Tunisia
A solid all-round choice. Ranked 39 of 40, strongest on affordability, softest on retiree visa.
1 of 6 axes rest on data we could not verify yet; unverified inputs score a neutral 50 and are marked "partial data".
Key facts
Visa & residency
Carte de Sejour (standard residence permit; retirement is a valid reason to stay, not a dedicated retirement visa)
Retirees must show regular deposits into a Tunisian bank account; a minimum monthly transfer of around 400 euros is cited (some applicants have been asked for about 1,000 euros).
Foreigners staying over 90 days apply for a Carte de Sejour with a lease, passport copy, photos, tax stamps and proof of bank deposits; eligibility can depend on nationality, and permanent residency is possible after five years.
Healthcare
Tax-funded public system (CNAM) of primary health centres and district, regional and university hospitals alongside a strong urban private sector holding most top-range equipment; medical tourism is a major foreign-currency earner, though public care faces rising out-of-pocket costs and a doctor exodus to Europe.
No verified data yet
Cost of living
Very affordable: Numbeo puts single-person costs around 410 euros (about 440 US dollars) a month excluding rent, so a comfortable single-retiree budget is roughly 700-1,100 US dollars including housing.
Rent prices in Tunisia are about 86% lower than in the United States, with a city-centre one-bedroom apartment averaging roughly 682 dinars per month.
Safety & climate
Ranks 77th of 163 countries on the 2026 Global Peace Index with a score of 1.947, a 19-place improvement, placing it in the middle of the global peacefulness range.
The climate is Mediterranean along the northern coast, with mild wet winters and hot dry summers, while most of the interior and south is arid Saharan desert.
Community & language
No verified data yet
Tunisia scores 498 (moderate proficiency, #66 globally) on the EF English Proficiency Index, above the world average and up 22 points; French is the practical second language while English is growing among younger people and in tourist areas.
Arabic is the official language and Tunisian Arabic is the most widely spoken; French is used in administration and education but has no official status.
Taxes
No verified data yet
Tunisia has an income tax treaty with the United States, listed on the IRS treaties directory.
Compare Tunisia with its closest rivals
The three countries whose RetireScore sits nearest.
