Portugal Named the Best Place to Live for Quality Health Care for Expats

• International Living recently released a study evaluating the best health care systems around the world.
• Portugal, with its easy, affordable access to both public and private health care, came out on top.
• The publication reports that the average cost of a medical visit without insurance can range between $65 to $145 per visit—but with insurance, the cost is around $20.

Four years ago, my husband and I (and our dog) packed up our lives and moved from Los Angeles to Lisbon. While we have zero regrets, I still tell people who are curious about moving abroad that there are a lot of factors to consider, such as how far you’ll be from family, how comfortable you’ll be settling into a second culture, and if you plan to stay for a little while or forever. If you do want to stay for the long haul, then there’s one more thing to think about: health care. And according to a new ranking from International Living, I’ve picked the perfect spot to immigrate to. 

Last December, International Living, a magazine focused on retirees living abroad, released its list of the five best health care systems for expats around the globe in 2025. It determined its rankings by calculating the cost of various medical procedures, along with comparing countries on their “consistent and affordable medical care across both public and private sectors.” After looking at the data, it named Portugal as the best country to move to for quality health care.

“One of the biggest draws to life in Portugal is the quality and affordability of its health care system,” International Living contributor Terry Coles wrote. “As an expat, I have access to both public and private health care, along with reasonably priced private insurance. Most expats, like us, choose private insurance because it provides access to top-notch care while avoiding the longer wait times that can sometimes occur in the public system.” 

According to Coles, expats can find and see English-speaking doctors within the private medical system—without insurance—for about $65 to $145 per visit. With insurance, this cost is usually knocked down to under $20. Coles reports that insurance averages around $550 per month. However, my private insurance is about $140 per month and is comparable to what my coverage was in the U.S. Like Coles, my insurance also covers travel outside of Portugal—that makes it easier to be a travel writer and to visit family in the U.S.

“Portugal’s public health care system, Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS), covers most essential medical services for free, with small copays for non-essential treatments,” Coles said. “If you call an ambulance, you’ll be taken to the nearest public hospital, where care is adequate but not as specialized or streamlined as in private facilities. While the public system works well for emergencies, many expats prefer the private system due to shorter wait times and the ability to choose English-speaking doctors.”

However, Portugal isn’t the only place expats can find excellent care. International Living named Costa Rica as the second-best country for quality medical care, with France, Spain, and Italy rounding out the top five. There are so many things to consider before moving abroad, but if you know you’ll be taken care of during a time of need in your new home, that’s huge.