This Beautiful Island Was Just Named the Most Affordable Place to Retire in 2026

"The list came together after International Living reviewed "real-world monthly budgets" and firsthand accounts of daily life from its global network of expats, and presented detailed breakdowns to "help you imagine just how far your money can go in these vibrant, welcoming communities." After looking at the data, it named Sri Lanka the No. 1 most affordable place to move this year."

""Sri Lanka is the cheapest place I know of in Asia, and also one of the most beautiful," expat Roland Dalton shared in the results. "My wife and I have lived extravagantly well here on $2,200 a month. That includes a villa by the beach, traveling across the island, dining out most of the time, traditional massages, attending sports events, spa treatments for my wife, and socializing with friends.""

"In 2025, almost a quarter of seniors in the U.S. wanted to delay their planned retirement, a 14 percent increase from 2024, according to a report by insurance company F&G. The change mainly reflects a growing concern about "overall financial retirement readiness," the company explained. However, there may be another way to get to retirement on time: Moving to a more affordable location."

Sri Lanka ranks as the No. 1 most affordable country for expat living in 2026, where a comfortable lifestyle can be achieved on about $2,200 per month. The evaluation used real-world monthly budgets and firsthand expat accounts to show cost breakdowns for housing, utilities, food, travel, and entertainment. Expat testimony describes renting a villa by the beach, traveling across the island, dining out frequently, traditional massages, sports events, and spa treatments within that budget. Specific costs cited include a villa with garden and plunge pool for $385 monthly and $50 for utilities, and roughly $50 for a two-person three-course meal. Growing retirement delays among U.S. seniors are linked to financial readiness concerns and prompt consideration of more affordable locations.

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