Forbes has named Cyprus among the world’s best destinations for retirement, featuring four Cypriot locations on its 2026 list of places offering an affordable, high-quality life after work.
The US magazine assessed 96 destinations across 24 countries and five continents, evaluating the cost of living alongside healthcare costs, taxation, safety, political stability, long-term residency options, travel access to the United States, language, and each country’s exposure to climate change and natural disasters.
According to figures cited by Forbes, around 712,000 American retirees were receiving Social Security benefits while living outside the US at the end of 2024, a number that has risen 20% over 13 years. A lower cost of living is one of the main reasons behind the trend, with housing, daily expenses and healthcare costing significantly less in several countries than in the US, Forbes said.
Cyprus and Greece on the list
Cyprus holds a distinct place on the list, with Limassol, Paphos, Pyrgos and Larnaca named as its top destinations.
Greece also features, with Forbes describing the country as an “ancient cultural gem in the sunny Mediterranean.” The magazine’s four recommended Greek destinations for American retirees are Athens, Corfu, Kalamata and Thessaloniki.
The full 2026 list
Forbes’s 2026 list of the best destinations for retiring abroad includes:
- Albania: Tirana, Durres, Saranda, Vlore
- Argentina: Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Mendoza, Rosario
- Austria: Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Salzburg
- Belize: Ambergris Caye, Corozal, Caye Caulker, Placencia
- Canada: Calgary, Moncton, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Victoria
- Colombia: Bogota, Cartagena, Medellin, Pereira
- Costa Rica: San Jose, Central Valley, Atenas, Santa Cruz
- Cyprus: Limassol, Paphos, Pyrgos, Larnaca
- France: Paris, Lyon, Nice, Pau
- Greece: Athens, Corfu, Kalamata, Thessaloniki
- Ireland: Dublin, Cork, Killarney, Waterford
- Italy: Florence, Bologna, Marche, Lombardy
- Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, George Town, Ipoh, Melaka
- Malta: Valletta, Gozo, St Paul’s Bay, Qawra
- Mauritius: Port Louis, Grand Baie, Flic-en-Flac, Tamarin
- Mexico: Merida, Oaxaca, Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende
- Montenegro: Podgorica, Bar, Perast, Tivat
- Panama: Panama City, Boquete, Coronado, David
- Portugal: Lisbon, the Algarve, Cascais, Porto
- Slovenia: Ljubljana, Bled, Piran, Celje
- Spain: Barcelona, Bilbao, the Canary Islands, Seville
- Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Phuket
- Uruguay: Montevideo, Atlantida, Colonia, Punta del Este
- Vietnam: Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An
