Like around one in three French people over the age of 50, can you see yourself spending your retirement in a different country? All that remains is to choose your destination, and that's no easy task! To help you, Retraite-etranger.fr draws up its annual list of the best countries. Here's a sneak preview.
Portugal It's the only word on the lips of French senior citizens when you mention retirement in the sun. And the latest "Palmarès des paradis de la retraite" will confirm them, as for the second year running, it has just crowned the country "best destination to spend your retirement abroad". As in 2015, the Thailand comes in second place in this year's ranking. Mauritius, Spain and Morocco follow.
Tax break in Portugal, minimum expenses in Thailand
Portugal has benefited all the more from this trend as it has accompanied it with a favor tax explosive. Since 2013, retirees who move to France are exempt from paying income tax on their pensions for 10 years. Provided that these pensions do not come from the civil service, and provided that they are considered to be fiscally domiciled abroad by France (which implies that they reside outside the country for at least half the year, and that they do not maintain the center of their economic interests there).
After that, Portugal isn't the best deal when it comes to cost of living. If you want to drastically reduce your daily expenses, look no further than Thailand. According to Paul Delahoutre's calculations, a retired couple living there spends an average of some 40 % less than in France on day-to-day living (excluding housing and health) - it's around 20 % in Portugal. However, it's best not to be afraid of the geographical distance and the change of scenery before embarking on the Thai adventure.
"Mauritius, for its part, attracts visitors with its paradisiacal environment, climate, French-speaking population and stability," explains Paul Delahoutre. Finally, it's worth noting that Malta made its debut in the top 10 in 2016.
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