Forbes Names 96 Retirement Havens in 24 Countries for 2026

3 articles · Updated · Forbes · Jul 31

Forbes’ 2026 list highlights 96 places across 24 countries where Americans can retire abroad, with no country on the roster carrying a higher overall cost of living than the U.S. average.
Lower housing and healthcare costs drive much of the appeal: examples include $400-a-month rent in Ho Chi Minh City, $450 in Albania and $2,200 for a three-bedroom apartment in Mauritius.
The ranking also weighs residency rules, taxes, climate risk and travel links, noting trade-offs such as Vietnam’s 90-day visa runs and the need for retirees abroad to keep paying Medicare Part B from $202.90 a month.
Forbes says moving overseas does not erase U.S. tax obligations, though some destinations exempt foreign pension or Social Security income and the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion can shield up to $130,000 in 2026.
New additions include Mauritius and Vietnam, while climate concerns reshaped recommendations after wildfires and heat led Forbes to drop France’s Bordeaux region from this year’s picks.