Is the World's Most Delicious Country Also the Best Place For Retirees Who Are Also Foodies?

Key Takeaways Foodie destinations like Italy can be great retirement destinations, but only if affordability and other factors align. Great food is just one among many important considerations when selecting a place to retire. For retirees looking for a fulfilling, foodie-forward approach to their later years, there may be a unique appeal to countries celebrated for having some of the best cuisine in the world. For food-loving retirees, Italy offers the chance to enjoy world-class cuisine in stunning settings like this Tuscan terrace.SolStock / Getty Images However, retiring abroad also means balancing a host of factors: affordability, lifestyle, community, and accessibility, among others. Below, we consider how to strike a balance between the deliciousness of a location's foods and other retirement needs. What Makes a Country the 'Most Delicious'? Ranking countries based on the best cuisines is almost impossible, since each eater's opinions are likely to vary based on personal and cultural background. But data can help. Taste Atlas, a food encyclopedia that compiles hundreds of thousands of ratings on dishes worldwide, releases an annual ranking of the world's best cuisines. In 2025, Italy claimed the top spot, followed by Greece, Peru, Portugal, and Spain. What do these top-ranked food destinations have in common? Strong culinary traditions, an emphasis on fresh and regional ingredients, and global recognition for iconic dishes. Italy, for example, earned high marks for pizza napoletana, parmigiano reggiano, and prosciutto di San Daniele, foods that have crisscrossed the globe and changed how many people eat. Other rankings tell a similar story. U.S. News & World Report places Italy at the top, based on global surveys, while CNN Travel consistently features Italy, Greece, Thailand, and Mexico among its best cuisines. Does Amazing Food Equate to a Great Retirement Destination? Food-loving retirees seek not only delicious, high-quality meals, but also several related goals. These often include daily access to affordable food through vibrant markets and fresh local produce, a social food culture, and walkable communities that support an overall healthy lifestyle. Of course, food isn't everything, even for gourmands. It's important to look more broadly at potential retirement destinations for qualities such as affordability, health care access, and residency requirements to find the best places to retire . Key Retirement Factors To Consider Italy has long been ranked as a top food destination. But how does the country rate for other retirement factors? Affordability : The cost of living varies widely in Italy. Housing may be as low as $500 per month for a furnished apartment in Sicily, for example, but can be much more costly elsewhere. While costs are higher in touristy areas, overall, the cost of living in Italy is typically 30% to 70% lower than that of the U.S. Healthcare quality : Italy's healthcare is generally ranked lower than that of much of the rest of Europe, largely due to its outdated hospital infrastructure, which-although affordable-can make accessibility difficult. Climate : Italy is renowned for its Mediterranean climate, but retirees should note that temperatures vary significantly,...

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