Retirement Living: How Much Does It Cost To Live In The Most Trusting Country In The World?

A surprising number of Americans live abroad, with the Association of Americans Resident Overseas estimating that at least 5.4 million United States citizens reside outside the continent. A significant portion of these are retirees choosing to move, either for a slower pace or a cheaper cost of living. Affordability has become a consistent area of focus, as several categories of retirees will stop getting their Social Security payments in 2025. In some cases, these include non-American recipients who move abroad permanently. 

One country Americans may consider moving to is Denmark, where Our World In Data reported nearly 74% of residents trust one another, making the Nordic country the most trusting nation in the world. However, such a move may end up being pricey for expats. The cost of living in Denmark is generally higher than in the United States, with Numbeo reporting that it outpaces America by 14% when excluding rent. 

Even with the camaraderie and trust of the Danish population, leisure in the country is expensive, with the cost of a casual dinner sitting at $23 and a pint of domestic beer costing over $8. And despite egg prices skyrocketing in the United States, a dozen eggs in Denmark will run over $5. Likewise, gasoline costs roughly 140% more in Denmark. Overall, a single person can expect to spend nearly $3,000 a month to live comfortably in the coastal country. Knowing these costs is vital since almost half of all people who retire at 65 are likely to run out of money. 

You may think you need to go from middle class to millionaire to afford moving to Denmark, but there are several ways to afford the Danish lifestyle. Americans who become Danish residents will benefit from a world-class healthcare system, ranked 6th by The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity. The medical system is state-run, entailing higher taxes and lower upfront costs for residents. This comes at a time when Medicare premiums are set to increase in 2026, per Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The two primary ways for retirees to gain residence status in Denmark include marrying a Danish citizen or gaining a work permit in Denmark.

The key to affording life in Denmark is renting, as rental prices there are 32% lower than in the United States. In contrast, buying a home in the country is between 50% and 80% more expensive than in the U.S. Notably, mortgage rates in Denmark are over 30% lower than those in America. Additionally, retirees living in the nation can leverage Social Security payments, as they will still receive them while living abroad. While double taxed as U.S. citizens, Danish residents will benefit from an active lifestyle and robust infrastructure, including strong public transport and health care.