Spain Faces Decline as Top Retirement Destination in 2026, Greece Rises
Spain loses its top retirement destination status to Greece in 2026 due to rising costs and bureaucratic hurdles, though it remains a leading holiday home market.
- • Spain is losing rank as a preferred retirement destination due to rising living costs and bureaucratic hurdles.
- • Greece tops the 2026 Annual Global Retirement Index with easier residency options and lower living costs.
- • Spain remains the top-ranked country for holiday home buyers with strong tourism and infrastructure.
- • The retirement index emphasizes matching retirement location choices to lifestyle and budget preferences.
Key details
Spain, long favored by retirees for its sunny climate and rich culture, is losing its position as the world’s best retirement destination, according to International Living’s 2026 Annual Global Retirement Index. Rising living costs, higher property prices, and bureaucratic complexities are prompting many Britons to reconsider retiring in Spain and Portugal. Greece has overtaken Spain as the leading choice for retirees, offering a lower cost of living, appealing lifestyle, and simpler residency options such as the Financially Independent Person permit and the Golden Visa, which grants visa-free access to much of Europe.
The index evaluates key factors including climate, healthcare, cost of living, and housing while incorporating personal experiences from expatriates. It emphasizes that choosing a retirement location is about matching one’s lifestyle and budget.
Despite Spain’s decline in retirement appeal, it remains the top destination for holiday home buyers globally, scoring 79.3 out of 100 in a recent ranking. Spain’s vast cultural heritage, with over 50 UNESCO World Heritage sites, combined with excellent accessibility through 48 airports and a strong train network, continues to attract foreign buyers from the UK, Germany, and France. The country welcomed around 94 million international visitors in 2024, supporting a strong rental market and holiday property investment.
While Spain’s allure as a retirement hotspot is waning due to economic and administrative challenges, its popularity as a holiday home market endures, reflecting its broad appeal for lifestyle and investment.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
