Algarve ranked best place to retire

Photo credit: Melenama

The country's coastal region in the south is a hugely popular destination for holidaymakers and expats, thanks to its 3,000-plus house of sunshine every year, one of the highest levels in Europe. Indeed, it is already home to more than 100,000 international retirees and regularly drives interest in Portuguese real estate on TheMoveChannel.com.

Now, Live and Invest Overseas has ranked it as the best place to retire. The site's index compares 12 factors for a range of countries, including climate, cost of Living, whether they speak English, entertainment, environmental  conditions, existing expat community, healthcare, infrastructure, real estate, residency options, safety and taxes.

Portugal ranks as the 17th safest country in the world, with improving infrastructure and international-standard healthcare. The cost of living, meanwhile is "among the lowest in Western Europe", according to Live and Invest Overseas Index - a retired couple, notes the site, could live here comfortably on a budget of as little as $1,500 per month.

The country's Golden Visa scheme, which has already seen a positive response from real estate investors, also boosts the appeal of the country as a permanent destination.

The index follows TheMoveChannel.com's latest Top of the Props report, which found that demand for Portuguese property has reached an eight-month high, with the country overtaking France in popularity to become the third most sought-after location in the world among house hunters.