Screenshot from Netflix’s “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones,” showing Dan Buettner with a scenic Mediterranean coastal town and visual chart of longevity lifestyle habits explored in the show. — Netflix’s show on longevity: Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones.

Disclaimer: I am not a financial adviser, and the content in this website is for informational and educational purposes only. Please consult a qualified financial adviser for personalized advice tailored to your situation.

How Longevity and Lifestyle Design Align in Blue Zones

Is It Possible to Retire Early Abroad and Live Longer?

In today’s post, we explore how to retire abroad at an early retirement age while also embracing a lifestyle that promotes longevity and healthy aging. Is it possible to design an early retirement abroad that not only enables shortening our working career but also potentially enables a much longer and healthier life?

We recently reviewed Netflix’s series Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, which explores what are the common traits of the Blue Zones that support healthy longevity. The show follows longevity expert Dan Buettner as he visits different “Blue Zone” regions around the world to uncover some of the secret lifestyle and cultural factors explaining the outstanding longevity of their residents. But what exactly are these Blue Zones?

Blue Zones are regions of the world where residents are known for healthy aging and exceptional longevity. People here live significantly longer and healthier lives than what is the norm. The term was coined by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic Fellow, who identified the following five regions as Blue Zones: Ikaria (Greece), Okinawa (Japan), the Oligastra Region of Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica), and Loma Linda, California (United States).

Global map of the five Blue Zones—Okinawa, Ikaria, Sardinia, Nicoya, and Loma Linda—highlighting regions known for longevity, healthy aging, and lifestyle design insights from the Netflix series. — Blue Zones map featuring Okinawa, Ikaria, Sardinia, Nicoya, and Loma Linda—recognized longevity hotspots from the Netflix documentary.

The centenarians showcased in these communities are truly remarkable and lead truly joyous lives. What I like about the show is that it is not only focused on lifespan (i.e., how much we live), but also focuses strongly on healthspan, highlighting how unusually healthy and active these centenarians are. They still garden, dance, perform daily chores on their own… and are even filmed riding horses! I didn’t even know it was physically possible to enjoy this level of health at this age. If this show doesn’t get you motivated to get your health journey back on track, I don’t know what will!

Recently, I reviewed and updated our dedicated summary of Blue Zones and its key takeaways. Of course, there are many different lifestyle factors that you can try to incorporate into your life to give you the best chance at achieving a long and healthy live, no matter where you live. And, yes, you guessed it—I was reviewing this article in an attempt to optimize my own health journey and incorporate some of these low hanging fruits into my own life.

Besides all the actions one can take, an important message from the show was that the physical location and existing infrastructure of where you live plays a very important role. What does your built-in environment look like where you live? Do you live in an environment that supports healthy aging—like walkable communities, access to nature, and reduced stress—or are you surrounded by car traffic and urban noise? The physical environment matters—it’s going to act either as an enabler or a brake into incorporating many of the healthy habits presented in the show.

When reviewing the article, though, what struck me was how many of the Blue Zone regions overlap with some of the top retirement locations of Latin America, Europe, and Asia we’ve been covering over the last months. Today, we explore this surprising synergy and try to answer the following question: is it possible to design an early retirement abroad that not only enables shortening our working career but also potentially enables a much longer and healthier life?

Stunning Bali coastline with turquoise water flowing through a natural rock tunnel—dream early retirement destination in Asia for expats seeking health, beauty, and longevity. — Bali, Indonesia. Indonesia ranked 3rd in our top 3 retirement destinations on a budget in Asia. Photo by Chaitanya Maheshwari on Unsplash.

When the Best Countries to Retire Align with Blue Zones

From the five Blue Zone regions covered in the Netflix show, four of them rank in our top global retirement locations. In our recent analysis, Costa Rica ranked 1st in our top 5 retirement destinations in Latin America; Greece ranked 4th in our top 5 retirement destinations in Europe; and Japan presented one of the best cost-of-living to retirement suitability ratios in our article exploring the top retirement destinations in Asia.

In contrast, while Italy did not make the top 5 retirement destinations in Europe, it was not far behind, ranking 7th (out of 42 European countries in the dataset). Italy remains a popular destination for retirees coming from Europe and elsewhere.

The surprise for me, really, was to see a community in the US show up as a Blue Zone (US readers, please let us know in the comments if you disagree). The US certainly does not present high scores across the numerous quantitative retirement variables we examine in our Retirement Relocation Tool—more on this further below.
In today’s post, we want to examine these Blue Zone locations in relation to our retirement suitability framework. This will help us understand what makes these locations some of the best places to retire abroad, based on measurable variables like cost, safety, healthcare, climate, and others. It will also help you decide whether to consider some of these places as an early retirement destination, since there will be different pros and cons to each of these choices.

How We Rank the Best Places to Retire Abroad

We present in detail our retirement suitability framework in a dedicated post. In a nutshell, our tool considers quantitative data across 106 countries for the following 9 variables:

Safety
Healthcare quality
Political stability
Pollution
Climate
English proficiency
Openness
Natural scenery
Natural disaster risk

It then plots a retirement suitability score made up of the average across these variables against the cost of living, as illustrated in the plot of Figure 1 below. The tool allows the user to use the sliders on the left-hand side to drop the worst performing countries across specific variables of interest. If a given variable is not of interest, the user can also drop the variable from the computation of the retirement suitability score.

Screenshot of Retirement Relocation Tool showing cost of living vs. retirement suitability, helping users choose the best country to retire early based on key variables like safety, healthcare, and climate. — **Figure 1**: Retirement Relocation Tool. Retirement Suitability score (x axis) vs Cost of living (y axis). Sliders on the left can be used by the user to drop the worst performing countries across specific variables of interest or to simply not consider a given variable in the computation of the retirement suitability score.

Now that we have an understanding of the variables that make up the Retirement Suitability index, let’s look at the different Blue Zones in more detail to learn what are the factors driving their success as a retirement destination.

Costa Rica: Blue Zone Benefits and Retirement Suitability

Nicoya, Costa Rica is one of the most striking examples of a naturally occurring Blue Zone. As captured in the show, elders here live simply, maintain physical activity through gardening and walking, eat healthy diets high in beans and vegetables, and remain deeply connected to their family and community. This simple lifestyle, combined with a positive outlook on life and spiritual grounding, contributes to extraordinary longevity.

But beyond these cultural insights, how does Costa Rica perform as a retirement destination for expats?

From a data-driven perspective, Costa Rica ranks #1 in our Latin America retirement suitability index (among 15 countries analyzed), excelling across almost all categories assessed:

Openness: Costa Rica ranks #1 in the region. “Ticos” are known for their friendly, relaxed demeanor, and welcoming attitude toward foreigners. The national ethos of pura vida, which embraces simplicity, positivity, and human connection, will likely resonate with many would-be retirees.
Climate: Ranks 2nd best in the region. With a tropical climate that varies by altitude and region, Costa Rica offers options for every temperature preference—from beach life to cooler mountain towns.
Natural scenery: Ranks 4th best. From cloud forests and volcanoes to pristine beaches, Costa Rica’s natural landscapes and biodiversity are both spectacular and accessible.
Safety: Ranks 4th best. While petty theft exists (as in most countries), Costa Rica remains one of the safer countries in the region, especially in small towns and rural areas.
Natural disaster risk: Again, ranks 4th best in the regions. While the country is not immune to earthquakes or occasional flooding, the risk is relatively low compared to many neighboring nations.
English proficiency: Ranks 4th best. English is widely spoken in expat communities and tourist regions, though Spanish remains essential for full integration.
Pollution: Ranks #1 in Latin America. Costa Rica’s strong environmental policies, extensive national parks, and commitment to renewable energy contribute to excellent air and water quality—particularly appealing for health-conscious retirees.
Political stability: Ranks 4th. As one of Latin America's most stable democracies, Costa Rica offers a relatively safe and predictable environment for long-term residence.

Peaceful sunset on a pristine Costa Rican beach—symbol of Nicoya’s Blue Zone lifestyle with natural beauty, tranquility, and health-supportive environment for early retirement. — Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón, Costa Rica. Costa Rica ranks 1st in our top 5 retirement hotspots in Latin America. Which other countries do you think make the top 5 list? Photo by Luis Rod on Pexels.

In terms of weaknesses, Costa Rica’s main limitation is:

Healthcare quality: Ranks 6th in the region. While public healthcare is affordable and widely available, quality can be inconsistent, especially outside San José. Many retirees opt for private insurance or out-of-pocket care, which remains far cheaper than in the US and accessible in major cities.

As for cost of living, Costa Rica is approximately 33.5% cheaper than the US (Numbeo, 2025). While it is one of the more expensive countries in Latin America, the quality of life, safety, and environmental benefits offer excellent value.

For retirees seeking a slower pace of life, beautiful surroundings, and easy integration, Costa Rica is often seen as the best country to retire in Latin America due to its affordable lifestyle and Blue Zone benefits—Nicoya, in particular, shows how the surrounding environment fosters healthy aging and longer lives.

Why Greece Is Among the Best Places to Retire Abroad

Greece offers a fascinating case study. It combines the world-renown mediterranean diet, communal living, strong social ties, and a relaxed pace of life—all identified in the show as key contributors to remarkable longevity. The show captures this beautifully: residents of Ikaria, sometimes dubbed “the island where people forget to die”, live without rush, take mid-day naps, and gather daily with their friends and neighbours. These low-stress, high-connection habits are essential for healthy aging, benefiting both physical health and psychological well-being well into old age.

Make makes Greece such an appealing retirement destination? From a retirement perspective, Greece ranked 4th in our index of the best places to retire in Europe due to its affordability, lifestyle, and natural beauty. It offers an affordable cost of living (specially outside major cities like Athens), an enviable climate (although in some areas this may become too hot as climate change impacts progress over the years), and stunning natural beauty. Ikaira, like many Greek islands, offers beautiful coastlines, mild winters, and a sense of time standing still.

But what makes Greece such a compelling retirement destination beyond its cultural traditions?

From a data-driven perspective, Greece ranked 4th best in our retirement suitability index for Europe, which covered 42 different countries. It performed particularly well across the following variables:

Openness: Greece ranks #1 in Europe—a standout in terms of local friendliness and social acceptance of foreigners. Analogous to Costa Rica in Latin America, expats often report that they feel warmly welcomed, especially in smaller towns and islands.
Natural scenery: Greece holds the #1 spot here too, thanks to its extraordinary mix of mountain landscapes, turquoise waters, olive groves, and historic villages. It even ranked slightly ahead of Italy and Switzerland—worldly-renown for their beauty in Europe.
Climate: Ranking 5th best in Europe, Greece enjoys long summers and mild winters, though—as mentioned earlier—rising temperatures may make parts of the country uncomfortably hot in the future during some parts of the year.
English proficiency: Greece ranked 9th, meaning basic communication is relatively easy in most urban and tourist-friendly areas, though rural communities may still require learning some Greek.

Iconic beach in Zakynthos, Greece with turquoise waters and shipwreck—ideal European retirement spot combining beauty, culture, and Blue Zone-inspired lifestyle habits. — Zakynthos, Greece. Greece ranks 4th (out of 42) in our top 5 retirement locations in Europe. Which countries do you think make up the top 3? Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.

In contrast, the dataset suggests the following challenges for Greece as a retirement destination:

Political stability ranks 28th (out of 42), reflecting ongoing economic and governance volatility in recent decades. As a financially independent retiree, hopefully this aspect does not impact you too much though.
Pollution levels are moderate to high in some urban areas, notably Athens and Thessaloniki. However, air and water quality in island and rural regions—like Ikaria—remain quite good.
Healthcare quality ranks lower in our dataset. Only expat retirees from the EU would be able to access Greece’s public healthcare. However, given the affordable private insurance premiums (~€100–250/month depending on coverage and age), most retirees opt for the higher quality and reduced waiting times of the private system.
Safety is also a concern, with Greece scoring below average in the European context. This refers mainly to petty theft in cities and main tourist areas though, while rural areas tend to be far safer.
Natural disaster risk is ranked 4th worst in Europe due to Greece’s seismic activity and wildfire susceptibility, particularly during dry summers.

Still, the balance overall tilts in Greece’s favor, especially for retirees who prioritize lifestyle over perfection in every single metric. If you’ve visited, I’m sure you’d agree that the Greek approach to life is something very unique. People are warm, laugh easily, and seem to prioritize what really matters: human connection, good food, and not taking life too seriously.

Finally, Greece is approximately 42.7% cheaper than the US (based on average 2025 country data from Numbeo). While not the cheapest destination in Europe, it is still a very affordable destination. Greece remains one of the best places to retire abroad, offering a unique mix of affordability, beautiful climate, and rich cultural traditions.

Japan: Longevity, Culture, and Retirement Potential

Okinawa may be the most well-known of the Blue Zones, often cited for its “moai”—a small, tight-knit social group that provides lifelong friendship and support. As captured in the show, residents of Okinawa live with a strong sense of ikigai—a Japanese concept often tied to work and purpose, reflecting the intersection of what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. It’s a guiding philosophy that brings meaning to daily life, especially through purposeful contribution. Okinawans maintain active lifestyles well into their 90s, and traditionally follow minimally processed, plant-based diets. All these factors contribute significantly to their exceptional health and longevity.

But what makes Japan a compelling retirement destination beyond some of these cultural traditions?

From a data-driven perspective, Japan also ranked 4th best in our retirement suitability index for Asia, which covered 33 different countries. It performed particularly well across the following variables:

Political stability: Japan ranks #1 in Asia. It offers a very predictable, orderly environment with strong institutions and a high degree of public trust—something increasingly rare today.
Healthcare quality: Japan ranks 3rd best in the region, only behind the world-class healthcare systems of Taiwan and South Korea. It has universal coverage, high life expectancy, and a strong emphasis on preventive care.
Pollution: Ranks 3rd best, with relatively clean air and water—particularly in rural areas and smaller islands like Okinawa.
Natural scenery: Japan takes 3rd place here as well, offering an incredible diversity of landscapes, from beaches and forests to mountains and hot springs.
Climate: Ranked 6th best in Asia, Japan offers a wide range of climates—from snowy winters in the north to subtropical warmth in the south. Okinawa, in particular, enjoys mild winters and warm, humid summers, making it a comfortable year-round option for those seeking a temperate island lifestyle.
Safety: Japan is generally perceived as a very safe and orderly country. It has one of the lowest crime rates globally and an exceptional sense of social order and civility.

Traditional Japanese structure in Fujinomiya, with Mount Fuji in the background—reflecting Japan’s cultural depth, natural scenery, and health-forward lifestyle in regions like Okinawa. — Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, Japan. Japan ranks 4th in our top retirement destinations in Asia. Who do you think make up the top 3? Photo by Tomáš Malík on Pexels.

In contrast, the dataset suggests a foreign retiree in Japan could face the following barriers to integration and other challenges:

English proficiency: Japan ranks 8th worst in Asia. While major cities offer some English signage and services, rural areas—including Okinawa—often do not. This can pose difficulties in everyday life, assuming one is not already fairly fluent in Japanese.
Openness: In stark contrast to Costa Rica or Greece, Japan ranks 4th worst in the openness category. While locals are generally polite and respectful, forming deeper social bonds or fully integrating into Japanese society may take considerable time and effort. The culture tends to be reserved and structured, especially in traditional communities.
Natural disaster risk: Japan ranks 9th worst in the region, primarily due to earthquakes, tsunamis, and typhoons. Okinawa in particular is vulnerable to seasonal typhoons.

Despite the challenges, the upside is significant. Japan offers high quality infrastructure, deeply rooted respect for elders, low crime, and an environment that supports purposeful and active aging—values at the heart of the Blue Zone philosophy. For adventurous retirees with a willingness to adapt, different parts of Japan can offer a rewarding retirement experience that is rooted in health, meaning, and harmony.

Japan offers exceptional value, with a cost of living 41.8% lower than the US. While cities like Tokyo can be pricey, more affordable areas—including Okinawa—allow retirees to enjoy a high quality of life with world-class infrastructure at a significantly lower cost.

Italy: Cultural Richness and a Blueprint for Healthy Aging

As mentioned earlier, Italy doesn’t make the top 5 retirement destinations in Europe, but it came very close—ranking 7th overall in our data-driven index. Despite some of its challenges, Italy remains a dream destination for many retirees, thanks to its world-famous culture, cuisine, and lifestyle.

Sardinia, an autonomous island region of Italy, holds a special place in the longevity conversation as one of the original Blue Zones. As captured in the Netlix show, the island’s secret to healthy aging appears to be a mix of the Mediterranean diet, natural daily movement (think farming, walking up steep stone paths), tight-knit multigenerational families, and a cultural emphasis on strong social bonds. As the documentary highlights, Sardinian centenarians are not just alive—they’re active, engaged, and enjoying life well into old age.

Colorful coastal town of Vernazza, Tuscany—Italy as a retirement destination offers a slower pace, vibrant culture, and the longevity benefits of Mediterranean living. — Vernazza, Tuscany, Italy. Photo by Chait Goli on Pexels.

But what makes Italy—beyond Sardinia—a compelling retirement destination beyond its Blue Zone heritage?

From a data-driven perspective, Italy performs well across several key dimensions that matter to retirees. Out of 42 European countries assessed, Italy stands out in the following areas:

Natural scenery: Ranked 2nd best in Europe, just behind Greece. Similar to Greece, Italy offers extraordinary beauty and variety—from Sardinia’s rugged coasts and olive groves to the rolling hills of Tuscany and alpine lakes in the north.
Climate: Italy ranks 6th best, thanks to its warm Mediterranean weather and mild winters, especially in coastal and southern areas. Like other Mediterranean countries, it should be noted that parts of Italy may face rising temperatures and summer heatwaves due to progressing climate change impacts.
Openness: Ranked 8th best, Italy tends to be welcoming toward foreigners, particularly in smaller towns where expats can become part of the local fabric—especially if they make an effort to engage with the local culture.

In contrast, the dataset highlights a few challenges for prospective retirees wishing to settle in Italy:

English proficiency: Italy ranks 2nd worst in Europe, only ahead of France. While English is common in tourist areas and among younger Italians, retirees settling in rural regions like Sardinia may need to learn basic Italian for day-to-day life and integration.
Natural disaster risk: Italy ranks 2nd worst in Europe, largely due to seismic activity (especially in central regions) and increasing wildfire risk in hotter southern areas.
Safety: Italy ranks 8th worst for safety in our European dataset—driven, like Greece, primarily by petty crime and theft in tourist hotspots and some urban areas. Rural areas like Sardinia, however, tend to be much safer.
Pollution: Italy presents an average ranking for pollution in relation to other European countries. However, regions like Sardinia are known for their clean air and pristine natural environments.
Political stability: Again, Italy falls mid-pack here, reflecting long-standing issues with governmental turnover and economic policy uncertainty. Italy is well known for changing their government every 5 minutes. For financially independent retirees, though, this may have limited day-to-day impact but is still worth mentioning.
Healthcare quality: Our index places Italy around the middle of the pack in Europe, although this masks a regional divide: healthcare in the north tends to be excellent, while services in the south and on islands like Sardinia can be more limited. While most expats in Italy (especially from the EU) can access public healthcare affordably, non-EU retirees typically require private insurance.

Scenic Manarola village in Liguria, Italy perched above the sea—Italy offers many idyllic spots for expats seeking early retirement in a setting that supports well-being and connection. — Manarola, Liguria, Italy. Photo by Chait Goli on Pexels.

Despite some bureaucratic hurdles and structural weaknesses, the day-to-day quality of life in Italy is very high—especially for retirees who value culture, food, scenery, and a slower pace of life. If you’re looking to retire somewhere with deep community roots, abundant natural beauty, and a lifestyle that closely mirrors Blue Zone values (even beyond Sardinia), Italy makes a very strong candidate.

Finally, Italy’s cost of living is 33.2% lower than that of the US. While certain cities and northern regions are more expensive, many southern areas and smaller towns (including Sardinia) offer a rich cultural lifestyle and strong value for money.

Loma Linda, California: A Blue Zone Exception in the US

Loma Linda, California is the only Blue Zone located in the United States, but its presence is more the exception than the rule. What makes this community unique isn’t geography, climate, or national policy. It’s the lifestyle of a very specific community: the Seventh-day Adventists, whose health-conscious habits—including a plant-based diet, strong social support, regular physical activity, rest, and spiritual focus—result in life expectancy a decade above the US average.

The documentary makes this contrast stark: a five minute drive across the freeway from Loma Linda, life expectancy drops dramatically. This underscores the reality that Loma Linda is an island of longevity in a broader system that doesn’t support it. According to UN data, United States ranks 55th globally in life expectancy at birth, which is remarkable given the country’s wealth.

If we assess the US using the same retirement suitability variables applied and use Europe as a benchmark, the US performs poorly in almost every single category, making it an unlikely retirement destination for foreigners:

Safety: Considering 42 European countries, only 3 countries perform worse than the US. High gun violence, inconsistent policing, and social fragmentation lower the national safety profile—even if many neighborhoods and towns are perfectly secure.
Healthcare: The US system may provide excellent care for those who can afford it, but costs tend to be prohibitive. 17 European countries rank higher in quality and accessibility. Healthcare remains one of the top fears for Americans pursuing FIRE (financial independence, early retirement).
Pollution: 19 European countries rank better. While the US has beautiful and pristine nature, pollution in urban and industrial areas brings down the national score.
Natural scenery: Surprisingly, the US ranks poorly here too—24 European countries rank higher. This likely reflects access and urban sprawl rather than a lack of natural beauty. It’s clear that the US has outstanding natural landscapes.
Political stability: 18 European countries score better. Rising polarization, inconsistent governance, and growing institutional distrust make the US feel unstable for many expats.
Climate: 23 European countries perform better. In practice, though, this is a tricky variable to benchmark, given the size of the US and the huge variation in climates found within.
Natural disaster risk: Also among the worst. Hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and earthquakes are increasingly common across many parts of the US

Loma Linda, California under a clear blue sky with mountains in the background—unique U.S. Blue Zone community highlighting how localized culture can support longer life despite national trends. — Loma Linda, California, United States. Residents in this Seventh-day Adventist community live a decade more than the national average. Photo by Jabez Impano on Unsplash

On the upside:

English proficiency: No issues here, of course!
Openness: The US scores very well here, with only four European countries ranking higher. Despite internal polarization, America remains culturally open to immigrants and diverse populations—particularly in major cities. As perceived abroad, US citizens tend to be very friendly and open.

In general, though, because of the high cost of living and many of these reasons disclosed above, the US is certainly not a top contender for retirees considering moving from abroad. Loma Linda’s longevity is less about place and more about community structure and intentional living—things that can, in theory, be replicated anywhere.

Can You Build a Blue Zone Lifestyle Anywhere?

In our previous article, we summarized in detail the lifestyle habits linked to longevity across the Blue Zones. If you're wondering what are the common traits across the Blue Zones, they include natural movement, plant-based diets, strong social bonds, and a clear sense of purpose.

But as Dan Buettner emphasizes throughout the show, you can’t out-discipline a bad environment. It’s not easy to sustain healthy behaviors over time if your physical surroundings are not acting as enablers of these positive habits, or if they are downright discouraging them. It the culture or infrastructure where you live doesn’t support Blue Zone values, maintaining those habits over the long term may feel like swimming against the current.

Loma Linda, though, is a very interesting counterexample to what I just mentioned (but also a clear exception). It shows that it’s possible to engineer a Blue Zone lifestyle in the modern world—but it should be noted that Loma Linda is a tightly-knit religious community with shared norms that happen to overlap with a lot of Blue Zone values, e.g., the importance of rest on Sundays, eating healthily, or cultivating strong social ties.

So, the takeaway is: yes, try to implement as many Blue Zone health tips as possible in your life—optimize your diet, your movement, and your relationships. But also don’t underestimate the power of context and environment. The environments in Nicoya, Ikaria, or Okinawa successfully nudged their residents towards healthy lifestyles. In contrast, many modern cities do the opposite.

We'd love to hear how your physical environment enables or discourages a Blue Zone-inspired lifestyle and supports healthy aging where you live—please share with us in the comments below!

In many places, the environment is simply working against you. If you truly want Blue Zone benefits, you may also consider going to where “the soil is already fertile”, i.e., consider relocation. After all, what is there in life more important than your health and the health of your loved ones?

Relaxing beach scene in Sitges, Spain with the town in the background—epitome of a Mediterranean lifestyle supporting joy, community, and healthy aging for early retirees. — Sitges, Spain. Photo by chan lee on Unsplash.

How Early Retirement Age Boosts Success When You Retire Abroad

In this blog, we write a lot about early retirement age and how to strategically plan for it. The global data shows that the majority of workers feel unfulfilled in their jobs. If this rings true for you, then why be a 9-to-5 unfulfilled employee for 40+ years if you can avoid it? Pursuing early retirement isn’t only freedom from work—it’s also about the time and energy it gives you to pursue meaningful activities elsewhere.

Relocating to a different country at age 65 can be rewarding and an enrichening experience, no doubt, what about doing so when you are younger, say, at 45 or 50? That can be transformative. You have more time to learn the language, if applicable, build strong social ties, and really integrate into the new culture.

Of course, a key downside to relocating abroad is being farther away from family. This decision depends a lot on each individual’s circumstances. But consider, firstly, that many people already live far from their families, even within the same country. Across some European countries, for instance, it’s not uncommon that a 3-hour flight across borders can be more accessible and just as quick as a 7-hour train or car trip within a large country. Also, consider that early retirees have more time and flexible schedules to travel—if you decide to pursue early retirement, you may end up seeing your loved ones more despite living farther away.

That said, this is a very personal decision. If you already have a strong, fulfilling support system where you live with strong social ties, there may be no need to move. But if you crave for community, nature, and a slower pace of life, early retirement abroad could offer more than just financial arbitrage. It may offer you a much higher quality of life—including one with a longer lifespan and healthspan.

Case Study: Retire Earlier by Moving to a Blue Zone Country

Let’s use our Financial Independence Calculator to evaluate early retirement age planning in a realistic scenario for a US household. Suppose this household has the following characteristics:

Age: 45
Net Annual Income: $80,000
Current Portfolio Value: $600,000
Current Annual Expenses: $60,000
Estimate Annual Expenses in Retirement: $60,000

As observed in Figure 2, this household would reach financial independence and be able to retire in the US in 10.4 years at age 55, assuming their portfolio is invested in low cost, internationally diversified index funds that return an annual real return on investment of 7%, and considering a 4% safe withdrawal rate.

Screenshot from Financial Independence Calculator showing retirement timeline for a U.S. household—visualizing how early retirement is accelerated through savings and smart planning. — **Figure 2**: Output of out free Financial Independence Calculator. Given the inputs and assumptions of the case study above, this household would reach Financial Independence and be able to retire in 10.4 years at age 55.4.

But what if they wanted to retire early in a Blue Zone region, because they wanted to pursue a lifestyle that enables a higher quality of life with a potentially longer lifespan and healthspan? By using country-level cost-of-living data, our calculator also provides what this timeline would look like if you chose to retire in a different country (Figure 3).

As observed in the map below, this case study example could already retire abroad in 34 different countries (the tool provides a table indicating which ones they are). They would already be able to retire in the countries in dark green, whereas orange and red are the countries where it would take the most amount of time to retire.

Map output from Financial Independence Calculator showing countries where early retirement is already possible based on cost-of-living and savings—highlighting power of geographic arbitrage. — **Figure 3**: Output of out free Financial Independence Calculator. Given the inputs and assumptions of the case study above, this household would *already* be able to retire in 34 different countries.

For US-based workers, Costa Rica may be one of the best countries to retire to from the US, with the calculator showing it would be financially viable in just 5.5 years (instead of 10.4 years). Greece would be possible in only 3.8 years; Italy in 5.6 years; and Japan in 4 years.

Relocating to some of these countries does not only give you the chance for a shorter career and to enjoy retirement while your still healthy, but also has the potential to increase your lifespan and healthspan. This is the power of geographic arbitrage in the context of Blue Zones: not just stretching your money, but also upgrading your life!

Keep in mind that these numbers results from country-level cost-of-living averages. Consider that in practice, if you truly are pursuing a Blue Zone lifestyle, you would likely not move to the big cities in these locations, but to calmer, more remote areas. These areas are likely to be cheaper than the average cost-of-living data used in these examples.

Finding the Next Blue Zones: What Patterns to look out for

The original Blue Zones are certainly a very inspiring story, but, as mentioned in the Netflix show, many of them face a sobering reality: modernization. Okinawa has one of the highest fast-food densities per capita in Japan; like many places in Europe, young people are leaving rural Ikaria and Sardinia to search for jobs in the city; in contrast, Nicoya faces increasing challenges from tourism.

This brings us to a key insight: Current Blue Zones reflect lifestyles that developed 40 to 70 years ago. The centenarians we study today grew up in a very different world. Are the conditions that enabled their remarkable longevity still in place today? Unfortunately, things are not so straightforward—by the time a place qualifies as a Blue Zone, a lot of what made it special may already be fading.

So, the question is: how do we identify the next Blue Zone before they peak? In parallel to focusing on where people are already living to 100, we should also consider areas where there is:

Daily physical activity is built into life
Predominantly plant-based, minimally processed diets
Strong social cohesion and family support
Slow paced, low stress culture
Environmental quality: clear air and water, low noise
Purpose and community structures that support elder dignity

We should think of Blue Zones not as static locations, but as slowly evolving over time. This means we should be open to the possibility of other Blue Zones emerging in different corners of the world.

Corniglia village in Liguria, Italy surrounded by vineyards and sea—capturing peaceful rhythms and environmental quality of small-town Mediterranean life, ideal for healthy early retirement. — Corniglia, SP, Liguria, Italy. Photo by Daniel Seßler on Unsplash.

Designing the Good Life: Retire Early and Live Longer Abroad

To retire abroad in a Blue Zone is no longer just a dream—it’s a viable way to prioritize both health and lifestyle through intentional retirement planning. In spite of the caveats disclosed above, it can still be a viable strategy for those who want to prioritize health, purpose, and connection, while shortening their working career.

Environment matters deeply. It shapes behavior, either supporting or sabotaging your goals. While personal discipline is powerful, it’s hard to maintain when your surroundings work against you. Relocating to a place that naturally supports your lifestyle may be a more sustainable approach for some.

Finally, it’s important to not only consider current Blue Zones, but also where the next ones may be emerging. Which areas are providing the environment and culture that matches the lifestyle and healthy habits we would like to incorporate in our own lives? Also, important: how can I design my life today so that I don’t just extend the years in it—but fill those years with joy, connection, and vitality?

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