🇪🇺 Best-of list

Best cities in Schengen Europe with clean air and a retirement visa

9 of the 43 cities we cover in Schengen Europe make this list, ranked by overall fit for someone moving from the US. 🇵🇹 Ericeira ranks first. Cheapest: Ericeira at $1,575/mo all-in. Most pleasant year-round: Lisbon, 11 months.

How this list is chosen

Clean air: yearly average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) of 10 µg/m³ or less, the WHO’s strictest interim target.
The country has a retirement or passive-income residence visa Americans can apply for (pension or savings instead of a job).
In Schengen Europe.

Ranked with the City Finder's default weights for cost, climate, safety, internet and visa-free stay. Change the weights in the City Finder →

#1⭐ 80ⓘ 🇵🇹 Ericeira Portugal 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 90 days ≈$1,575/mo😊 Sep 73°F

#2⭐ 79 🇪🇸 Las Palmas Spain 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 90 days $1,818/mo😎 Sep 78°F

#3⭐ 76 🇪🇸 Alicante Spain 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 90 days $1,854/mo😎 Sep 81°F

#4⭐ 76 🇪🇸 Malaga Spain 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 90 days $2,217/mo😎 Sep 83°F

#5⭐ 75 🇵🇹 Porto Portugal 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 90 days $2,133/mo😊 Sep 73°F

#6⭐ 73 🇵🇹 Lisbon Portugal 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 90 days $2,512/mo😎 Sep 79°F

#7⭐ 71 🇪🇸 Madrid Spain 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 90 days $2,529/mo😎 Sep 80°F

#8⭐ 64 🇪🇸 Barcelona Spain 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 90 days $2,618/mo😎 Sep 78°F

#9⭐ 62 🇨🇭 Zurich Switzerland 🗓️ 90 days $4,879/mo😊 Sep 69°F

#	City	$/mo	⭐ Fit
1	🇵🇹 EriceiraPortugal	≈$1,575	80ⓘ
2	🇪🇸 Las PalmasSpain	$1,818	79
3	🇪🇸 AlicanteSpain	$1,854	76
4	🇪🇸 MalagaSpain	$2,217	76
5	🇵🇹 PortoPortugal	$2,133	75
6	🇵🇹 LisbonPortugal	$2,512	73
7	🇪🇸 MadridSpain	$2,529	71
8	🇪🇸 BarcelonaSpain	$2,618	64
9	🇨🇭 ZurichSwitzerland	$4,879	62

Best cities in Schengen Europe with clean air and a retirement visa

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