Study: Prague is among the best cities in Europe to retire

A new study has found that Prague is among the best cities in all of Europe to retire in, beating the likes of Marseille, Warsaw, and London.

Financial-advice website Moneypenny.com assessed several cities on the continent by taking into account numerous factors such as average rent, cities’ cost of living, healthcare, the number of green spaces, and the amount of cafes.

The Czech capital’s strong performance was driven by its access to safety, healthcare, greenery, and numbers of attractions. A separate study from InterNations, which evaluated the best destinations for expats in 2024, found that Czechia was the 15th-safest country in the world. It also revealed that it had the eighth-best transit system globally – particularly useful for retirees.

An impressive 56 percent of the Czech capital is covered by trees or grass, and a 2021 report found that Prague ranks as one of the world’s greenest cities. 

Dragging on Prague’s standing in the ranking is most likely the cost of its rental and property-purchase prices: a recent study, for example, found that Prague has Europe's least-affordable housing, and in 2023 consulting firm Deloitte discovered that Czechia is the second-least affordable country in Europe to purchase property. 

This is not the first time that Prague has featured on a list for the best spots to retire. Lifestyle magazine Travel & Leisure featured the Czech capital on its list of the best cities for the elderly.

Although Prague is a good destination for expats looking to retire abroad, it may be worse for those who have worked and made a living in Czechia. Recent changes to the country’s pension system slowed the rate of pension increases, and most likely will mean that the country’s retirement age will rise in the coming decades.