Affordable Places to Retire Abroad With Four True Seasons

Plenty of Americans picture retiring abroad somewhere warm. But if you'd miss the first snowfall, fall color, and a spring that actually feels like spring, there's another option.

You don't have to trade the seasons for a lower cost of living. We found 12 places abroad with a real winter and a real summer, and everyday prices roughly 30–60% below the U.S. They run from Prague and Ljubljana to Tbilisi, Seoul and Kyoto.

• Central Europe: Budapest, Hungary; Kraków, Poland; Ljubljana, Slovenia; Prague, Czechia; Zagreb, Croatia
• Southeast Europe: Bansko and Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Brașov and Bucharest, Romania
• The Caucasus: Tbilisi, Georgia
• East Asia: Kyoto, Japan; Seoul, South Korea

We also list a few close calls, including Tokyo, Munich and Vienna.

Looking closer to home? See our Affordable Places to Retire With Four True Seasons in the U.S.

How we picked them

We used two simple tests. A place had to pass both.

Test 1: Four true seasons

We used the same test as our U.S. guide. Using 30 years of temperature records (1991–2020), a place qualified if:

• its coldest month averages 40°F or colder, a real winter, and
• its warmest month averages 66°F or warmer, a real summer.

These are 24-hour averages, so they run lower than daytime highs. Where we could, we used each country's official weather service; most come from the 1991–2020 records those services report to the World Meteorological Organization. For four places (Plovdiv, Bansko, Brașov and Tirana), no official average is published online. For those we used a model-based climate average (ERA5, from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) and marked them with a †.

Test 2: Everyday prices well below the U.S.

For this we used the World Bank's price level for household spending. It compares what everyday life costs in each country with the U.S., which is set at 100.

• A 60 means everyday spending runs about 40% below the U.S.
• A 40 means about 60% below.

What it includes: groceries, services, transportation, rent and other everyday household spending. What it doesn't include: the cost of buying a home.

Almost every country comes in under the U.S. on this measure, so we set a tighter bar: 70 or below, meaning everyday prices at least about 30% lower than at home. These are 2025 figures, the latest the World Bank has published.

How to read these numbers

It's a country-wide number. The price level covers a whole country, so capital cities like Prague, Budapest and Seoul will usually run higher than the national figure, and smaller towns lower.

It's about living costs, not buying. The price level tells you what groceries, a meal out, a bus ride or rent will cost compared with home. It doesn't tell you what homes sell for. Many people rent first, both to test a place and because buying property abroad has its own rules.

Why our destination pages show different numbers. Our destination pages use a city-level cost index and average daytime temperatures. This guide uses official country-wide prices and 24-hour averages, which is why the figures differ.

How you stay matters as much as what it costs. Each entry ends with one line on the route most retirees use to stay long-term, with a link to the official government page. Rules change, so check that page before you plan.

Quick comparison

Temperatures: 1991–2020 monthly averages from national weather services (via the World Meteorological Organization) and the Japan Meteorological Agency. † = model-based average (ERA5), because no official figure is published online. Everyday prices: World Bank household price level, 2025 (U.S. = 100). Visa details: official government sources, checked September 2026.

Central Europe

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest pairs grand Danube-side architecture and its famous thermal baths with real seasons: January averages about 32°F and July about 73°F. Hungary's everyday prices come in at 57.9, about 42% below the U.S. How Americans stay: Hungary has no retiree permit. The main non-family long-stay route is a guest-investor permit (€250,000 in an approved fund), and U.S. citizens can visit for 90 days in any 180. Verify on Hungary's immigration site → Explore Budapest →

Kraków, Poland

Kraków's well-preserved medieval old town sees a true winter, about 29°F in January and among the coldest on this list, and warm summers around 67°F in July. Poland's everyday prices are 54.9, about 45% below the U.S. How Americans stay: Retirees can apply for a temporary residence permit "due to other circumstances," showing stable income and health insurance; approval is case by case. Verify with the local voivode office → Explore Kraków →

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Slovenia's small, walkable capital sits between the Alps and the Adriatic, with January around 34°F and July around 71°F. Slovenia's everyday prices are 67.0, about a third below the U.S. How Americans stay: Slovenia's temporary residence permit for "other justified reasons" lists receiving a pension as a qualifying reason; you'll need means at Slovenia's minimum-income level. Verify on InfoTujci → Explore Ljubljana →

Prague, Czechia

Prague's fairy-tale skyline gets the full four-season treatment: January averages about 32°F and July about 68°F. Czechia's everyday prices are 67.0, about a third below the U.S. How Americans stay: Retirees typically apply for a long-term visa for "other purposes." For a 12-month stay, you'll need to show about CZK 116,000 (around $5,400) in funds. Verify with the Czech Interior Ministry → Explore Prague →

Zagreb, Croatia

Croatia's inland capital trades the coast's crowds for real seasons: January around 35°F and July around 72°F. Croatia's everyday prices are 58.8, about 41% below the U.S. How Americans stay: Croatia offers temporary stay for "other purposes," which requires about €870 a month (around $990). That's one of the clearest published income bars on this list. Verify with Croatia's Interior Ministry → Explore Zagreb →

Southeast Europe

Bansko, Bulgaria†

A ski town at the foot of Bulgaria's Pirin Mountains, Bansko gets real ski-season winters around 32°F in January and pleasant summers around 70°F. Bulgaria's everyday prices are 46.7, about 53% below the U.S. How Americans stay: Bulgaria has a long-stay (type D) visa for pensioners. Your pension needs to at least match Bulgaria's minimum pension or wage level. Verify with Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry → Explore Bansko →

Plovdiv, Bulgaria†

Bulgaria's historic Plovdiv has an old town set on hills above the city. January averages about 34°F and August about 75°F. It shares Bulgaria's price level of 46.7, about 53% below the U.S. How Americans stay: The same pensioner long-stay (type D) visa applies. Verify with Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry → Explore Plovdiv →

Brașov, Romania† — almost pick

This medieval Transylvanian town in the Carpathian foothills has the coldest winter on the list, about 26°F in January. Its summers are mountain-cool, within a few degrees of our summer line, which is a plus if you don't love heat. Romania's everyday prices are 48.8, about half the U.S. level. How Americans stay: Retirees generally use Romania's long-stay visa for "other purposes." The residence permit that follows asks for income around Romania's average gross salary, about $2,000 a month. Verify with Romania's immigration office → Explore Brașov →

Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest's grand boulevards see cold winters, around 29°F in January, and hot summers around 73°F in July. It shares Romania's price level of 48.8, about half the U.S. level. How Americans stay: The same long-stay visa for "other purposes" applies (about $2,000/month income for the residence permit). Verify with Romania's immigration office → Explore Bucharest →

The Caucasus

Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi is the standout on price. Georgia's everyday prices are 39.7, about 60% below the U.S. and the lowest on this list. Its old town sits along the Mtkvari River, and it has real seasons (January around 37°F, August around 78°F). How Americans stay: This is the easiest entry here: U.S. citizens can stay a full year visa-free. Longer-term residence generally runs through property ownership (over $150,000). Verify with Georgia's official sources → Explore Tbilisi →

East Asia

Kyoto, Japan — almost pick

Kyoto's temples and gardens are famous for spring cherry blossoms and fall color. Winters average right around 40°F in January, within a few degrees of our line, and August runs about 83°F. Japan's everyday prices are 69.0, about 31% below the U.S. How Americans stay: Japan has no retirement visa. Its 1-year "long stay for sightseeing" option requires about ¥30 million (roughly $190,000) in savings. Verify with Japan's Foreign Ministry → Explore Kyoto →

Seoul, South Korea

Seoul has one of the coldest winters on this list, about 28°F in January, and warm summers around 79°F in August. Korea's everyday prices are 61.9, about 38% below the U.S. How Americans stay: South Korea has no dedicated retirement visa for most foreigners. U.S. citizens can visit for 90 days visa-free. Verify with a Korean consulate → Explore Seoul →

Close calls

These places didn't quite make our list, but they're still well worth a look:

• Tokyo, Japan: winters run a few degrees too mild for our test. Same everyday prices as Kyoto (69.0).
• Tuscany (Lucca area), Italy: winters run a few degrees too mild.
• Dordogne, France: winters run a few degrees too mild.
• Aix-en-Provence, France: winters run a few degrees too mild.
• Tirana, Albania†: winters run a few degrees too mild; everyday prices are 54.3.
• Istanbul, Türkiye: winters run a few degrees too mild; everyday prices are 45.0.
• Munich, Germany, Berlin, Germany, and Vienna, Austria: all three have real seasons. Everyday prices (81.2 in Germany, 84.8 in Austria) sit above our cutoff but are still below the U.S.

Why not Portugal, Spain or Greece? Their winters are too mild for a four-seasons list. If warm winters appeal to you, our retire abroad on $2,000–$3,000 a month guide covers places like Alicante, Spain. And the Netherlands, Scandinavia and Ireland? Their summers stay too cool for our test.

Find the one that fits you

Seasons and prices are just two pieces. Healthcare, how far you'll be from family, language, and how you like to spend your days matter just as much. Our quiz weighs what matters to you and points you to destinations worth a closer look, at home or abroad.