On this island, you can spend a retreat (for two) in luxurious conditions for a modest amount per month.
More and more French people are spending their retirement far from France due to a pension that is too low compared to the cost of living in our country. Many retirees are looking for a solution to maintain a good standard of living without depriving themselves and this seems easier in certain foreign countries… The climate matters, of course, but the decisive criterion remains the budget. This is what the magazine studied International Living in its ranking of the cheapest destinations to retire in 2026.
To establish this ranking, the editorial team relied on monthly budgets actually recorded and on testimonies from expatriates based on site. The objective is to evaluate what a given envelope actually allows in terms of housing, food, transport, leisure and health. Conclusion ? An island emerges as the cheapest destination of the year for seniors who want to live a comfortable retirement.
According to the figures put forward, a monthly budget of around 2,050 euros allows you to live there very comfortably. This sum includes the rental of a seaside villa, utilities such as water and electricity, shopping, restaurant meals, travel and leisure activities. One expatriate interviewed in the study sums up his experience this way: “It’s the cheapest place I’ve ever been on this continent, and also one of the most beautiful”. He explains that he lives with his wife in “incredible luxury at $2,200 per month”or a little more than 2,000 euros, a budget for two people which covers “a beachfront villa, trips around the island, eating out most of the time, traditional massages, going out to sporting events, spa treatments for my wife and relaxing with friends.”
In detail, their villa with garden and private swimming pool costs around 360 euros per month, to which are added around fifty euros in charges. Meals in the restaurant remain very accessible, with a three-course menu for two people, drinks included, around 45 euros. It also specifies: “One of our favorite seaside seafood feasts – lobster, crab, shrimp, fish and oysters for two – costs just $35.” That’s just over 30 euros for a complete seafood meal for two. Local markets allow you to further reduce the bill, with fresh fish for two people costing just over 3 euros and a pineapple costing less than 20 cents.
Transport follows the same logic, with two-hour train journeys costing less than one euro and short tuk-tuk journeys around 2 euros. The question of health is obviously central for retirees. The expatriate quoted emphasizes that “Health care in private hospitals is excellent and modern. Medical care outside the capital is more rudimentary, but sufficient.”
Behind this destination, other neighboring countries appear at the top of the ranking, notably Vietnam, Thailand, Bali and Malaysia. But for 2026, the most affordable island to enjoy a retirement in the sun, with the most comfortable life, is undeniably Sri Lanka.
Another major advantage: this island offers one of the simplest and cheapest retirement visas in Asia. The private and modern establishments located in the capital as well as the accessible administrative procedures constitute decisive elements for considering a long-term installation. To meditate.
