✦ Relocation guide
Where to Live in 2027
Fresh starts at home and abroad, compared honestly
Thinking about moving? This guide compares places that suit people starting a new chapter, especially in their 40s, 50s and 60s, by what matters day to day: community, healthcare, cost, safety, climate and how hard it is to move there.
How to choose
Score each place you are considering on these seven questions. The best fit usually wins on community and healthcare, not on price alone.
- Community: are there clubs, classes, churches, volunteer groups and people your age who are also new in town?
- Healthcare: how far is the nearest good hospital and specialist care, and will your insurance work there?
- Cost of living: rent or home prices, utilities, food and taxes compared with what you pay now.
- Safety: check the city on our Safe Travel Dashboard and walk the neighborhood at night before you sign anything.
- Climate: if heat affects your health, cooler places and higher elevations are easier to live with all year.
- Getting around: can you walk to shops and cafés, and is there a nearby airport for visits home?
- Paperwork: moving abroad means a residence visa, health insurance and tax questions. Allow months, not weeks.
Places in the United States
| Where | Why people move there | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Asheville, North Carolina | Arts, hiking, breweries and a large, social community of newcomers over 50 | Housing has become expensive; mountain roads in winter |
| Burlington, Vermont | Small, friendly lake city with a university, festivals and a cool climate | Long, snowy winters; limited big-city services |
| Santa Fe, New Mexico | Art galleries, culture, high-desert sun and many active retirees | High altitude; dry climate; summers can be hot |
| Sarasota, Florida | Beaches, theater and one of the largest over-50 social scenes in the country | Heat and humidity; hurricane season; insurance costs |
| Charleston, South Carolina | History, food and a walkable downtown with many newcomers | Summer heat; flooding in low-lying areas |
| Saratoga Springs, New York | Spa town with racing, music and wellness, close to Central New York | Winters; popular in summer |
Places abroad
Every country below has a route for people with steady income or savings, but the rules and income limits change. Always confirm the current requirements with that country's official consulate before you plan a move.
| Where | Why people move there | Residency route to ask about |
|---|---|---|
| Lisbon & Porto, Portugal | Large English-speaking expat community, mild climate, good food and trains | The D7 visa for people with passive income (pensions, rentals, savings) |
| Valencia, Spain | Beach and city in one, lower costs than Madrid or Barcelona, mild winters | The non-lucrative residence visa for people who will not work in Spain |
| San Miguel de Allende & Mérida, Mexico | Two of the biggest over-50 expat communities, with clubs and volunteer groups | Temporary residency based on income or savings |
| Montreal & Quebec City, Canada | Close to New York, cultured, French-speaking and cool in summer | No retirement visa; most routes need work, study or family ties |
| Medellín, Colombia | Spring-like weather all year, modern city and low costs | Visas for pensioners and people with savings; check safety by neighborhood |
The safest places abroad for retirees, pensioners and people with disabilities
These countries consistently rank near the top of the Global Peace Index for low crime and political stability, and each has a residency route that works for people living on a pension, Social Security, disability benefits or savings. Income limits change every year, so treat the figures below as a starting point and confirm them with the country's consulate.
| Country | Why it feels safe | Residency route to ask about | Good to know for retirees and people with disabilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | Low crime, stable EU member | D7 visa for passive income, set at about the Portuguese minimum wage per month for one person | Public and private healthcare, accessible transit in Lisbon and Porto, large English-speaking community. Foreign pensions are now taxed, so speak with a tax advisor. |
| Costa Rica | Long-standing democracy, no army, friendly expat towns | Pensionado residency with a lifetime pension of at least $1,000 a month; disability pensions qualify and there is no minimum age | Affordable public healthcare (CCSS) after you join, good private hospitals in San José, warm climate. |
| Panama | Stable, uses the U.S. dollar | Pensionado visa with a lifetime pension of at least $1,000 a month; permanent residency from the start | Retiree discounts by law on medical bills, medicines, travel and utilities; modern private hospitals in Panama City. |
| Spain | Low violent crime, EU member | Non-lucrative residence visa for people with savings or passive income who will not work in Spain | Excellent healthcare, strong accessibility in cities, mild climate on the coast. Tax residency starts after 183 days a year. |
| Ireland | Among the most peaceful countries in the world, English-speaking | No retirement visa; most retirees apply for permission to stay as a person of independent means | Familiar language and culture, U.S.–Ireland tax treaty, good private healthcare. Higher cost of living. |
| New Zealand | Consistently in the world's safest top five, English-speaking | Limited: parent and investor routes rather than a simple retirement visa | Strong disability support and accessible public spaces, clean environment. Expensive, and residency is hard to get. |
| Iceland | Ranked the most peaceful country in the world year after year | Very limited for non-Europeans; ask about self-support residence permits | Very safe, excellent public services, English widely spoken. High cost and long, dark winters. |
| Slovenia | Small, calm EU country with very low crime | Temporary residence for people with sufficient income or savings | Lower costs than Western Europe, Alps and coast within two hours, good healthcare. |
| Japan | Extremely low crime, very orderly | No retirement visa; a long-stay visa for people with substantial savings | World-class healthcare and the most accessible public transit anywhere. The language can be a barrier. |
| Malaysia | Stable, multicultural, English widely spoken | MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home) with a fixed deposit, or a regional retirement program | Affordable, high-quality private hospitals; low cost of living. Tropical heat all year. |
| Canada | Very safe, close to New York | No retirement visa; routes depend on work, study or family | Familiar, easy to visit home, strong healthcare once you qualify. |
| Mexico | Safety varies a lot by state; the popular retiree areas are calmer | Temporary or permanent residency based on income or savings, set by each consulate | Close to the U.S., affordable private healthcare, big expat communities in Mérida, San Miguel de Allende and Lake Chapala. Check the U.S. travel advisory for the exact state. |
Our top three picks
- Best overall for safety and healthcare: Portugal. Calm, affordable by Western European standards, and easy to get around.
- Best for people living on a pension or disability income: Costa Rica. The Pensionado route has one of the lowest income levels, includes dependents, and accepts disability pensions at any age.
- Best for discounts and simple paperwork: Panama. Permanent residency from day one and retiree discounts written into law.
Money and health insurance abroad. Social Security can be paid to you in most countries, but Medicare generally does not cover care outside the United States. Plan for international or local health insurance before you move.
Where to get legal help
- Every U.S. embassy keeps a list of local attorneys who serve American citizens. Look for “American Citizens Services” on the embassy website for your destination.
- Passport questions: National Passport Information Center, 1-877-487-2778.
- U.S. citizens in an emergency abroad: 1-888-407-4747 from the U.S. and Canada, or +1-202-501-4444 from overseas.
- For visas, residency, taxes or giving up U.S. citizenship, speak with an attorney who specializes in Americans moving abroad.
Try before you move. Rent for one to three months in the season you like least (winter in New England, summer in Florida or Mérida). It is the cheapest way to find out if a place feels like home.
Your moving checklist
- Visit twice, in two different seasons.
- Find a doctor and confirm your health insurance works there before you move.
- Join two groups in the first month: one for a hobby and one for volunteering.
- Abroad: U.S. citizens still file U.S. taxes. Speak with a tax professional who works with expats.
- Keep copies of your passport, prescriptions and important records in the cloud.
- Check the city on our Safe Travel Dashboard and enroll in the U.S. State Department's free STEP program.
Want help scouting a new home?
We can plan a one- or two-week scouting trip with stays in two or three neighborhoods.
Book a free planning callStarting over after 50This guide is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Visa rules, income limits and costs change; confirm current requirements with official government sources before you decide to move.