Buy now, live later: Why Spain has been named the best country in Europe for the second half of life

There are purchases you make for yourself today, and there are those you make for yourself in the future. A home by the sea in Marbella is increasingly becoming part of the second category. It is chosen by people at the height of their careers who still work a lot and travel, but already know exactly where they want to spend their best years.

In October 2026, this choice received strong confirmation. The International Global Retirement Report and Index 2026 ranking, compiled by the consulting company Global Citizen Solutions, named Spain the best country in Europe to live in the second half of life and placed it third in the world. The final score was 99.6 points out of 100.

Let’s look at what lies behind this number and why the strategy «buy now, move later» is becoming one of the most sensible options on the Costa del Sol.

What the ranking assessed

The Global Retirement Index does not focus on postcard landscapes. It looks at how comfortable and convenient it will be for a person to live in a country for years. Spain scored highly across several areas:

• quality of life: climate, safety, healthcare, nature, culture;
• mobility and opportunities for the family: options for obtaining residency, the ability to bring over loved ones;
• tax optimization: how flexibly you can structure a tax model;
• administrative procedures: how document processing and everyday bureaucracy are set up;
• cost of living and the investment climate.

It is the combination of these factors, not just the sun, that makes Spain a leader. According to the study’s authors, the country has long remained the top European destination for Britons who move abroad after their active careers end.

A new buyer profile: 45, not 65

The most interesting part of this story is not even the ranking, but who is buying homes «for the future» today. According to data from the developer Taylor Wimpey España, the largest group of British buyers on the coast is aged 45 to 59. Many of them are buying a second home with the expectation that over time it will become their main one.

The company’s director of sales and marketing explains it this way: buyers look ten and twenty years ahead and choose a home that will serve them in their golden years, and in the meantime will be a place for happy memories with family and friends.

At the same time, the Costa del Sol remains the most popular region: by September 2026, Taylor Wimpey España sales there had increased by 18% since the start of the year.

These figures are backed by a very clear human logic. Moving to another country should not be a leap into the unknown. It is much more pleasant when, by the time you move, you already have your favorite café on the promenade, a familiar golf club, a trusted doctor, and neighbors you have been greeting every morning for years.

The strategy «second home now, main home later»

This approach offers several advantages at once.

You live in your own home already today. Long weekends, Christmas holidays, spring when it is still cold in Northern Europe, summer with children and grandchildren. The house does not wait for you for years. From day one, it becomes part of your life.

You buy at today’s prices. The Costa del Sol market has been growing in recent years, and analysts expect growth to continue, even if at calmer rates. A delayed decision almost always means a more expensive purchase.

You have time to get to know the place. Without rushing, you can understand which area suits you better, how it changes across different seasons, and where it is easiest to live all year round. If later you decide to change the format, you will already have an asset that is easy to sell in a liquid market.

The move is smooth. Documents, the bank, medical insurance, your usual circle of acquaintances: all of this is built gradually, not at the last moment.

Where to spend your best years on the Costa del Sol

The right area depends on what kind of future life you imagine.

If your dream is connected to golf. Nueva Andalucía is called the golf valley for a reason: several courses within walking distance, restaurants, tennis and padel, and just a few minutes by car to Puerto Banús. It is convenient to live here without constant trips, and at the same time everything most vibrant in Marbella is nearby. You can look at options among houses and apartments in Nueva Andalucía.

If you want the sea and peace. Eastern Marbella with its areas of Elviria, Los Monteros, and Cabopino offers long sandy beaches, pine groves, and a relaxed pace. This is a place for those who dream of starting the day with a walk along the shore. In addition, the east of the city is actively developing right now: new luxury resorts by world brands are being built here. Properties in Eastern Marbella will suit those who value nature but do not want to go far from the city.

If privacy and views are the main priorities. Benahavís is located in the hills above the coast, just a few minutes from the sea. Gated, guarded communities, panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and Gibraltar, quiet, and a sense of your own world. Villas in Benahavís are chosen by those for whom a home is first and foremost a refuge.

If you want life in a big city. Malaga, with its museums, gastronomy, and an international airport just a few minutes from the center, is suitable for those who are not ready to give up cultural richness.

Three things to think about in advance

Healthcare. For living in the second half of life, this is one of the main factors. The Costa del Sol is one of the best places in Spain in this regard: major private clinics and hospitals operate here, such as Quirónsalud Marbella and HC Marbella, with many doctors who speak English and other languages. And in 2029, Oakmond will open in the east of Marbella, a resort with a preventive medicine and longevity clinic on the site of the legendary Incosol hotel.

Transport accessibility. In 2025, the Malaga airport served almost 27 million passengers and became the fourth busiest in Spain. Direct flights to dozens of European cities make it easy to visit children and grandchildren or to host them. When choosing an area, you should consider travel time to the airport.

An international community. Tens of thousands of foreigners from around the world live along the coast. Interest clubs, charitable associations, golf and tennis communities, international schools for grandchildren: adapting here is much easier than in any other region of Spain.

Apartments or a villa

The choice of format largely depends on how often you will be at the home in the coming years.

Apartments and penthouses are ideal for a «lock up and leave» format. You do not need to think about the garden, the pool, and security when you are not there. This is the format, according to Taylor Wimpey España, preferred by most British buyers, especially near beaches, golf courses, and restaurants you can reach on foot.

Villas are chosen by those who plan to spend a lot of time here already now, host a large family, or simply want their own space. It is important to think in advance about managing the home while you are away: today, there are services on the coast that take care of this completely.

New builds attract with a high energy-efficiency standard and low maintenance costs in the first years. Buying a ready property allows you to start using the home immediately, without waiting for construction to finish.

No matter what you choose, you should budget not only for the purchase price, but also for taxes, notary fees, owners’ community contributions, insurance, and utilities.

In conclusion

Rankings change from year to year, but what makes life on the Costa del Sol special remains the same: more than 300 sunny days a year, the sea, the mountains, good healthcare, and the feeling that time here flows a little differently. Spain has officially been recognized as the best place in Europe for the second half of life, which means the question is not whether to move here, but when to start.

The best time for such a decision usually comes long before the actual move. The ABARZO Real Estate team will help you find a home that will make you happy already today and will become a reliable base for life in the future. Tell us about your plans, and we will select options that match your lifestyle.

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