Forbes: The best destinations in the world to live after retirement, including four cities in Greece

The American magazine presents 96 destinations in 24 countries and five continents, evaluating not only the cost of living, but also the cost of healthcare, taxes, safety, political stability, long-term residency opportunities, travel to the United States, language, but also each country's exposure to climate change and natural disasters.

According to data cited by Forbes, at the end of 2024, approximately 712,000 American retirees were receiving Social Security benefits while living outside the United States, a number that has increased by 20% over a period of 13 years.

One of the main reasons is the lower cost of living. In several countries, housing, daily life and health services cost significantly less than in the US.

What Forbes writes about Greece
A special place on the list is occupied by Greece, which Forbes describes as an “ancient cultural diamond in the sunny Mediterranean”. The four Greek destinations it recommends for American retirees are Athens, Corfu, Kalamata and Thessaloniki.

One of the country’s most important advantages, according to the publication, is the cost of living. Forbes describes it as significantly lower than the US average, noting that in most areas of Greece — and especially outside Athens — it can be a third or more lower.

Health, safety and daily life
The assessment is also positive in the field of health care. The magazine describes health services in Greece as good and affordable, noting, however, that private health insurance is required for American retirees.

On the issue of security, the publication records a low rate of serious crime.

However, there is also an area in which the American financial magazine identifies an increased risk: climate change and natural disasters. Greece's exposure to phenomena such as forest fires is characterized as significant and is a factor that prospective residents are invited to take into account when choosing an area.

Adonis Georgiadis' post
The magazine's publication provoked a reaction from the Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, who shared the relevant excerpt with Greece.

"A tribute to one of the largest magazines and sites on the planet in Greece, Forbes, and see what it writes about our Health System... Happy August 15th, my friends, far from the misery and whining that they want to impose on us," the Minister of Health wrote characteristically.