🇪🇺 Best-of list

Best cities in Schengen Europe with widely spoken English 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: Bansko at $1,170/mo all-in. Most pleasant year-round: Lisbon, 11 months.

How this list is chosen

English is an official language, or the country scores "high" or "very high" on the EF English Proficiency Index 2025.
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⭐ 75 🇵🇹 Porto Portugal 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 90 days $2,133/mo😊 Sep 73°F

#3⭐ 73 🇧🇬 Sofia Bulgaria 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 90 days $1,647/mo😎 Sep 77°F

#4⭐ 73 🇵🇹 Lisbon Portugal 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 90 days $2,512/mo😎 Sep 79°F

#5⭐ 72 🇲🇹 Valletta Malta 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 90 days $2,370/mo😎 Sep 84°F

#6⭐ 69ⓘ 🇧🇬 Bansko Bulgaria 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 90 days ≈$1,170/mo😊 Sep 74°F

#7⭐ 69 🇬🇷 Athens Greece 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 90 days $1,679/mo😎 Sep 84°F

#8⭐ 63 🇨🇭 Bern Switzerland 🗓️ 90 days $3,545/mo😊 Sep 68°F

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

#	City	$/mo	⭐ Fit
1	🇵🇹 EriceiraPortugal	≈$1,575	80ⓘ
2	🇵🇹 PortoPortugal	$2,133	75
3	🇧🇬 SofiaBulgaria	$1,647	73
4	🇵🇹 LisbonPortugal	$2,512	73
5	🇲🇹 VallettaMalta	$2,370	72
6	🇧🇬 BanskoBulgaria	≈$1,170	69ⓘ
7	🇬🇷 AthensGreece	$1,679	69
8	🇨🇭 BernSwitzerland	$3,545	63
9	🇨🇭 ZurichSwitzerland	$4,879	62

Best cities in Schengen Europe with widely spoken English and a retirement visa

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