ThailandAsia
Retirement visas start at 50 and day-to-day costs are low. The big cities have private hospitals.
- A month, couple
- About A$2,790
- Visa
- 30 days visa-free; retirement visa from 50
Where Australians retire overseas, and what a month costs
Each place written for Australians: one honest monthly figure in Australian dollars, the visa, and what happens to your pension and Medicare there.
The short answer
We cover 25 countries. On our estimates a comfortable month for a couple, rent included, runs from about A$2,470 in Da Nang to about A$11,510 in Honolulu, against about A$6,580 in Australia (October 2026, health insurance not included). The Age Pension keeps paying in all of them. Medicare never pays overseas; 5 of these countries have a reciprocal health care agreement for visitors.
Every country we cover, on one map
Every place, side by side
| Place | A couple | One person | Visa for a visit | Medicare agreement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | A$2,790 | A$1,950 | 30 days visa-free; retirement visa from 50 | No |
| Chiang Mai, Thailand | A$2,790 | A$1,950 | 30 days visa-free | No |
| Hua Hin, Thailand | A$3,280 | A$2,310 | 30 days visa-free | No |
| Malaysia | A$2,540 | A$1,750 | 90 days on arrival | No |
| Penang, Malaysia | A$2,540 | A$1,750 | 90 days on arrival | No |
| Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | A$3,190 | A$2,290 | 90 days on arrival | No |
| Vietnam | A$2,470 | A$1,810 | 90-day eVisa, apply before you fly | No |
| Da Nang, Vietnam | A$2,470 | A$1,810 | 90-day eVisa | No |
| Bali | A$3,970 | A$3,060 | 30 days, extendable once to 60 | No |
| Philippines | A$2,930 | A$2,070 | 30 days visa-free; SRRV from 50 | No |
| Portugal | A$4,570 | A$3,420 | 90 days in any 180; D7 for longer | No |
| The Algarve, Portugal | A$4,570 | A$3,420 | 90 days in any 180; D7 for longer | No |
| Spain | A$4,860 | A$3,570 | 90 days in any 180; non-lucrative visa for longer | No |
| New Zealand | A$5,560 | A$4,140 | Resident visa on arrival for Australian citizens | Yes (reciprocal health care for visitors) |
| Greece | A$4,700 | A$3,260 | 90 days in any 180; FIP permit for longer | No |
| Italy | A$4,900 | A$3,500 | 90 days in any 180; elective residence for longer | Yes, for urgent public care in your first 6 months |
| Cyprus | A$5,330 | A$3,920 | 90 days in any 6 months; Category F to live there | No |
| Malta | A$7,130 | A$5,480 | 90 days in any 180; Retirement Programme to live there | Yes, for visitors, up to 6 months |
| Cambodia | A$2,490 | A$1,660 | 30-day tourist visa; ER retirement extension from 55 | No |
| Fiji | A$3,630 | A$2,750 | 4 months on arrival; residence permit from 45 | No |
| United Kingdom | A$10,380 | A$8,180 | Up to 6 months a visit with an ETA; no retirement visa | Yes, for visits: NHS care that can't wait, within 6 months of arriving |
| Japan | A$3,760 | A$2,560 | 90 days visa-free; Long Stay visa up to 1 year | No |
| Ireland | A$9,080 | A$7,180 | Up to 90 days on arrival; Stamp 0 for longer | Yes, for visits: public hospital care that can't wait, within 12 months of arriving |
| Sri Lanka | A$2,810 | A$2,040 | Free 30-day ETA, extendable; retiree visa closed to new applicants | No |
| France | A$6,240 | A$4,430 | 90 days in any 180; long-stay visitor visa for longer | No |
| Croatia | A$5,180 | A$3,750 | 90 days in any 180; no retirement visa | No |
| Mauritius | A$2,800 | A$1,960 | No visa needed to visit; 10-year retired permit from 50 | No |
| Mexico | A$3,810 | A$2,810 | Up to 180 days as a visitor; temporary resident visa for longer | No |
| Costa Rica | A$5,170 | A$3,660 | Visa-free: under 90 days (Smartraveller), up to 180 under Costa Rica's 2025 rules; pensionado residence for longer | No |
| United States | A$11,510 | A$8,830 | 90 days on an ESTA; no retirement visa | No |
| Panama | A$5,350 | A$4,060 | 90 days visa-free; pensionado residence, Australian pensions unconfirmed | No |
Our estimates, checked 19 October 2026: Numbeo's living costs and a one-bedroom city-centre rent, plus 30% for eating out, local trips and extras, at the RBA's 12-month average exchange rate. Health insurance is not included. Australia for comparison: about A$6,580 a couple, A$4,680 one person (ASFA comfortable, homeowners, June quarter 2026). General information only.
Every country, at a glance
MalaysiaAsia
You get 90 days on arrival, English is used in business, and the big cities have private hospitals of an international standard.
- A month, couple
- About A$2,540
- Visa
- 90 days on arrival
VietnamAsia
A 90-day eVisa covers a winter away. Day-to-day costs are low and the beaches are long.
- A month, couple
- About A$2,470
- Visa
- 90-day eVisa, apply before you fly
BaliAsia
A short flight from Australia, with quieter towns such as Sanur.
- A month, couple
- About A$3,970
- Visa
- 30 days, extendable once to 60
PhilippinesAsia
English is an official language. Day-to-day costs are lower, and the retirement visa starts at age 50.
- A month, couple
- About A$2,930
- Visa
- 30 days visa-free; SRRV from 50
PortugalEurope
Mild winters, and a long-stay visa whose income test is set at the Portuguese minimum wage. Portugal also has a social security agreement with Australia.
- A month, couple
- About A$4,570
- Visa
- 90 days in any 180; D7 for longer
SpainEurope
Mild coastal winters and medical facilities of a similar standard to Australia's. Spain also has a social security agreement with Australia.
- A month, couple
- About A$4,860
- Visa
- 90 days in any 180; non-lucrative visa for longer
New ZealandPacific
Australian citizens get a resident visa on arrival and home is a short flight away. There is a reciprocal health care agreement too.
- A month, couple
- About A$5,560
- Visa
- Resident visa on arrival for Australian citizens
GreeceEurope
A Mediterranean base with a social security agreement behind your pension. At the end of 2025, 9,187 people were being paid the Age Pension there.
- A month, couple
- About A$4,700
- Visa
- 90 days in any 180; FIP permit for longer
ItalyEurope
Italy has a social security agreement and a Medicare agreement with Australia, and on our figures Puglia costs less than Tuscany.
- A month, couple
- About A$4,900
- Visa
- 90 days in any 180; elective residence for longer
CyprusEurope
A permanent residence permit with a low published income test, and a social security agreement with Australia.
- A month, couple
- About A$5,330
- Visa
- 90 days in any 6 months; Category F to live there
MaltaEurope
A social security agreement and a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia, and medical care Smartraveller describes as good.
- A month, couple
- About A$7,130
- Visa
- 90 days in any 180; Retirement Programme to live there
CambodiaAsia
Low costs, US dollars as everyday money, and a retirement extension from 55 that renews for up to 12 months at a time.
- A month, couple
- About A$2,490
- Visa
- 30-day tourist visa; ER retirement extension from 55
FijiPacific
About 4 hours from Sydney, with a residence permit for people on their own income that starts at age 45.
- A month, couple
- About A$3,630
- Visa
- 4 months on arrival; residence permit from 45
United KingdomEurope
Family, a British passport, or both. With no retirement visa, the passport you hold decides how long you can stay.
- A month, couple
- About A$10,380
- Visa
- Up to 6 months a visit with an ETA; no retirement visa
JapanAsia
Ninety days without a visa, medical care of a high standard and non-stop flights of about 10 hours. Japan also has a social security agreement and a tax treaty with Australia.
- A month, couple
- About A$3,760
- Visa
- 90 days visa-free; Long Stay visa up to 1 year
IrelandEurope
An Irish passport makes it straightforward, and Ireland has both a social security agreement and a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia.
- A month, couple
- About A$9,080
- Visa
- Up to 90 days on arrival; Stamp 0 for longer
Sri LankaAsia
Low costs, a free 30-day ETA that extends towards 9 months, and non-stop flights from Sydney and Melbourne.
- A month, couple
- About A$2,810
- Visa
- Free 30-day ETA, extendable; retiree visa closed to new applicants
FranceEurope
A long-stay visitor visa with no age limit and a published income test, and medical facilities Smartraveller says are similar to Australia's.
- A month, couple
- About A$6,240
- Visa
- 90 days in any 180; long-stay visitor visa for longer
CroatiaEurope
Croatia has a social security agreement with Australia, and a Croatian passport takes the visa problem away.
- A month, couple
- About A$5,180
- Visa
- 90 days in any 180; no retirement visa
MauritiusAfrica
A 10-year residence permit from age 50 for people living on their own income, and non-stop flights from Perth.
- A month, couple
- About A$2,800
- Visa
- No visa needed to visit; 10-year retired permit from 50
MexicoAmericas
Visitors can be given up to 180 days, and day-to-day costs are lower than at home. Lake Chapala, near Guadalajara, has an established foreign retiree community.
- A month, couple
- About A$3,810
- Visa
- Up to 180 days as a visitor; temporary resident visa for longer
Costa RicaAmericas
A mild climate in the Central Valley around San José, and a residence route that asks for a lifetime pension. Whether Australian pensions count is unconfirmed.
- A month, couple
- About A$5,170
- Visa
- Visa-free: under 90 days (Smartraveller), up to 180 under Costa Rica's 2025 rules; pensionado residence for longer
United StatesAmericas
Hawaii is about 10 hours from Sydney, and there's a social security agreement. Visits are the realistic option unless you have family there or a US passport.
- A month, couple
- About A$11,510
- Visa
- 90 days on an ESTA; no retirement visa
PanamaAmericas
A residence permit for people on a lifetime pension, US dollar notes, and private hospitals in Panama City. It is a long way from Australia.
- A month, couple
- About A$5,350
- Visa
- 90 days visa-free; pensionado residence, Australian pensions unconfirmed
Weighing up where to go?
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