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  "path": "/money/retirement-planning-expats-live-europe-money-savings",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-29T15:02:01.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nSeveral small towns across Europe offer a high quality of life for around or below $2,000 a month, according to International Living.\n\nThese locations combine lower housing costs with access to nature, strong infrastructure and a slower pace of life than major cities.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"These smaller towns offer something people are increasingly looking for right now,\" says Jennifer Stevens, Executive Editor of InternationalLiving.com.\n\n\"You're not just cutting costs—you're gaining a sense of community, a healthier pace of life, and everyday experiences that feel more meaningful.\"\n\nThe report suggests that those prepared to venture beyond major metropolitan areas can discover walkable neighbourhoods, access to fresh local food, and a more unhurried daily rhythm.\n\nThe findings draw on insights from correspondents based across the globe, highlighting communities that combine reduced housing expenses with natural surroundings and reliable local services.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Lousã, Portugal**\n\nAmong the Portuguese destinations featured, Lousã emerges as a particularly compelling option in the country's central region.\n\nSituated roughly 35 minutes from the university city of Coimbra, this town provides residents with essential amenities including healthcare facilities, supermarkets and banking services, all set against the striking backdrop of the Serra da Lousã mountains.\n\nThe surrounding landscape offers walking routes, cascading waterfalls and heritage sites, while the medieval Castle of Lousã, dating to the 11th century, sits within easy reach on foot.\n\nNearby, the Schist Villages including Talasnal showcase traditional stone architecture that draws visitors throughout the year.\n\nHousing costs remain notably accessible, with two- or three-bedroom properties available to rent for between $700 and $1,000 monthly (approx. £550 and £790), while homeowners with a vehicle can maintain a comfortable standard of living on around $2,000 each month (approx. £1,580).\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Amarante, Portugal**\n\nHeading north, Amarante presents a different character entirely, its historic centre stretching along the banks of the Tâmega River.\n\nWith origins reaching back to the fourth century BC, this town maintains a distinctly traditional atmosphere that locals describe as \"calma\".\n\nRather than chain retailers, the streets are lined with family-run bakeries, produce stalls and restaurants serving regional cuisine, while agricultural connections help keep daily expenses in check.\n\nCentral apartments with two or three bedrooms typically cost around $1,000 monthly to rent (approx. £790).\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Castelo Branco, Portugal**\n\nFurther east, Castelo Branco near the Spanish frontier offers perhaps the most affordable option, with one-bedroom flats starting from approximately $550 per month (approx. £435).\n\nThis city blends contemporary infrastructure with a historic quarter of narrow cobbled lanes and whitewashed facades, supported by hospitals, clinics and locally sourced goods including olive oil and cheese from the Beira Baixa region.\n\n**Kavala, Greece**\n\nAcross the Aegean, Greece presents equally attractive prospects for budget-conscious residents seeking coastal living.\n\nKavala, constructed around a broad bay in the north, features an atmospheric old quarter where Ottoman-era houses cluster beneath a hilltop fortress, with an ancient aqueduct providing a dramatic harbour backdrop.\n\nMonthly rents here fall between €300 and €600 (approx. £260 and £510), enabling individuals to live well on €1,000 to €1,600 (approx. £860 and £1,370), with Thessaloniki accessible in under two hours for additional services.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Litochoro, Greece**\n\nMeanwhile, Litochoro offers an altogether different appeal at the foot of Mount Olympus, positioned just ten minutes from the sea.\n\nThis village provides direct access to the Enipeas Gorge, mountain trails and waterfalls, fostering a tight-knit community where tradition remains central to daily existence.\n\nRental accommodation costs €300 to €600 monthly (approx. £260 and £510), with overall expenses typically ranging from €1,000 to €1,500 (approx. £860 and £1,280).\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Nafpaktos, Greece**\n\nNafpaktos rounds out the Greek selections, occupying a picturesque position on the Gulf of Corinth where a Venetian harbour and elevated castle define the townscape.\n\nDaily rhythms here follow the unhurried \"siga siga\" philosophy, yet practical considerations remain well served, with the city of Patras within convenient reach.\n\nAccommodation ranges from €350 to €700 monthly (approx. £300 and £600), while living costs average between €1,100 and €1,500 (approx. £950 and £1,280).\n\n\"These out-of-the-fray towns aren't yet on the mainstream radar—places the locals know, but which foreign tourists and transplants have yet to find in great numbers,\" Ms Stevens adds.\n\n\"What people discover in these towns is that a better life isn't just about spending less. It's about how you spend your time—walking to the market, knowing your neighbours, and enjoying a day that feels less rushed.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Top 6 affordable European towns where you can live for under €2,000 a month"
}