I know a guy who did retire in Hungary, unfortunately he died a few years ago but was very happy there. I was in Hungary on an extended motorbike trip once, rented a cheap house in a vineyard and the owner did bring us a very good wine every day. Was OK, even the lake was a bit flat and I did not understand the language. Beautiful and very nice people, cheap booze, good fiesta.
I need to understand the language and in my age it is getting more difficult to learn a new language. So I would have to stick to countries speaking Spanish, English, German, Schwitzertütsch, Valenciano (not Catalan!) or, in the worst of worse cases, French.
I hope that this isn’t too political but the gastronomical culture in Hungary is amazing. (Disclaimer: My preferences are French, Portuguese and Cantonese cuisine.) In Hungary, what the wine selection lacks in depth, it makes up in quality. I’m not sure if the Hungarians have a competitor in the region but I haven’t been everywhere in CEE. I know a Swiss family who retired (think loto winners or something like that) there and they are very happy. I might not live there all year but I could certainly entertain the idea. And English in Budapest is enough while you study that wild language.
I’m also Hispanic, and I’ve thought about an apartment in Spain. I find that they’re still affordable, and I wouldn’t mind spending 3 months per year in say, Alacant.
I’m Hungarian, and can somewhat attest to this. I mean, food is tasty, but most of the time, it’s extremely fatty and meat-heavy. This is also reflected in the fatness index of the country, Its in the top 10 among European countries.
Unfortunately, the country is on a downward trajectory. In 1989, it changed course, cut Russian ties, and adopted more of a Western mindset; however, that wasn’t to last. Since the early 2010s it started to turn into a mini-dictatorship. Private enterprise is struggling and government is moving toward a totalitarian view.
I don’t think this trajectory can not be changed, though as of now, it doesn’t look good, and the future is very uncertain. If i’d be at retirement age now, for sure wouldn’t retire there. (also the language is pretty much unlike anything. It’s beautiful in its own right, but you pretty much have to start from ground zero)
Probably, I’m not sure. There are many public persons involved in tax histories. Montserrat Caballe accepted a prison sentence, but she is probably too old to serve it. Isabel Pantoja served a prison sentence because her husband, corrupt mayor of Marbella, used her account.
I am very keen of not spending more than 180 days a year in Spain…
index = safety^2 + health - cost_of_living + (1-traffic)^2 + (1-pollution)^2 + climate^2
I deliberately skip purchasing power, as I assume it’s a place to retire.
And what do you know… Porto, Valencia, Malaga, Rijeka, Split… but also the Hague and a bunch of cities in the Netherlands. Given personal preferences, I would say Rijeka and Split look quite tempting…
Edit: worst places to retire . A lot of USA, but there is also London. Funny thing is, I don’t even punish cost of living that much.
Valencia, for real? There is a big demo against foreigners every week or so, even elderly people are attacked (if they don’t speak the language which is NOT SPANISH but Valenciano). The reason seems to be the high cost of renting a flat. May cost more to rent a flat in Valencia then the net salary a local can make. Of course in Switzerland you would not rent a dog house for their prices…
Weather is nice in general, but in Autumn there is the “gota fria”, heavy, real heavy rainfall. In Summer it is way too hot and busy (any road trip takes you 4 times what it takes in Winter) and in Winter the humidity is “inaguantable”, feels like 10-20 Celsius colder than it really is. That said, Spring and Autumn (except for the gota fría which goes on usually about one week) are like paradise, that is when you find me there…
Also, cost of living may be not that important, taxes are. Spain is a tax shithole, a socialist country where only the ninis live a good live from a financial standpoint. And ninis have enough time to organise those protests against tourists as money grows on trees for them…
I have lived in Spain, but that was 36 years ago. Much changed for the worse since then.
What about Paraguay, seems to be in demand by many Europeans? Never been there, but it is the country with most water reserves. No taxes for out-of-country income and easy to get nationality. If I would need to leave Switzerland today I probably would choose Paraguay.
Keep in mind this index is built on quantifiable measures. There is a lot of nuance, for sure. Sentiment to immigrants or subjective perception of the weather is for sure a factor. One thing I’m missing is the quality of entertainment. It’s great to have some nice places to visit, like restaurants, spas, beaches, lakes, mountains. In Switzerland this is pretty good. For sure better than in Poland.
Btw, an anecdote. In December it was another weekend with poor weather in Zurich. Cold and foggy. So me and my partner went to Lugano. It was a nice sunny day, 10 C, no clouds, strolling along the lake. We met an Indian guy and his Russian wife and chatted with them. They were all the time stressing how cold it is here and how happy they are go fly back to Malaga that day. Think about it. For us it was paradise, for them it was unbearable .
Yes, I know. That’s why I would consider having tax residence here in Switzerland and the other place would be like a vacation spot. Hopefully nobody would mind. In any case, the places that are high on the list are cool to visit. I haven’t been to Valencia, but I’ve been many times to Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Sevilla, Mallorca, and I like the vibe. Just from walking the streets and sitting in cafes you don’t notice the “socialist problem”. Waiters are polite, quality is good.
I feel even more at ease in Croatia, but maybe just because I’m a slav.
Netherlands is weird. Instinctively I feel like the cost should be high and the weather can’t be that good so much up north. Plus it’s all flat there. But the numbers say a different story.
Edit: we know Spain is socialist, but what would you call this plan to tax unrealized gains in the Netherlands?
I would not count on that. It is easy to control today with all the data exchange and government oversight. I never overspend time there, after 183 days I think you are obliged to pay taxes in Spain.
Spain is politically unstable. Even it is almost sure that socialists will lose next elections nothing ever changes. They filled their pockets, now it is another one’s turn. Corruption, bureaucracy and general laziness of state employees stays the same, no matter which party is in charge. But then that is the case in many countries…
True. And, in my opinion, the European Union adds another layer of bureaucracy and corruption on top. A once given benefit, will not be taken away. A once introduced tax will not be repelled. The balance only goes up on both sides. But that’s a political rant, which is not welcome here, so… that’s enough of complaining on that topic .
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. A lot of USA, but there is also London. Funny thing is, I don’t even punish cost of living that much.
that’s enough of complaining on that topic 
.