When it comes to retirement, whether you’re seeking a lower cost of living that doesn’t sacrifice quality of life or aiming to immerse yourself in a different culture, moving to a foreign country during your golden years is a major decision. While countries like Portugal, Spain, and Mexico have recently become popular among retirees for their lifestyle, healthcare, or residency options, we spoke with five retirement professionals who all highlighted Greece as the best country for American retirees.
“Few countries allow retirees to enjoy a seaside lifestyle, excellent climate, rich cultural heritage, high-quality healthcare, favorable tax incentives, and access to Europe at such a competitive cost,” Jeronymo Kontonis, founder and CEO at JK Property & Yachting/Luxury Portfolio International told Travel + Leisure. “Greece gives Americans a lifestyle upgrade, not just a cheaper retirement.”
The country recently topped International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index for 2026 and Jennifer Stevens, the platform’s executive editor, said it’s because Greece has “reached a rare sweet spot,” blending affordability and opportunity
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“After years of economic recovery and renewal, Greece feels like a country on the rise. And with residency options that include a Golden Visa pathway from 250,000 euros for certain qualifying investments, it has never been easier for international retirees to make a life there,” Stevens explained.
Since staying within a budget is essential for most retirees, Greece’s cost of living is often highlighted as its main draw. Leena Horner, an International Living correspondent and a retired gynecologist who settled on the island of Corfu, told T+L that a couple living comfortably in the U.S. on $5,000–$6,000 a month can “often recreate that same quality of life here for $2,500–$3,000, depending on where they settle and how they live.”
“The cost of living is meaningfully lower than in Colorado, and we live for about a third of our cost of living in the United States in a house twice as large with a sea view. We live debt-free and enjoy eating out three to five times a week, getting massages, and traveling around Europe,” Horner explained. “Food costs are startlingly low if you shop and eat the way Greeks do—seasonally and locally. A table of fresh vegetables with local feta, a stick of grilled chicken souvlaki, good olive oil, a carafe of wine, and figs for dessert grown on the tree in your back garden—fresh, simple, local food for dinner is normal.”
Another surprisingly low expense is private healthcare. Retirees seeking shorter wait times and access to better clinics and hospitals usually opt for private health insurance, which, depending on the plan, age, and preexisting conditions, can cost as little as 200 euros per month per expat re
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Of course, the overall cost of living varies and mainly depends on the place of residence. For retirees whose budgets allow it, Athens offers the convenience of a walkable city, a vibrant arts and culture scene, quality private healthcare, and widespread use of English in many areas, Lupo shared. Other conveniences include museums, restaurants, local markets, and public transportation.
“For American retirees who want the comfort of world-class infrastructure while enjoying a Mediterranean coastal lifestyle, the Athenian Riviera is difficult to match. It offers the most international environment in Greece while retaining its Greek character and charm,” Kontonis added. In addition to Athens, Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is also where senior adults will find a majority of English-speaking doctors, established immigrant communities, and plenty of housing options at different price points.
Crete, Greece’s largest island, is home to beautiful beaches, a relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle, excellent food, and cheaper real estate. However, Lupo noted, retirees may need to travel to the mainland for highly specialized medical care
Meanwhile, the Peloponnese is emerging as a favorite among retirees. This often-overlooked retirement haven, located at the southern end of Greece, draws Americans with its ancient villages and slower pace of life, among other things. “Regions such as Nafplio, Kalamata, and the coastal areas of Messinia offer stunning scenery, excellent climate, lower property prices, and a more traditional Greek way of life,” Kontonis said. Horner agreed that Peloponnese is where expats will find “authentic Greece—medieval villages, olive groves, a gentle lifestyle—without the crowds the islands attract. It’s easily accessible from Athens but feels a world away.”
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However, all five experts agree that, beyond practical indicators, retirees who thrive in Greece also appreciate non-tangible factors such as a strong sense of community and a much slower pace of life. “Greece rewards presence, participation, and patience. It does not particularly reward people who want everything to work the way it did back home,” Horner added
“Greece invites you to slow down, and for most retirees—especially those like me coming from the frenetic pace of American professional life—it is deeply restorative.”
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