Montenegro named among Forbes' top foreign destinations for American retirees in 2026

Montenegro appears on Forbes' 2026 list of the best destinations for American retirees who want to move abroad, with the magazine highlighting the country's Mediterranean beaches, varied climate and comparatively low living costs.

Living costs and services: Forbes points to Montenegro's cost of living at roughly a little over half of U.S. levels, a stable government and low rates of serious crime. Healthcare is described as satisfactory, though many foreigners with specialized needs travel to Italy or Germany for treatment; private health insurance is mandatory. About two-fifths of the population speak English.

How retirees decide

The report is part of a wider ranking in which Forbes selected 24 countries and 96 recommended locations based on what each place offers, cost of living, healthcare, climate risks and local attitudes toward American retirees. Montenegro was also included on last year’s list.

The magazine illustrates the trend with the example of Dorsi and Den Shmitz. After 37 years of marriage and while approaching retirement they left a 31‑acre house in Blanchard, a rural Michigan town of about 3,100 people an hour north of Grand Rapids. Living costs in their Michigan area are roughly 20 percent below the U.S. average, but they wanted a different lifestyle.

“We couldn't find the life we wanted in the U.S.,” said 63‑year‑old Den, a former operations manager in the telecommunications industry. The couple considered Portugal, Greece, France and Thailand; Thailand was too humid, and they ultimately found the right mix of price and atmosphere in nearby Albania before relocating in April to Vlora, a coastal city of about 78,000.

In Vlora they pay $1,100 a month for a three‑bedroom apartment near the Lungomare promenade, which stretches roughly five kilometres along the Adriatic. A one‑year tourist visa gives them time to explore and decide whether to apply for longer residence.

Official figures show that by the end of 2024 some 712,000 Americans were receiving Social Security benefits while living abroad, a rise of 20 percent over 13 years; surveys indicate many more are considering retirement overseas. Forbes added two countries to the list for the first time this year — Mauritius and Vietnam, the latter the only current communist country included.

The ranking also notes that Canada is among the more difficult countries for retirees to obtain permanent residency. Recent policy changes have broadened the definition of family ties, and Canada now allows Americans to spend up to six months a year there while recommending private health insurance. Because living costs in Canada are only slightly lower than in the U.S., it remains predominantly an option for wealthier retirees able to maintain two households.

Photo: press material from the event