Portugal

Ocean, a mild climate and a calm routine, with a large foreign community in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve. Food and services cost less than in Western Europe, though rent in the main cities now matches Spain. Winters are cool and damp, older flats heat poorly, and the ocean keeps coastal summers bearable. A visa is arranged before departure, and the rest depends on immigration service timelines and on finding a flat before it is even advertised.