16 hours ago, BayArea said:

Portugal will soon if not already priced itself out for their own citizens who are struggling to make ends meet if they continue this path regarding retirees in their country. 

furthermore, Portugal is a small nation with limited resources. I think a few years from now, they will no longer be an attractive destination for retirement. 

The euro alone makes it difficult because that currency is far too expensive for that country.

7 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

Portugal?
A strange observation, given that it is a member of the EU. Try entering the EU as a Thai national and I wish you the best of luck without suffering the heart attack I almost had when I tried to obtain a tourist visa for my Thai girlfriend.

 

 

My Thai wife, on the other hand, has no problem getting a visa for the European Union at the embassy, even without an appointment: she walks in and receives her visa in a matter of minutes, with VIP treatment. One of the reasons we got married, aside from the fact that she'll eventually get a pension.

 

 

2 minutes ago, Espanol said:

 

 

My Thai wife, on the other hand, has no problem getting a visa for the European Union at the embassy, even without an appointment: she walks in and receives her visa in a matter of minutes, with VIP treatment. One of the reasons we got married, aside from the fact that she'll eventually get a pension.

 

 

That depends entirely on the embassy you visited. Unlike the Dutch embassy, it seems that they hate Thai people.

2 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

That depends entirely on the embassy you visited. Unlike the Dutch embassy, it seems that they hate Thai people.

 

Indeed, I was talking about the Spanish embassy, of course. This may not be the case at other embassies. I've heard bad things about the treatment at the German embassy as well.

 

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

What other things have you predicted that have come to pass? The apocalypse? The 2nd coming? Trump getting elected? 

 

The way I see it, all these foreign retirees sitting in bars in low season are preventing half these bars from going out of business. They want retirees here, despite all the bureaucracy. 

 

The locals DO want them here, but the govt doesn't care about the locals. It's a conundrum 

23 hours ago, CallumWK said:

I have lived in Portugal before I came to Thailand, and still consider it the most beautiful country in many ways, but it certainly doesn't cater to low budget retirees like Thailand does.

Nice sentiment, but that idea that low-middle class retirees on a budget finding paradise in Thailand is slowly coming to an end... they don't want us anymore, hence the new visa & tax regulations, health insurance, bank freezes, and more.

Thailand is slowly  going to force out all but the rich, officially married, and those on work permits with something to offer. There are so many horror stories on the internet about places like Chaengwattana immigration making problems for so many. So many people have left and some people are calling the Thai immigration's actions as "Operation Expat Exodus". Why are they doing this? Because they have chosen nationalism over economic prosperity.

2 hours ago, falangUK said:

Austria – 87.92 in spring and summer
Malta – 87.00 in autumn
Chiang Mai 89 for winter

What are these figures?

The price for a bottle of beer????😶

9 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

hence the new visa & tax regulations, health insurance, bank freezes, and more.

?????

You will pay taxes everywhere and to provide health insurance and follow laws.........even in Thailand or in Trumpistan or anywhere else.

But complaining.

Your statement makes no sense

5 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

 

Come now, I was born in the day but it wasn't yesterday. 

 

Not everyone is as price sensitive as your female friend sounds to be. I haven't been to Vietnam yet, but my brother has gone a couple of times and told me that the infrastructure in Vietnam is 20 years behind Thailand.  It might not be reasonable to compare Thailand and Vietnam as the food and cultures are much different (I've worked with Vietnamese people). 

 

Still, Vietnam does sound like a nice place to visit. 

I was last their in 2018, my third visit! The visa procedure then was a lengthy process at the airport despite me pre registering but I believe it is now easier. A nice hotel room in a small hotel in the Old Quarter in Hanoi,  USD 75.00 a night but it was rather nice, Ho Chi Minh city similar price ( right beside the opera house) so central city, both included a nice full breakfast!  Much like Thailand cheap street food,  restaurants priced much like Thailand then. What was nice was better driving standards, no street fights and much more orderly, I actually thought then that Thais were generally more friendly & helpful, not sure about present day!!

3 hours ago, IrishInThailand said:

Crazy cheap. For sure cheaper than Thai and one big thing is free healthcare

I don't agree.

Portugal is one of the most expensive EU countries. Proven. Statistica.com.

Healthcare is not free unless you have an insurance in one of the EU countries.

If you move to Portugal and give up your home address it's a complicated process to become a member of the social government  security system. 

Long waiting lists, limited doctor choices.

3 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

Austria way too expensive to be a retirement destination for most.

Uruguay and Paraguay are landlocked - no beaches.

 

Uruguay isn't landlocked and has beaches 

32 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

What are these figures?

The price for a bottle of beer????😶

Best Countries to Retire in 2025: Top 15 Destinations

Country - Score

1. Portugal – 92.61
2. Mauritius – 89.24
3. Spain – 88.52
4. Uruguay – 88.05
5. Austria – 87.92
6. Italy – 87.42
7. Slovenia – 87.30
8. Malta – 87.00
9. Latvia – 86.97
10. Chile – 86.44
11. Costa Rica – 86.16
12. Greece – 86.08
13. Paraguay – 85.77
14. Cyprus – 85.73
15. Seychelles – 85.7

A lot of polls out there, many of which have Thailand in the top ten, and not 34:

 

https://wise.com/us/blog/best-places-for-americans-to-retire

 

Key Takeaway: There are 33 better places to retire than Thailand.

25 minutes ago, falangUK said:

Best Countries to Retire in 2025: Top 15 Destinations

Country - Score

1. Portugal – 92.61
2. Mauritius – 89.24
3. Spain – 88.52
4. Uruguay – 88.05
5. Austria – 87.92
6. Italy – 87.42
7. Slovenia – 87.30
8. Malta – 87.00
9. Latvia – 86.97
10. Chile – 86.44
11. Costa Rica – 86.16
12. Greece – 86.08
13. Paraguay – 85.77
14. Cyprus – 85.73
15. Seychelles – 85.7

the places after the decimal point are sooo important, aren't they?

On 9/19/2025 at 5:33 PM, CallumWK said:

I have lived in Portugal before I came to Thailand, and still consider it the most beautiful country in many ways, but it certainly doesn't cater to low budget retirees like Thailand does.

Real estate is very expensive.

I was recently considering buying something overthere and spending my time between Portugal and Thailand. I called my Portugese friend to ask about current pries, and he told me it was way overpriced, because foreigners bought up anything that came on the market.

I'm talking about a local village near the sea, not a tourist ghetto.

 

Have a look for yourself

 

https://www.domuscapri.pt/en-gb/properties

 

Olhao and Faro are expensiv Portuguese Tourist Hotspots as the whole Algarve Region, what you talk

2 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

Portugal?
A strange observation, given that it is a member of the EU. Try entering the EU as a Thai national and I wish you the best of luck without suffering the heart attack I almost had when I tried to obtain a tourist visa for my Thai girlfriend.

BS....Portugal is EU, to get a Schengenvisa is easy 

Let foreigners own max 5 rai in own name. That will improve the rating 🙂

 

What I don't understand is why people have to move to a different country to retire. I retired in OZ, where I lived for many years, even my Thai wife won't go back to LOS after 20 years. We can afford to travel 2to3 times to Thailand every year. Surely not everybody is single and spends every night at the pub and requires the service of a barmaid. Is it because of money? I am not so keen about Thai food, so my grocery bill will be huge compared to where I live now. We go for a meal twice or three times per week, and we have no street food; we  go to proper restaurants. I pay nothing for medical care or hospitals, which I could not afford in Thailand, No  need for visas in OZ I admit real estate is not cheap in Australia, but not everybody lives in Sydney or Melbourne. I live in a city of 2 million and have not had a rent increase for about 8 years. So why move and put up with all the hassles ?

2 minutes ago, still kicking said:

What I don't understand is why people have to move to a different country to retire. I retired in OZ, where I lived for many years, even my Thai wife won't go back to LOS after 20 years. We can afford to travel 2to3 times to Thailand every year. Surely not everybody is single and spends every night at the pub and requires the service of a barmaid. Is it because of money? I am not so keen about Thai food, so my grocery bill will be huge compared to where I live now. We go for a meal twice or three times per week, and we have no street food; we  go to proper restaurants. I pay nothing for medical care or hospitals, which I could not afford in Thailand, No  need for visas in OZ I admit real estate is not cheap in Australia, but not everybody lives in Sydney or Melbourne. I live in a city of 2 million and have not had a rent increase for about 8 years. So why move and put up with all the hassles ?

Oz is boring thats why.

The intelligence, artificial or otherwise, who wrote the article, should have used recent data, instead of data dating from when Portugal still had a tax-exemption on foreign pension. I doubt pensioners still trip over themselves to retire in a country where the marginal tax rate on pensions above 41k euros/year is above 40%.

19 hours ago, Banana7 said:

What city did your friend find the $8 hotel room?

Found a room with bike and driver for $2 in 1999, Cambodia

22 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

File photo for reference only

 

The Global Retirement Report 2025 has named Portugal as the top destination for retirees, while Thailand ranks 34th among 44 countries. This report evaluates countries based on factors like retirement visa programs and quality of life, influencing retirees considering relocation. Many countries in Europe and the Americas, known for their high quality of life, dominate the top rankings.

 

More people are exploring retirement abroad for better living conditions and lower costs. While the U.S. lacks official retirement visa programs, various countries offer options to attract foreign retirees. The report utilizes 20 indicators across categories including economy, taxation, and safety to rank destinations.

 

Dr. Laura Madrid Sartoretto of Global Citizen Solutions (GCS) highlights that political stability, safety, and healthcare are priorities for retirees, especially in Europe. The top 15 countries include Portugal, Mauritius, and Spain, with Portugal scoring 92.61 due to its favorable visa program and quality of life.

 

Thailand's 34th rank reflects its comprehensive retirement visa offerings. Various options like the Non-O-A visa allow extended stays with financial proof and insurance requirements. These visas cater to retirees by offering renewable long-term residency without frequent renewals.

 

Portugal's top rank is credited to its D7 Visa, which has attracted retirees thanks to a straightforward application process and a focus on quality of life. The country's investment in attracting retirees and maintaining safety standards enhances its appeal. Portugal's taxation involves worldwide income, though with perks like no property tax for immediate family.

 

Looking forward, Portugal remains a preferred choice, especially for those seeking permanent residency or citizenship. Interested retirees must showcase a steady passive income for visa eligibility. The country's Golden Visa program also contributes to its attractiveness by enabling residency without property purchase, further boosting its draw for international retirees.

 

Best Countries to Retire in 2025: Top 15 Destinations

Country - Score

1. Portugal – 92.61
2. Mauritius – 89.24
3. Spain – 88.52
4. Uruguay – 88.05
5. Austria – 87.92
6. Italy – 87.42
7. Slovenia – 87.30
8. Malta – 87.00
9. Latvia – 86.97
10. Chile – 86.44
11. Costa Rica – 86.16
12. Greece – 86.08
13. Paraguay – 85.77
14. Cyprus – 85.73
15. Seychelles – 85.70

 

Key Takeaways

• Portugal leads as the top retirement destination due to its visa program and safety.
• Thailand offers extensive retirement visa options, providing long-term residency benefits.
• The report highlights the importance of healthcare, safety, and financial stability for retirees.

 

Related Stories

Thailand Falls in Global Innovation Index 2025

Thailand Boosts Tourism by Training Staff for Muslim Visitors

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-09-19

 

 

 

On 9/19/2025 at 4:28 PM, snoop1130 said:

Thailand's 34th rank reflects its comprehensive retirement visa offerings. Various options like the Non-O-A visa allow extended stays with financial proof and insurance requirements. These visas cater to retirees by offering renewable long-term residency without frequent renewals.

 That first sentence is strange. It seems the writer sees being 34 out of 44 as something of an achievement.

 

The report itself is strange too. Mauritius the second best place in the world to retire? No way! I've been to Mauritius. It's a nice country for a tropical holiday (not dissimilar to Thailand) but it is so isolated and traveling from there is very expensive. Most things are imported so there are frieght costs on everything, if not customs duties and taxes.

 

Interesting to note that there are no Asian countries in the top 15 so I guess this report must be UK or US based.

36 minutes ago, still kicking said:

What I don't understand is why people have to move to a different country to retire. I retired in OZ, where I lived for many years, even my Thai wife won't go back to LOS after 20 years. We can afford to travel 2to3 times to Thailand every year. Surely not everybody is single and spends every night at the pub and requires the service of a barmaid. Is it because of money? I am not so keen about Thai food, so my grocery bill will be huge compared to where I live now. We go for a meal twice or three times per week, and we have no street food; we  go to proper restaurants. I pay nothing for medical care or hospitals, which I could not afford in Thailand, No  need for visas in OZ I admit real estate is not cheap in Australia, but not everybody lives in Sydney or Melbourne. I live in a city of 2 million and have not had a rent increase for about 8 years. So why move and put up with all the hassles ?

 

Because many people can no longer afford to live in their home countries.

 

I'm Australian and my cost of living in Thailand is less than half what it would be in Australia when you take into account the cost of accommodation (whether buying or renting). If you have two million Aussie dollars in the bank you can buy a nice house there and live comfortably, but I'm not so lucky to be in that position. We bought a house in Thailand that cost about a third to a half of what a similar property in a similar location would have cost in Australia. What we have left in the bank is enough to live on comfortably, even allowing for the possible higher health care costs.

19 hours ago, BayArea said:

Portugal will soon if not already priced itself out for their own citizens who are struggling to make ends meet if they continue this path regarding retirees in their country. 

furthermore, Portugal is a small nation with limited resources. I think a few years from now, they will no longer be an attractive destination for retirement. 

Pretty much what happened in Costa Rica and Panama.  

On 9/19/2025 at 4:34 PM, falangUK said:

Lisbon? 🤣

Nope. The Algarve. Lagos in 1989 was simply stunning. Locals fishing off 20 metre cliffs 2 litres of red wine was about $1. People touted you on arrival from Paris at the train station to come & stay in their house. Oh to get those days back.🙃🙃

43 minutes ago, PoorSucker said:

Found a room with bike and driver for $2 in 1999, Cambodia

Ha, that was our split nightly rent for a bungalow on Samui in '92 at White Sands, steps from the beach.  Good times, no, no GREAT times!

19 hours ago, Banana7 said:

What city did your friend find the $8 hotel room?

Just meet her. She said NONG HAO.Its a beautiful island that takes 20 minutes with speedboat from Saigon.

All this area is beautiful and cheap she said.

3 minutes ago, Lucky Bones said:

Nope. The Algarve. Lagos in 1989 was simply stunning. Locals fishing off 20 metre cliffs 2 litres of red wine was about $1. People touted you on arrival from Paris at the train station to come & stay in their house. Oh to get those days back.🙃🙃

Yup. buddy and I in Lagos at that time, wine prices are correct!

On 9/19/2025 at 4:28 PM, snoop1130 said:

Thailand's 34th rank reflects its comprehensive retirement visa offerings. Various options like the Non-O-A visa allow extended stays with financial proof and insurance requirements. These visas cater to retirees by offering renewable long-term residency without frequent renewals.

 

You speak as if you are in the Top 5...perhaps your 34 position suggests your "comprehensive retirement visa options" are not so comprehensive.