The FIVE BEST Countries to Retire in Europe

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you all for watching. Need help with moving to Europe? Contact Kalie at ExpatsEverywhere to either have a consultation with her or get put in touch with a reputable relocation company. Email her at [e-mail] - Josh & Kalie

[@attseung]

Hey, you guys forgot to mention the Portuguese language requirements for its citizenships. Great video though.

[@BigNate82]

Don't simply retire from something; have something to retire to...

[@kostyanm3329]

Bulgaria does not tax retirement income from foreign countries,has a good weather and low cost of living ,easy to get retirement visa,very safe country

[@MrBCWalker01]

Folks need to remember that France, Spain, and Portugal have overseas territories that are co-equal with the home territory in legal terms. If being on the European continent is not desirable then look into those overseas territories. (The UK has a similar, but by no means identical, thing with its own overseas and offshore territories.)

[@mjg239]

@@MrBCWalker01 good point ! If one has an EU residency or citizenship you can also go to warm island places like Madeira 🇵🇹 , The Canary Islands 🇪🇸, the Balearic islands, French Polynesia 🇵🇫 Réunion 🇷🇪 🇫🇷, etc. any other beautiful and warm and overseas EU territories ?

[@keangwooichoo6138]

You mean like canary island?

[@Takosaga]

For Latvia, A2 is needed for permanent residency. Most of the young people and people working in Riga do speak English. The winters have long nights and summers have long days. It has low cost of living if you compare on Numbeo to other EU capitals and though it is near Russia, Latvia is a part of NATO.

[@houseman7315]

Folks from what I understand US citizens don't have to give up their passport to receive the Spanish one, its more of a ceremonial renunciation/oath.

[@nelcyoviedo19]

Exactly.

[@coolrunnings5383]

Essentially, you have to swear to Spain that you will give up your other citizenships upon aquiring Spanish citizenship. Quite a few have done so and maintained their other citizenships; it's a risk they are willing to take. I asked a lawyer about this as I am pondering acquiring Spanish citizenship by descent ...

[@tavira24]

Austria, let's set the record straight. Firstly, the easy part, Austria does not have Austrian, German and English as languages. It has German. Secondly, retirement visas are on a strict quota, which is tiny. The quota is generally used up in the first day of January. Thirdly, you need German proficiency at A2 level.

[@macaccount4315]

Exactly I was taken back by that too.

[@ivanxyz1]

On paper you are right that Austria speaks German. I studied in Austria for one year and I have gone there many times after that. I definitely would say Austria speaks Austrian. The people there can certainly speak German. No doubt. But amongst themselves, no.

[@macaccount4315]

@@ivanxyz1 I certainly understand them. I think of it as an accent. But swiss German is a whole other language 🤣

[@tavira24]

@ivanxyz1 I live in Austria and they speak German amongst themselves. You obviously cannot understand dialects.

[@tavira24]

@macaccount4315 Yes indeed, Switzerland another topic altogether.

[@MamaLlama007]

Really enjoyed this video! Would love to have you interview expats with A US military retirement in Portugal. Unique situation! Thanks!

[@steven_dekok]

My wife is from Romania and she literally escaped by jumping on a train. We recently started going back a few years ago and fell in love with the country. We have a flat in Brasov and we have started buying more real estate for income when we retire there full-time in 3 years. They recently passed a new law that says you can become a Romanian citizen after 10 years of marriage to a Romanian citizen, even without living in the country. I will be eligible to be a Romanian citizen here shortly!

[@DavidWilliams-qr5yj]

That's great 👍

[@peterbedford2610]

Andrew = personal business agenda

[@DavidWilliams-qr5yj]

Andrew = Boring 😊

[@JonM-ts7os]

lol

[@pedrolopes3542]

Lol, between Spain and Italy, go to Italy. The Central part of Italy and the south have much lower cost of living than Spain because of the real estate cost being much cheaper in Italy (but not Northern Italy), the laws in Italy are better, less communistic, lower property taxes, lower income tax, beautiful scenary (even better than in Spain), culturally richer than Spain, and in Italy, the anti-foreigner and anti-tourism sentiment is not as strong as in Spain... So...

[@robertoposa1120]

Absolutely the best - Italy has everything and the unique 7% tax scheme for many places from central to the south

[@sacroyalty]

Hmm, if Italy is so great why are houses nearly free in so many areas? Honestly curious, never been and not trying to hate on it.

[@BushmasterBrackett]

The town of Orvietto is beautiful

[@shaunperth]

Oh boy you certainly need to do your homework on Italian Taxes😂

[@marklesliewoods]

@@sacroyaltyA lot of big villas with 2-3 apartments were built in the 20th century, due to the previous Italian tradition of entire Italian families living in separate apartments located in a single building. Italians had 4-10 children back then. Today’s Italian families are smaller, on average 1-2 children, and these smaller families don’t need and can’t afford the big houses - which cost a fortune to heat and maintain in today’s economy. Many individuals and young couples are forced to move thousands of miles away from families to find work, as well. Consequently, these splendid multi-family villas are under occupied or empty, and this is one reason why the prices are driven downward. Simultaneously, because Italian has a lot of homes that young families don’t want, rental prices are very high in cities. Additionally, Italian banks make getting a mortgage almost impossible for a lot of working Italians. Once again, it’s a buyer’s market for folks from abroad with cash and income.

[@macaccount4315]

I split my retirement between Zurich and Porto. We have multiple places including a few in Porto. Switzerland is considered the very best place in the world 🌍 ❤. Most importantly is geo-arbitrage to minimize taxes. You definately don’t want to be a taxpayer in some of the countries you mentioned.

[@redlime2212]

That's very interesting concept, would you mind sharing how you do it? We are considering Portugal but retirement is not for a number of years yet, concerning about the tax implications on our 401k/IRAs when we do... without NHR, the cost seems to be a lot scarier

[@macaccount4315]

@@redlime2212 exactly. I spend almost six months a year of the year (just under the tax threshold in Portugal but claim tax residency in Switzerland). I have to pay taxes in the US and some nominal taxes in Switzerland but do not pay in Portugal as its tax rates are too high. You can geo locate amongst multiple counties but ultimately you want to be filing in a tax jurisdiction that is no greater than the US. There are totalization agreements with most countries which can help. Now, not everyone will benefit from this, and you may prefer to live in Portugal because of the quality of life or cost. I have many friends who feel the incremental costs are worth it and offset by a better quality of life. A lot will depend upon what your income is, how much time you want to spend in a country and if you are willing to split time. One thing about Portugal is that if you do retirement visa, it is assumed you will be a tax resident so you have to carefully think it through. A golden visa is nice because you do not have to be a resident for more than a week a year (residency not required). It’s all complicated but achievable with planning 😀

[@PozoBlue]

What is geo arbitrage? I love switzerland but taxes seem extremely high there, no?

[@SueIsRetiringToFrance]

Hey guys! Good to see you on my feed again! Portugal broke my heart last year with the visa changes. Southern France September 2025! A base to visit all of Europe, plus my Tour de France, the Giro di Italia, and the Vuelta de Espagne all easily doable! After learning Portuguese (A2) in the pandemic, I am now immersed in French. It is actually easier after learning that insane "r" sound for Portuguese!

[@Kar1ocha]

Funny! I’m Brazilian and my “r” in European Portuguese had to be improved too hehehehe

[@ritalangenfelds7801]

I was so intrigued that you had Latvia on your list but you are right. Being a Canadian-Latvian citizen married to a Portuguese-Canadian we spend a great deal of time in Europe based in Latvia and Portugal. The Latvian language is not easy to learn, but surprisingly the sounds are very phonetic and similar to Portuguese. Learn the rules of the language and then it becomes easier. Having travelled extensively throughout Europe you have compiled a very appropriate list. Thank you for all your videos!!!

[@pkmuhammedhisan]

Personally..as per my personaliy... Portugal is for me anyday !

[@nelcyoviedo19]

I think you should look more into the dual citizenship. We have already talked to lawyers and have many dual American and Spanish citizen friends. Both born in USA who became Spanish and Spanish that became American. You do not have to relinquish your American citizenship to become a Spanish citizen. And it doesn't take 10 years.

[@shinyshinythings]

For most people, 10 years of residency is indeed required before you can apply for Spanish citizenship. (You may know some people from former Spanish colonies, who have a two-year residency requirement.)

[@b2balliance]

If you were born in a latino american country, you only need 2 years of residency to get spanish citizenship

[@nelcyoviedo19]

@@b2balliance an born in USA just 5 not 10.

[@pedritu147]

You’re so cute and still in love with my country (well, our country now)! Long live to you and thank you for staying with us!

[@fjorddenierbear4832]

Spain offers one of the best tax rates for maximizing your fiscal solidarity without having to think about where to donate your money. Enjoy a 30-40% tax rate. Spain is on my list of places to actually retire tho, but preferably when I no longer have an income stream.

[@rachelkieffer8707]

It's Portugal for us, we plan to move there in 3 years when my husband retires. I have a path to citizenship for France and Portugal based on ancestry and chose Portugal because my husband does not want to move to France. My only worry at the moment is the taxes on our retirement income, which is not high, so will need to consult a good tax expert.

[@jeremiahreilly9739]

Hi guys. Thanks for a friendly response to Andrew at Nomad Capitalist. I watch his videos too, but part with him on his extreme allergy to taxes. I hate beaches and sunshine, so I am one of those people whose "short list" differs significantly from the usual. I have happily immigrated to Switzerland! One small comment/question about a con you mentioned in your video: namely, some countries do not permit dual citizenship. So, taking up citizenship in Spain or Austria means giving up US citizenship. Yeah? Do you like filing tax returns in two countries and having your investments and finances mangled. Maybe it doesn't affect you, but it is a real pain in the neck for me.

[@StevenCovey-ct3sx]

Andrew is for high net worth clients. Yes tax and visa matters are huge factors for him. He gave up his American citizenship for darn sake.

[@keangwooichoo6138]

True

[@NXTSTOP]

We love your videos and always useful content! We do however believe the information you provided on the availability of dual citizenship with US is incorrect as to Spain. We are members of the Spain Revealed community and have taken a Move To Spain Masterclass offered by the channel’s founder, James Blick. He has had a Spanish immigration attorney discuss this issue and the conclusion is that it is entirely possible for a US citizen to have dual citizenship in Spain. The only way a US citizen can give up his/her citizenship is to go the a US Embassy and personally renounce it, pay a large fee and possibly a departure tax depending on net worth. Any other form or attempt by another state to have you renounce your citizenship is not recognised by the US. Also, we have family members who are dual US-Spain citizens and have both passports. They have lived in both countries. (They also hold Brazilian passport as well). I would recommend suggesting anyone who is considering Spain to retain a Spanish immigration attorney. It would be money well spent! Thanks and looking forward to more great videos! Ken and Vanessa

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thanks for the input, Ken and Venessa. Obviously, we’re not immigration lawyers and we have heard of some cases where Americans have gotten Spanish citizenship. Let’s just say, it’s not a problem on the U.S. side. It’s a problem on the Spanish side and could be a problem for someone not on the list of second citizenship. By the way you’ve worded your comment, we wholeheartedly agree with the immigration attorney that it’s entirely possible, however, it seems to be a matter of application than the law if you understand what I mean. So while we understand where you’re coming from, we don’t feel it’s incorrect to say that Spain by law doesn’t allow dual nationality with certain countries.

[@NXTSTOP]

@@ExpatsEverywhere Yes, I believe your last sentence is accurate from my recollection. ( I am also a US lawyer and I’ve done some research, but nothing in the context of an actual case, so disclaimer this is not legal advice) (lol ) Spain doesn’t technically allow dual nationality so if a person applies and is granted citizenship in Spain, they are considered solely Spanish. On the flip side, the US also doesn’t recognise dual citizenship either, so in Washington’s eyes that same person remains only American. End result: A person has 2 passports. We’re looking into Spain but the timetable is out 3-5 years from now so eventually I’ll have better info to share. Separately, we’re curious to know if there was anything about Italy besides it being hot in summer that made you count it out? It’s one of our possibilities (along with Spain) and it seems like a good option. Because of my ancestry we would have a reduced time period for citizenship. But apart from that, how would prices compare? If you have any insight or maybe videos we’d enjoy listening!

[@shinyshinythings]

@@NXTSTOPCheck out Numbeo for cost-of-living comparisons. The main negative thing I hear about Italy is (as usual) the bureaucracy.

[@muradhasanjoy19]

I really loved this one!

[@Nancy-o8y8p]

Thank you for more good information. Always appreciated.

[@greenb6149]

Great video as always

[@DavidWilliams-qr5yj]

Kudos josh and Kaylee. I stumbled upon your video by accident and it was a breath of fresh air. For some reason my youtube logrism keeps giving me andrews no mad capitalist. I felt like I needed to go take a shower after watching each of his videos. Even though some of us are in the six and seven figure net worth.... I always feel like we're just not good enough for andrew.lol 😂 But siriusly , the vast majority of us are not and will never be high networth individuals. Not sure why the KZbin gods keep showing me Andrew's videos.But I was thankful to stumble on yours. I will like and subscribe.obtw im 8 years retired in CHIANGMAI THAILAND 🇹🇭 😊 we love ❤️ it. Even though we travel internationally, often. Our net worth continues to grow. Kudos again 😊

[@shinyshinythings]

You don’t have to give up your US passport to become a Spanish citizen. There’s a formality in the procedure of becoming Spanish that requires you to give up all allegiances other than to the King of Spain. Does the US recognize that? Of course not, they need the tax revenue! So to lose your US citizenship and stop having to file US taxes, you need to physically go to the US, pay a huge fee, and go through a procedure, including an in-person interview. I don’t think it’s even true that you’re required to turn in your US passport in Spain when you become a citizen. However, once you’re a dual citizen with any EU country, it’s essential to enter and leave the EU on your local passport, and save your US passport for entering and leaving the US. (Also: if you hold a passport as a natural-born citizen of any former Spanish colony, including Puerto Rico, the 10-year wait is reduced to two years.)

[@oscarsantas6528]

A ver si nos enteramos, España nunca tuvo colonias...eran virreinatos¡¡¡¡

[@ofeliaariaswilliams7151]

It should be mentioned also that Spain has excellent healthcare. According to numbeo rankings, it ranks #7 worldwide. France ranked #6 Austria ranked#10. So if you mention Austria you should also mention Spain for healthcare.

[@robertoposa1120]

Austria is one of the most expensive in Europe and if Italy with all the advantages it offers didn’t made the cut I really don‘t know how Austria could !! You really need to take a much closer look to Italy!!!

[@teddydavis2339]

Austrian and German are the same. It's just closer to Barvarian German.

[@TexasDoug393]

Mine in reverse order just to participate: Spain (Valencia/Malaga), Montenegro (Kotor Bay), Italy (Puglia), Portugal (Madeira), and Greece (Nafplio, Paros, Lefkada). Latvia, way too cold. : ) Cost of living and weather are priorities for me.

[@sonorangreenman4472]

Thanks! I enjoyed your format and insight. It is easy to get different "best of" lists because of human diversity. I usually can tell if I would enjoy a place if enough info is supplied. Crime is important, and taxes and visas and monthly visa minimum income amounts are important.

[@shinyshinythings]

You can sort of tell based on information … but really, you have to live in a place for a while to know if it’s for you or not. Even a month or two will tell you what you need to know.

[@sonorangreenman4472]

@@shinyshinythings totally agree, thanks

[@GeraldFigal]

I totally agree that the people is a huge draw for Portugal (I also like the coastal access and easy direct flights to the U.S.). That’s probably the main reason my heart is still in Portugal while my head is increasingly leaning France. France makes a lot of sense for us for retirement-you mention some of the reasons. There are far more options for cities of various sizes and vibes, much better overall infrastructure than Portugal, and great rail connectivity within the country and to neighboring countries. Plus my French is coming back to me pretty well as I’ve been brushing up. I’m not too concerned about safety in France because it really depends where you are-there are sketchy places to avoid in most cities. And there is still nowhere near the level of violent crime that exists in the U.S. We are likely going to be checking out Bordeaux and Toulouse and surrounding area in the southwest in May/June (I’m drawn to the atypical brick architecture of the old center city and the historical and cultural connections Toulouse has with Spain-including a serious tapas bar scene; I’m drawn to seafood, wine, proximity to the coast, 18th-century bourgeois architecture that was the model for Paris, and the 2-hour non-stop high-speed train to Paris that Bordeaux has). Both cities have inexpensive direct flights to Porto and Lisbon-about an hour and a half to Porto, so we could easily pop over and hang out with you tripe-eaters! 😜

[@keangwooichoo6138]

Andrew henderson is a global citizen and also business minded. He thinks differently. I am from KL where he sometimes reside. Like who wants to live in colombia or invest in bangladesh? So he thinks differently. On the opposite side there is nomad elite gerard summer. Who is critical of andrew.

[@terrys1464]

My wife and I are going to retire in 2-3 years. We are in the process of booking our travel to Portugal to see if it is the right place for us. Your videos are helping us, or should I say leading us to Portugal. LOL

[@terrisokolow7796]

Another good one!

[@mcp2112]

I like this list! Latvia, hadn't really thought about it. Have y'all spent any time in Slovenia?

[@sbkpilot1]

English proficiency in Spain is poor and while Spanish 101 may help in the grocery store or train station you're not going to have any conversations and to add to it Spain is one of the most difficult places to learn Spanish as the natives speak at lightning speed and with a bit of an unclear accent compared to Latin America (in my opinion).

[@Mr.S65]

How can Spain take away your American citizenship? Would the U.S. accept people giving up their U.S. nationality? What about Uncle Dearest?

[@mjg239]

I'm American based in Germany (I'm not German by descent). I'm curious why didn't Germany make the list? Also for anyone who doesn't want to retire in Germany or left Germany for other locations could you all share why you made your choices and where you went? I'm very curious.

[@mradventurer8104]

Relatively high costs of living and weather is not that great but yes it is probably a good country to live in as it offers nature, good healthcare etc.

[@warrentrout]

Plus language difficulty, long dark cold winters

[@jeffkunce8501]

Thanks for the great follow-up to the controversial video! You did a good job of reviewing his points from the point of view of your core audience. I think that Andrew's clients are primarily finance-focused and have 10 million US$ in the bank. Nothing wrong with that, but I like your focus on enjoyment of local life on a more modest budget. Did you end up attending his event in Malaysia?

[@pauladosch7062]

Yes, definitely two distinct audiences.

[@joseph8947]

Does Portugal tax retirement Social Security from the US? I pay $0 in the US. So will they tax me in Portugal?

[@i0r-r-tjtkttl]

Thank you!

[@alexgray9886]

Good video! A sensible point of view for people, the great majority, who have somewhat less than "6 figure wealth or figures".

[@teodoro1007]

When you said Latvia, I said never in this life 🤣 Terribly cold, I'm a Lithuanian pass holder, and my family is totally frightened about Russia 😕 Of course, I'm an Argentina pass holder, which is good for nothing. Maybe I have a right to a third one, but I don't even want to name it. Coimbra where you made that vid about the studios with Sandra, is still my home and unsurpassable. Porto (or Vila do Conde, as you said) are fantastic options 👍. Soon I’ll have to visit Porto, maybe we'll meet.

[@warrentrout]

Obsurd to pick. Travel around and see what YOU like. For wealther people, taxes will be a big show stopper for many countries. Spain and others are great for low income

[@freyagrayden9851]

they do not speak austrian in austria. they speak german. kinda like saying in the US that they speak American and English

[@ivanxyz1]

Lived in Austria and go there often. Yes, Austrians speak Austrian. I know officially, Austrians speak German. And yes, they have the ability to speak German, no doubt. But amongst themselves, no. Not only that, the different regions speak different Austrian dialects.

[@JP7onEarth]

Josh, have you hired extra security? Taking on NC! Yikes! Will wait to hear back. JP Porto

[@i0r-r-tjtkttl]

I am waiting to see what you will do after 10 years, after tax scheme goes back to the normal rate.

[@2010katak]

France doesn’t tax revenue made outside of France so tax is zero for retirees

[@pauladosch7062]

Spain has a wealth tax in most areas on assets over $700,000. Something to plan around.

[@macaccount4315]

And for many Americans who have 401ks, this is a terrible tax

[@NXTSTOP]

Unless you are extremely wealthy as in being a multi-millionaire then the wealth tax is not a serious concern.

[@macaccount4315]

@@NXTSTOP I’m a simple tax finance guy who helps people plan

[@shinyshinythings]

It’s a different floor in different autonomous communities, not uniformly 700K, where it exists (and it’s not in every autonomous community).

[@pauladosch7062]

Yes, am aware “in most areas” like Madrid and Andalusia. Requires planning.

[@oscarsantas6528]

Las personas se quejan de que en Europa se pagan muchos impuestos (sobre todo en España)...pero, que tenemos a cambio al pagar tantos impuestos? -Sanidad gratuita. - Educación gratuita. - Paro ( después de trabajar dos años si no encuentras empleo el estado te paga un sueldo).-Permiso de Maternidad y Paternidad (cuando tienes un hijo tienes 16 semanas para el cuidado del niño y te pagan lo mismo). -Un sistema de transporte (España con diferencia el mejor del mundo). -Sistema de transplantes el mejor del mundo y gratis -Un lugar donde el colectivo LGTBI es libre . -La alimentación con precios más o menos asequibles. -Ayudas a la vivienda, ayuda a las mujeres maltratadas, ayudas a la drogadicción, ayudas a la infancia, becas escolares, ....etc, etc , etc...todo esto se llama Calidad de Vida¡¡¡¡ Entonces no entiendo que un ciudadano americano hable de impuestos, cuando en EEUU se pagan impuestos y que tienen? coches?...comida procesada? armas? contaminación? personas sin hogar? personas con problemas mentales sin asistencia? adictos a las drogas en las calles sin asistencia? personas pagando la universidad toda una vida? personas que no pueden llamar a una ambulancia por lo costoso que es?...no sigo....pero si que debemos reflexionar un poco y preguntarnos de dónde venimos y a dónde vamos....

[@louaceveu1925]

No lo podias decir mejor. Qué puta casualidad, todo el mundo se queja mucho de nuestros impuestos pero muchisima gente quiere vivir en nuestro país pues los impuestos en sus países no hacen lo que nuestros impuestos hacen en España.

[@markgold5408]

If you give up your us citizenship, you will also lose your social security. That is a big negative

[@DT-vc7hd]

If all you have is a pension or social security then your advice is fine. But if you've saved up a nest egg and are living off dividends and interest, look carefully at wealth taxes in your target country (especially Spain).

[@shinyshinythings]

The wealth taxes in Spain are so overblown … it’s 2-3%, where it exists, and that’s not everywhere. (The ‘solidarity tax’ is everywhere, but lower.) However if you’re a high net worth type of person, you’re most likely going to be getting a residency-by-investment visa anyway, and that does not require residency for tax purposes. (And yes, they’re getting rid of the real estate investment option soon, but it hasn’t happened yet, and all the other options will still be there.)

[@DT-vc7hd]

@@shinyshinythings I disagree. If you're an average middle-class American, you're generally considered retirement-able with 1-2MM in savings. If that nest egg includes the sale of your primary residence, and you have no other source of income, you don't want to be paying a wealth tax of 1-3% on top of all expenses.

[@camiller4916]

France also has a wealth tax on real estate (besides primary home).

[@DT-vc7hd]

@@camiller4916 Yes, real estate "wealth" taxes are very common

[@jeanineh6006]

Hey guys! Great video! We just got back from Nice, France and it was amazing. The ability to get to Monaco, Cannes, and Antibes quickly on a train is awesome. Great location! Also, heard from a little bird that 2025 or 2026 may have a new NHR coming down the pike for Portugal. It's not confirmed yet, but it's in the budget and being looked over now. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🇵🇹

"France" - Andrew just fainted

[@dinaroman382]

Hi guys! How long have you been in Portugal? And how is your portuguese now?

[@lisaknudsonlcsw3730]

I remember hearing that you cant live there as an expat unless you have basic understanding of the language

[@keangwooichoo6138]

I guess everyone has their own place in the world

[@runderwo]

Latvia and Austria did not allow you to leave your home to buy food if you were not "vaccinated". Portugal and Greece had dumb pandemic rules but did not force people to choose between staying inside their homes and taking part in mass medical experiments.

[@rdderrick75]

It would be helpful to have a list/table w info like this…eg, pre covid NZ and Australia seemed attractive; after COVID, no

[@wavemastery1786]

Clever observation❤

[@alessandrosilva4441]

Many expats only think about taxes and fail to consider good countries to live. It's not just a question of money, although that aspect is important. I still think Portugal is the best option in Europe, as long as you bring in income from elsewhere. Salaries are low and this helps to ensure that the cost of living is not so high compared to other European countries. In terms of cost of living and safety, I would give up Lisbon and Porto and the surrounding area. The cost of housing is high and these are very touristy places where there is a higher incidence of pickpockets, for example. Expats love the Algarve, but it only works well during the summer (and everything is more expensive too...). It is possible to have quality of life in slightly smaller cities like Braga, Coimbra or Aveiro (good infrastructure, health, education, leisure options, etc.). Regarding the climate, the further north the colder it will be, but this is a matter of personal preference. Whichever country you choose, learn the local language. Enjoying local culture is always one of the best things about living in another country.

[@ajdrums8075]

We went for the Greek Golden Visa (Crete specifically) after trying Turkiye, Portugal and Spain although it has recently massively increased from 250k propert purchase to 800k for the most in demand areas. Chania Old Town is beautiful and the beaches are gorgeous. Bodrum Turkiye is a close second but there is a language barrier with less English spoken. I personally would never recommend Portugal after having lived there a year as it's windy, cold water, bad Robusta coffee as standard. Rents are way overpriced too

[@Luckyamor]

Depending on the area of Portugal, you talked about northern Portugal. Did you visit central and southern Portugal? Did you go to Madeira?

[@ajdrums8075]

@@Luckyamor I lived in Praia Da Rocha but visited many places throughout Portugal

[@mikecaloura1185]

Portugal all the way

[@ajdrums8075]

@Luckyamor KZbin will probably delete link but just for a reference I will show one of my favourite hangouts in Bodrum Turkiye, I can assure you nothing comes close in Portugal. Water always warm and still too kzbin.info95Hb-DZANNw?si=suylkv3GwmYL0q4K

[@ajdrums8075]

@@mikecaloura1185 Each to their own. It's ideal for windsurfing if that's your thing.

[@keangwooichoo6138]

Eastern europe i heard georgia? Poland?

[@royking7298]

The no mad capitolist? Hmm.... I can't watch him without feeling just a little queezy. Even nauseated. Occasionally repulsed. Because of the theme I did watch many of his videos non-the-less. Finally I stopped. Nice to hear your info on France. France, Germany and Italy were always alternatives for me. But like you I love Portugal.

[@Hdio99]

funny exactly like u felt, that guy is just an uptight person, we looks to have this kind of mind very selfish, that meets with you and then goes home to clean himself because you might have bacteria...i mean , I dont like to bash people , maybe personally he is a great person...but somehow when i see the way he thinks does not belong to my kind of person...I like more less calculated people, not saying superfiacially I like bright people but in a more "integrated way" more "distributable", the world is not just "take take".

[@DavidWilliams-qr5yj]

I always had a feeling Andrew hates America and feels he is better than us 😔...I'm disappointed in America, and feel she could do much better. 😊

[@reo.incognito]

The Nomad Capitalist chose Spain as one of his 5 picks? That's weird, he's always speaking negatively about it in regards to taxes, business opportunities, golden visa program, citizenship, etc., when he compares it to other options both in Europe and worldwide. I fully agree with the criticism he gets. That guy exclusively thinks in terms of return of investment, as if people were corporations. I bet he keeps track of how many times he has hugged his wife and children.

[@louaceveu1925]

What do you want from a yuppie?

[@barbarahallowell2613]

Albania ❤

[@bistrobmusic]

Coming next week to rent in Matosinhos

[@leanderian]

I dislike that Nomad Capitalist guy.

[@Peter-m5n7m]

😂

[@DavidWilliams-qr5yj]

He is a snob ...

[@DavidWilliams-qr5yj]

​@@Peter-m5n7mhe is a snob

[@DavidWilliams-qr5yj]

LOL 😆 he only likes High income people. Even if you are a millionaire... you're not good enough for him. 😊

[@leanderian]

@@DavidWilliams-qr5yj He seems like a pompous ass who probably got beaten up a lot in high school.

[@michaelchow1275]

Austria has a very limited number of Settlement visas that are issues every year and it varies by province. Also, folks should very carefully examine Social Security treaties between the US and European countries. For many countries in Europe, p-articularly Germany Austria, Switzerland, American retirees will lose their American social security benefits after living in those countries for 6 months.

[@shinyshinythings]

www.ssa.gov/international/Agreement_Pamphlets/austria.html … I see nothing here about losing benefits after six months of living in Austria. Can you provide a source for this claim?

[@yogi2596]

The claim that American retirees will lose their Social Security benefits after living in certain European countries for over six months is not entirely accurate. In fact, the U.S. has totalization agreements (international Social Security agreements) with several countries, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, to prevent double taxation of income and to ensure benefits are not lost when someone lives abroad. Here’s an overview of how it works: 1. Totalization Agreements: The U.S. has agreements with more than 25 countries, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, which coordinate the Social Security systems of these countries with the U.S. system. These agreements are designed to: • Prevent workers from having to pay into both systems (U.S. and the foreign country’s social security system) simultaneously. • Ensure that periods of contributions made in one country can be used to qualify for benefits in another. 2. Receiving Benefits Abroad: If you are an American citizen, you can generally receive Social Security retirement benefits while living abroad, including in most European countries. You can even receive benefits indefinitely while residing in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The six-month issue does not apply in these cases because of the totalization agreements. 3. Restrictions: There are some restrictions for certain countries, but they typically apply to countries that do not have totalization agreements with the U.S. or countries under sanctions, such as Cuba or North Korea. The U.S. government does suspend payments to people residing in certain countries without an agreement after six months, but this does not include countries like Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. As a US citizen who has lived in Austria for 5 years and have US friends here that receive SSI payments, Austria is an excellent place to retire. Some costs are high, such as auto insurance, just like most places, but the gas prices are lower, the trains are excellent and if you live in the South, near the lakes, it gets quite warm, up to 30C. From experience, the healthcare perspective is among the best.

[@yogi2596]

Not true. There is a totalitarian agreement with most EU countries, including those and retirees can collect SSI benefits abroad, including Austria. Speaking from experience here.

[@victordasilva5255]

I see what you did there

[@mondarinvino107]

LOL "Austrian" is not a language!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Dialect? Is that better? ;-) - Josh

[@ivanxyz1]

Lived in Austria and go there often. Yes, Austrians speak Austrian. I know officially, Austrians speak German. And yes, they have the ability to speak German, no doubt. But amongst themselves, no. Not only that, the different regions speak different Austrian dialects. Bone-headed academics would say Austrians speak a dialect of German. But in reality, the difference is so big. Only these academics with heads up their b*tt holes will insist that Austrians speak a dialect of German. In my opinion, the difference between Austrian and German is like the difference between Taiwanese and Mandarin. People in Taiwan can speak Mandarin. But when Taiwanese people speak amongst themselves, folks from Beijing and Shanghai would not be able to understand them. Stuffy academics categorize Taiwanese as a dialect of Chinese. But real life is very different.

[@pipobscure]

As an Austrian, I have observed that when I speak to my wife or my parents our (northern) German friends start a new conversation as they are not able to follow what’s going on. Make of that what you will.😅

[@2ndlife-ql1hc]

There's always a language war, sounds like when Russia declared "Ukraine is not a country"😮

[@rehurekj]

@@ivanxyz1 by that logic Americans must speak American not English. Austrian just like Bavarians speak in one of High German Bavarian dialects but its still German language just like just cos you speak Brazilian Portuguese doesnt mean you dont speak Portuguese...

[@petermilne1203]

They look a little young to retire.😅

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

What is retirement anyway? :-) - Josh & Kalie

[@DavidWilliams-qr5yj]

The facts are middle aged Americans with $500,000 to $1 million can invest and retire on capital gains. It costs so much less to live outside USA.

[@gif24gt60]

Never go by looks

[@lifesabeach5405]

Your list sux. Go somewhere cheap.

[@Isphanian]

Spain nowadays is utter crap. I lived there until 2008... and, as I expected, it's only got worse.

[@surfside16]

Nice, France would be my first pick. The Mediterranean climate is the best. The city is beautiful. The people are sophisticated. And it's relatively safe. It is expensive, however. But if you want the best you have to pay for it. I live in SoCal which has a similar Mediterranean climate. So, if I moved to Europe, Nice would be my first choice. I hate cold weather so I would have to live where there is no snow or cold weather. Second, would be smaller towns around Amsterdam all within a half hour train ride. The architecture with the cobble stone streets appeals to me. The people look like movie stars. So, if you're a single guy The Netherlands is like being in a candy store. The most beautiful women in the world live there. Lastly, everyone speaks English so there is not language barrier. If traveling was not such a hassle I would be making the move. But I find it tiring and not fun anymore. I have traveled to many countries.