3 Underrated Choices for Retirement in Spain | Pros & Cost of Living in Navarra, La Rioja, & Basque

Thinking of how to retire in Spain? Spain’s north offers some of the best places to retire in Spain with sustainable costs, clean cities, and reliable services.

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In this video, we reveal 3 underrated northern regions that deliver stability, excellent healthcare, and real value: the Basque Country, Navarre, and La Rioja—plus the cities that make them shine: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Pamplona, and Logroño.

We break down what living in the Basque Country looks like—top-tier hospitals, flawless infrastructure, and calm, organized city life. Vitoria-Gasteiz stands out for green spaces and transit, ideal for retirees seeking predictability.

In Navarre, Pamplona living balances first-class public and private care with moderate rents and low crime—one of the best regions in Spain that retirement seekers overlook.

La Rioja is the quiet value play: authentic lifestyle, walkable cities, wine-country charm, and some of the cheapest places to live in Spain without sacrificing safety or convenience.

We also touch on taxes, the foral regimes, connectivity, and Spanish healthcare for retirees.

If you’re retiring in Spain as an American, exploring retirement in Spain, or just comparing retirement destinations, this guide shows where quality beats hype.

Chapters: Basque Country (Vitoria-Gasteiz), Navarre (Pamplona), La Rioja (Logroño). Countries and cities mentioned: Spain, France, Bilbao, San Sebastián, Zaragoza, Madrid, Barcelona, Burgos, Bay of Biscay, Logroño.

Videos mentioned:
This Place in Rural Spain Will Pay You $16,000 To Live There    • This Place in Rural Spain Will Pay You $16...  
The Best Places to Retire in Spain NOBODY Told You About    • The Best Places to Retire in Spain NOBODY ...  

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💡 TOPICS IN THIS VIDEO 💡
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🔎 EXCERPT 🔎
Thinking of retiring in Spain?
You're probably looking at the same places everyone else is.
Catalunya gets the headlines,
Andalusia gets the crowds,
and Valencia gets the hype.
Yet quietly, Spain’s north has been perfecting something more durable: stability.
In one region, the healthcare satisfaction rate tops national levels. In another, rents stay 30–40% below other major cities markets. And one city delivers both—plus access to world-class wine.
Today we’ll explore three overlooked regions where excellent quality of life, great healthcare, and sustainable pricing combine to create one of Europe’s best places for expat retirees and remote workers—and why barely anyone outside Spain talks about them.
So keep watching, as we reveal three underrated Spanish regions where you can live better for less—starting with a place that might surprise you.
The Basque Country