Where can your pension take you?
Compare 20+ destinations across cost of living, healthcare, climate, and visa-friendliness — then run our wizard to find your personal top match.
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Athens is the cheaper of the two: about $1,700/month for one retiree versus $2,200 in Lisbon, a gap of $500/month (2026 editorial estimates). The main retiree route is the Financially Independent Person (FIP) residence permit (from €3,500/month) in Greece and the D7 Passive Income Visa (from €920/month) in Portugal.
| Athens, Greece | Lisbon, Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly budget — single | $1,700 (Numbeo) | $2,200 (Numbeo) |
| Monthly budget — couple | $2,400 | $3,000 |
| Rent (one-bedroom, single budget) | $900 | $1,300 |
| Main retiree visa | Financially Independent Person (FIP) residence permit | D7 Passive Income Visa |
| Minimum income | €3,500/month (Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum) | €920/month (AIMA — Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) |
| Path to permanent residency | Permanent residency after 5 years; citizenship eligibility after 7 years | Permanent residency after 5 years; citizenship after 10 years for most non-EU/CPLP nationals (May 2026 Nationality Law) |
| Foreign pension tax | Flat rate (opt-in) (Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE)) | Taxed |
| Healthcare rating | 7/10 | 9/10 |
| Safety rating | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Visa friendliness | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Climate | mediterranean | mediterranean |
| English | Common in cities | Widely spoken |
| Expat community | Established but smaller | Large expat community |
| Last checked | May 31, 2026 | May 31, 2026 |
How to read these labels: Official requirement restates a rule published by a government authority; Editorial estimate is our 2026 budget model for one retiree; Editorial summary condenses official tax rules; Editorial rating is our 0–10 score. “Checked” is the date our editors last reviewed the figure. Rules change — confirm with the authority before you apply. Full methodology
Tax in Greece: New tax residents who were not Greek tax residents in 5 of the last 6 years can elect a 7% flat tax on all foreign-source income for 15 years.
Tax in Portugal: NHR closed to new arrivals in 2024 and its successor (IFICI) rarely fits retirees, so most new residents pay ordinary progressive Portuguese income tax on foreign pensions.