa
5🇻🇳Da NangVietnam
~$1,120
Coastal city in central Vietnam, low cost of living, beaches and a growing remote-worker community. 5–35% progressive · Tropical monsoon
6🇲🇾Kuala LumpurMalaysia
~$1,160
0% tax on foreign income, Muslim-friendly hub, DE Rantau nomad visa, accredited private hospitals at low cost. 0% on unremitted foreign income; DE Rantau nomad visa · Tropical · nomad visa
7🇮🇩JakartaIndonesia
~$1,200
Capital and economic centre of Indonesia, tropical climate, E33G remote-worker visa for the foreign-employed. Progressive 5–35% · Tropical · nomad visa
8🇲🇾PenangMalaysia
~$1,200
UNESCO heritage city, affordable (~30% of the NYC cost index), English-speaking, well-known street food, established expat retirement community. 0% on unremitted foreign income; MM2H long-stay visa · Tropical island · nomad visa
9🇹🇳TunisTunisia
~$1,200
Mediterranean climate, French used alongside Arabic, low cost of living.. Progressive tax up to 40% · Mediterranean
~$1,280
5-year digital nomad visa, 0% on foreign income · Tropical · nomad visa
11🇻🇳Ho Chi Minh CityVietnam
~$1,280
Vietnam's largest city and main economic center, hot year-round, established expat community. 5–35% progressive · Tropical
12🇲🇦MarrakechMorocco
~$1,280
10–38% progressive · Hot, dry
This list includes cities in our dataset tagged low-cost and sunny, sorted by cost-of-living index (New York = 100). It is a starting point, not a recommendation: healthcare access, residence rules and taxation vary widely and should be checked with a qualified professional.
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What is the most affordable place to retire abroad?
The cities at the top of the list above have the lowest cost-of-living index in our dataset among warm-climate destinations. Your actual budget depends on housing, healthcare and lifestyle, which the budget calculator can model.
Does this cover pensions and taxes?
No. This page ranks cities by cost of living and climate only. Pension taxation and residence rules are regulated matters: consult a qualified tax advisor before deciding.
Other shortlists
These figures are indicative and based on public datasets. They are not tax advice. Consult a licensed tax advisor or financial professional before making relocation or employment decisions.