Americans who wish to peacefully enjoy their retirement can retire in five European countries with a low cost of living and good social and economic conditions, writes Forbes. The first recommended option is Romania.
There are five European countries where Americans can live comfortably in retirement with a monthly budget ranging from $1,100 to $1,700 (1,000 – 1,500 euros), writes Forbes.
The American publication took into account not only the low cost of living but also factors such as the healthcare system, entertainment options, safety, cultural life, and the ease of learning the local language.
The first option recommended by Forbes is Romania. The first argument: Bucharest ranked 142nd out of 226 cities worldwide in the ranking of the most expensive cities to live in, conducted by the research company Mercer. Rent for an apartment here costs around 400 euros per month, plus 100 euros for utilities, as reported by the publication.
A calculation made by the Daily Express for Britons wishing to move to Bucharest shows that the individual monthly food budget is approximately 300 euros, and expats can treat themselves to eating out in the city occasionally, thanks to the relatively low prices of restaurants. The daily menu starts at four dollars, and in hostels, guesthouses, and restaurants, it can start at 7 dollars per person.
In regions of the country like the northern region, the minimum monthly budget for one person is even lower than the one considered by Forbes, a minimum of 600 euros, as mentioned in the article.
Although a member of the European Union, Romania does not use the euro currency, with some considering this as one of the reasons why the cost of living remains low, writes the American magazine, also noting an observation by World Population Review (WPR): "Corruption at various levels of the government remains high."
The other European countries recommended by Forbes for American retirees are, in order, Portugal, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Spain.