Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
Retire in Europe: I’m curious how many US expats to Spain had checked out other potential countries for retirement? Which countries and how does Spain stack up to other countries?
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
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Start the Moving to Spain Hub →“We looked Argentina, Uruguay, Portugal, France and ended up in Spain. Low cost of living and friendly people in Spain, but terrible taxes.” “Super high. We pay 300 percent more here than in the US. No deductions exist; you only have to make 60k to pay 45 percent 😩”
“We’ve also looked at Argentina, Uruguay, and Portugal. We like Spain best but taxes make it cost prohibitive for us.”
“I pay less in Spain than in the U.S. if I include what I paid for health insurance.”
“Love Uruguay. So beautiful and a stable economy.”
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Explore Cities →“South American countries are not safe and no middle class. Spain is safe and people work to live not live to work. With 2.000€ a Spaniard lives great.”
“Have you been to Uruguay??? Totally safe.”
“By stability I mean Spain ( Europe) we don’t all of a sudden get a dictator, our money is safe in bank’s,ext, getting shot is difficult, being able to keep a company ( business) is safer than South American countries all day long. There’s no comparison.”
“I chose Bulgaria because of the very low cost of purchasing a house and cost of living. But lately inflation is out of control so it’s not as cheap as it used to be. They don’t care about any taxes.
You only need to show you can support yourself which last time I did it was $300 in bank account, buying property is still very cheap, property taxes are next to nothing. This year I paid $20, beautiful nature, friendly people.”
“France, no doubt, is the best option with regard to taxation. As an American on passive income only (no salary or wage from active employment) taxes are virtually zero. Not the case in Spain.”
“I am in Spain now but I won’t retire here due to taxes. I probably retire in Albania. Low cost of live, friendly people, I don’t feel like a target to take advantage of, and great food. One year free visa for US citizens.”
Conclusion
The insights gathered from various US expats reveal a nuanced spectrum of considerations for retiring in Spain and other countries.
While Spain is praised for its safe environment and good quality of life, the higher taxation compared to other destinations remains a substantial concern for many retirees. These factors position Spain as both an appealing and challenging retirement destination, depending on one’s financial circumstances and priorities.
Expats looking for more tax-friendly environments might find countries like France or less traditional choices like Albania and Colombia more suited to their needs.
Ultimately, the decision to retire abroad depends heavily on personal preferences, financial planning, and the ability to adapt to different tax regimes and living conditions.
List of countries mentioned as alternatives to Spain
- Argentina
- Uruguay
- Portugal
- France
- Bulgaria
- Albania
- Colombia
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