Retiring abroad is a dream for many Americans, and the reasons to make the international leap can vary from surrounding yourself in natural beauty to more affordable housing costs. Whether it’s the quest for greener (and more exotic) pastures or a better cost of living, many retirees are deciding to relocate overseas to enjoy their golden years.
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However, other factors can also come into play, such as the language barrier. So, even if you have found a more affordable place to retire, if you can’t speak the language of your retirement destination, there’s a chance you won’t have as high a quality of life. Fortunately, there are many places in Europe with a rich history where residents speak English, making the transition easier for these Americans who are leaving in droves.
Here are some of the most affordable, English-speaking cities in Europe that retirees will enjoy.
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Lisbon, Portugal
Portugal is one of the cheapest English-speaking countries to retire to, with individual expat retirees living as low as $2,000 per month, according to travel experts. English is widely spoken in Lisbon and the surrounding towns.
Rome, Italy
Rome is home to a huge English-speaking base, most of whom have medium-level proficiency in speaking English. In turn, it is possible to get by without learning Italian, though it never hurts to download Duolingo. The cost of living in Italy is, on average, 19.7% lower than in the United States, which makes it a great city for retired folks on a fixed income.
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Oslo, Norway
Oslo not only has many English-speaking residents but also offers excellent healthcare, cultural events and more, which is great to keep your life of leisure filled with activities. Plus, Oslo is 20.1% less expensive than New York, while rents are on average, a whopping 66.2% lower than in New York.
Paris, France
The City of Light attracts many expats, so it’s also easy to live in Paris for English speakers. However, as Insider Monkey noted, Parisians appreciate it if you make an effort to speak French. As for the costs of living, Paris is 24.8% less expensive than New York.
Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki is one of the best places to retire in Europe for English speakers as it is one of the most proficient English-speaking places, according to Insider Monkey. And it’s much cheaper than New York, for instance, as it’s 31.1% less expensive.
Warsaw, Poland
Warsaw is also at the top of the list as one of the best places to retire in Europe for English speakers, as it ranks 10th among the most highly proficient regions in Europe, Insider Monkey noted. The city is also 54.1% less expensive than New York.
Brussels, Belgium
Brussels is a “thriving expat community,” according to Insider Monkey and is very popular among English-speaking people. The city is 33.2% less expensive than New York, while rents are, on average, 70.2% lower than in New York.
Madrid, Spain
There is an abundance of English-speaking communities in Spain, Madrid being one of them, which makes your transition of the workforce a smooth one. And when it comes to cost of living, Madrid is 48.1% less expensive than New York.
Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
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Sources
Numbeo, Cost of living
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 8 Cheap Places To Retire in Europe Where Residents Speak English
