The Best City in the World to Retire is in Spain: Beach, Culture, and Decent English
Seeing foreign retirees on the Spanish coast is nothing new. They are in the millions, concentrated mainly in the islands, Malaga, and the Valencia Community. Anyone who has had the opportunity to spend a week in London can understand it: Big Ben is nice, but the beach, the good weather, the cuisine, the public healthcare, the friendly character... They can't compare.
Which City is the Best in the World to Retire?
"Live and Invest Overseas" is an American financial portal that, as its name suggests, specializes in discussions about life and investments on an international level. It has decided to create a list of the top 10 best countries to retire, recommending a specific city from each of these. Their criteria have mainly been safety, cost of living, and the money needed to make the move. It is no surprise that their verdict pointed to a trendy city that ranks high on the lists of the best cities to live: Valencia.
The portal describes the capital of southeastern Spain as an attractive coastal city ideal for real estate investments, praising its architecture, exotic mosaics, and Mediterranean culture. It describes the locals' English as decent, at least enough for shopping and ordering in a restaurant. Not bad.
Among Spain's main virtues, this American medium notes the low cost of living compared to the quality of it and the healthcare system, our rich history and culture, appreciated in music, gastronomy, viticulture, art, architecture, design, or festivals; and the diversity of our geography, with numerous mountains, valleys, rivers, and islands. Interestingly, it identifies the fact that our country is the second most mountainous in the continent, after Switzerland, as the reason for the existing cultural diversity.
For Americans, Valencia is ridiculously cheap, incredibly safe, has stunning food, and enjoys enviable weather. And we certainly won't argue with that.