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The Desk Port

Cheapest places to retire abroad

Cost stretches a pension further, but the cheapest index is not always a place to settle. This list ranks World Bank cost of living (USA = 100) among countries that also clear a medium livability floor.

Croatia ranks first among countries we cover for lower-cost retirement.

Ranked countries

  1. Croatia

    Livability 77/100

    Cost of living: 8% of US

  2. Bulgaria

    Livability 70/100

    Cost of living: 23% of US

  3. Pakistan

    Livability 41/100

    Cost of living: 26% of US

  4. Egypt

    Livability 49/100

    Cost of living: 26% of US

  5. India

    Livability 59/100

    Cost of living: 26% of US

  6. Uzbekistan

    Livability 62/100

    Cost of living: 27% of US

  7. Azerbaijan

    Livability 57/100

    Cost of living: 28% of US

  8. Tajikistan

    Livability 50/100

    Cost of living: 28% of US

  9. Nepal

    Livability 54/100

    Cost of living: 29% of US

  10. Kyrgyzstan

    Livability 58/100

    Cost of living: 29% of US

  11. Belarus

    Livability 59/100

    Cost of living: 29% of US

  12. Algeria

    Livability 55/100

    Cost of living: 29% of US

  13. Sri Lanka

    Livability 60/100

    Cost of living: 29% of US

  14. Rwanda

    Livability 56/100

    Cost of living: 30% of US

  15. Madagascar

    Livability 46/100

    Cost of living: 30% of US

  16. Tanzania

    Livability 50/100

    Cost of living: 30% of US

  17. Sierra Leone

    Livability 44/100

    Cost of living: 30% of US

  18. Ethiopia

    Livability 46/100

    Cost of living: 31% of US

  19. Zambia

    Livability 46/100

    Cost of living: 31% of US

  20. Tunisia

    Livability 62/100

    Cost of living: 31% of US

  21. Ukraine

    Livability 41/100

    Cost of living: 32% of US

  22. Angola

    Livability 45/100

    Cost of living: 32% of US

  23. Vietnam

    Livability 68/100

    Cost of living: 32% of US

  24. Armenia

    Livability 59/100

    Cost of living: 33% of US

  25. Burundi

    Livability 40/100

    Cost of living: 33% of US

  26. Georgia

    Livability 63/100

    Cost of living: 33% of US

  27. Kazakhstan

    Livability 65/100

    Cost of living: 33% of US

  28. Mauritania

    Livability 44/100

    Cost of living: 34% of US

  29. Mongolia

    Livability 60/100

    Cost of living: 34% of US

  30. Laos

    Livability 52/100

    Cost of living: 34% of US

  31. Bangladesh

    Livability 51/100

    Cost of living: 34% of US

  32. Burkina Faso

    Livability 41/100

    Cost of living: 35% of US

  33. Turkey

    Livability 60/100

    Cost of living: 35% of US

  34. Mali

    Livability 39/100

    Cost of living: 35% of US

  35. Russia

    Livability 49/100

    Cost of living: 35% of US

  36. Malawi

    Livability 44/100

    Cost of living: 35% of US

  37. Bolivia

    Livability 58/100

    Cost of living: 35% of US

  38. Nicaragua

    Livability 51/100

    Cost of living: 36% of US

  39. Moldova

    Livability 63/100

    Cost of living: 36% of US

  40. Mozambique

    Livability 43/100

    Cost of living: 36% of US

Ranked by country cost-of-living index (USA = 100), lowest first. Countries below medium livability are omitted so very low safety or healthcare access cannot win on price alone. Distinct from remote-work cheapest-country guides. About our methodology. The Desk Port is not medical, visa, tax, or financial advice. Healthcare figures are country-level access indexes, not hospital quality or a treatment recommendation.