Which country has the best climate to live in?

Madeira sees 2.5 days a year at 30 °C or more; Seville's average July high is 36 °C. Ten countries whose climate works all year round, with weather-service data, honest drawbacks and 2026 visa routes.

Madeira averages 2.5 days a year when the thermometer reaches 30 °C or more. In Seville the average daytime high in July is 36 °C, and in the summer of 2025 southern Spain logged 45.8 °C. Both places turn up on lists of the world's best climates year after year. For someone moving for good rather than for a fortnight, the gap between them is enormous.

Most rankings judge climate the way a tourist does: warmth, sunshine, sea. People who live somewhere all year ask different questions. How many weeks can you not go outside at midday? How do you heat the flat in January? How often do the hills burn, and is there enough water? Below are ten countries whose climate genuinely works for everyday life, with numbers from national weather services, the honest downsides, and how to stay there legally in 2026.

How do you choose a country with the best climate to live in?

The annual average temperature tells you almost nothing. Málaga's is 18.5 °C and Gran Canaria's 21.1 °C, yet the Canaries are six degrees warmer in winter and cooler in summer. We compared countries on five measures.

• The coldest month. Comfortable if its mean stays above 10 °C and you do not need serious heating.
• The warmest month. Once the mean passes 27 °C, summer becomes a season you sit out under air conditioning.
• The spread between them. The smaller it is, the closer you get to eternal spring. In Madeira it is about 7 degrees; in Athens almost 20.
• Sun and rain. Hours of sunshine a year and the number of wet days.
• Risks. Heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, earthquakes, and how quickly all of that is growing.

For each country we took one benchmark city with the mildest climate rather than a national average. The figures are long-term normals, mostly for 1991-2020, from national weather services: AEMET (Agencia Estatal de Meteorología, Spain's state meteorological agency), IPMA (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, Portugal's institute for the sea and atmosphere), Météo-France, BoM (Australia's Bureau of Meteorology) and others. The sixth measure was access: does the country offer a clear visa for people who want to live there rather than just visit?

Top 10 countries with the best climate to live in: comparison

The table shows the mean temperature of the coldest and warmest month in each benchmark city. In the Southern Hemisphere winter falls in July and summer in January.

Sources: AEMET, IPMA, Météo-France, BoM, NIWA (New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research), DMC (Dirección Meteorológica de Chile, Chile's weather service), DWD (Deutscher Wetterdienst, Germany's weather service, which publishes the San José normals), and station normals for Italy, Greece and South Africa. Sydney's means are calculated from BoM's long-term average highs and lows.

The order is our judgement across all the measures, not an official ranking. If heat bothers you more than cold, move Chile and New Zealand up. If you shiver at 15 °C, move them to the bottom.

Portugal: which is milder, Madeira or the Algarve?

Madeira comes closer than anywhere else in Europe to eternal spring. Under IPMA's 1991-2020 normals, Funchal's mean temperature runs from 16.8 °C in February to 23.7 °C in August. It sees 2.5 days a year at 30 °C or above on average, and frost never.

The price of that mildness is a wet winter. Most of Funchal's 574 mm of annual rain falls between October and March, with 8-9 wet days on average in December. The island is mountainous, and the north side is noticeably cooler and damper than the capital.

The Algarve on the southern mainland has a different character. Faro averages 12.3 °C in January and 24.6 °C in August, with just 455 mm of rain a year. But it already gets 35.5 days a year at 30 °C or more, about three of them at 35 °C and above. For life on the island, see our guide to Funchal.

Staying in Portugal is easier than in most countries on this list. The D7 visa for people with passive income asks for at least €920 a month, one Portuguese minimum wage in 2026. The D8 visa for remote workers asks for four times that, €3,680. Conditions and pitfalls are covered on our page about Portugal's digital nomad visa.

Where in Spain has the best climate to live?

The Canary Islands have one of the steadiest climates in the European Union. At Gran Canaria airport, under AEMET's 1981-2010 normals, January averages 17.9 °C and August 24.6 °C, with 151 mm of rain a year spread over about 22 wet days. Sunshine adds up to roughly 2,800 hours.

On the mainland the Costa del Sol strikes the best balance. Málaga averages 12.1 °C in January, 26.0 °C in August and gets 2,905 hours of sun a year. Valencia is slightly cooler and cloudier: 11.8 °C in January, 26.1 °C in August, 2,696 hours of sun. See also our guide to Málaga and other coastal cities.

The southern interior is a different story. Seville's average July high is 36 °C. AEMET called summer 2025 the hottest in mainland Spain since records began in 1961: a mean of 24.2 °C, 2.1 degrees above normal. On 17 August Jerez de la Frontera airport recorded 45.8 °C. The same summer in the Canaries ran only 0.9 degrees above average.

For remote workers the clearest legal route is the digital nomad visa. Its income threshold is tied to the SMI (salario mínimo interprofesional, Spain's minimum wage). Royal Decree 126/2026 raised it to $1,400 (1,221 euros) a month paid 14 times a year. The visa requires 200% of that, spread over 12 months, which comes to $3,200 (2,849 euros) a month for a single applicant.

A worked example for a couple with a child: $3,200 (2,849 euros) for the applicant, plus $1,200 (1,068 euros) for the spouse (75% of the SMI), plus $400 (356 euros) for the child (25% of the SMI). That is $4,800 (4,273 euros) of income a month. Full details are on our page about Spain's digital nomad visa. Spain abolished its property golden visa with Organic Law 1/2025.

Is it true that Costa Rica has eternal spring?

In the Central Valley, yes, and it is not just a slogan. At San José's international airport, under DWD normals, the coolest month averages 21.8 °C and the warmest 23.7 °C. That is a spread of under two degrees, several times smaller than the gap between day and night at the same station: in January the average high is 28.2 °C and the low 18.5 °C.

This spring is not a dry one. The rainy season runs from May to November: mornings are often sunny and the downpours tend to arrive in the afternoon. The coasts, especially the Caribbean side, are hotter and more humid, so the benchmark for eternal spring is the 1,000-1,500 metre belt around the capital. If damp weather puts you off, make your trial trip in October rather than January.

For remote workers Costa Rica grants digital nomad status under Law 10008. You need an income of at least $3,000 a month, and foreign income is exempt from local income tax during the stay. The status lasts a year and can be renewed for one more, but that time does not count towards permanent residence. Details are on our page about Costa Rica's digital nomad visa.

What is Australia's climate like, and where is best to live?

Australia packs half a dozen climates, from the tropics to near-alpine winters. Sydney and Perth are the usual choices for living. In Sydney, BoM data give an average January high of 26.0 °C and a July high of 16.4 °C. The downsides are 1,211 mm of rain and almost 100 wet days a year.

Perth is drier and sunnier: 8.8 hours of sunshine a day on average, or roughly 3,200 hours a year. It is also hotter, with an average January high of 31.9 °C. The country's main climate risks are heatwaves, droughts and bushfires, plus cyclones in the tropical north.

Australia's climate is superb and its door the hardest to open on this list. Retirement visas are closed to new applicants, the government wound down its investor programme in 2024, and there is no digital nomad visa. The realistic routes are a job in a shortage occupation or a talent visa for people with outstanding achievements. We cover the latter on our page about Australia's talent visa.

South Africa: why is Cape Town's climate compared to the Mediterranean?

Cape Town is one of the few cities in the world with a Mediterranean climate outside the Mediterranean. January averages 21.8 °C, February 21.9 °C and July 12.7 °C. Summers are dry: from December to March only 9-13 mm of rain falls a month, and nearly all of it comes in winter.

The flip side of a dry climate is water. After three dry years in a row, in 2018 the city was preparing for Day Zero, the day the taps would be switched off and water rationed at collection points. Strict savings averted it. The second drawback has nothing to do with climate: crime levels in South Africa mean choosing a neighbourhood and home more carefully than in Europe.

For remote workers South Africa offers a remote work visa for people employed by a foreign company. Income and document requirements are covered on our page about South Africa's digital nomad visa.

Where in Italy has the best climate to live?

Italy's mildest winters are on the Sicilian coast. Palermo averages 12.1 °C in January and February, but August reaches 27.3 °C and July brings about 5 mm of rain for the whole month. It is the classic Mediterranean pattern: a mild, wet winter and a hot, dry summer.

The north plays by different rules. The Po Valley around Milan and Turin is known for fog and cold, damp winters, and its summers are muggy. People looking for a compromise head for the Ligurian coast, Campania and Sardinia, where the sea softens both winter and heat. Choose by city, not by country.

Since April 2024 Italy has issued a digital nomad visa for highly qualified remote workers, and there is a separate residence permit for people living on passive income. Income and experience requirements are covered on our page about Italy's digital nomad visa.

Greece: where can you live without suffering from the heat?

Crete offers the best balance in Greece. Heraklion averages 12.1 °C in January and 26.6 °C in August. Athens runs much hotter: according to the National Observatory of Athens, the city centre averages 29.3 °C in July, with average highs of about 34 °C.

The main problem with the Greek climate is no longer winter but summer. Heatwaves in recent years have repeatedly forced the authorities to close the Acropolis during the day, and wildfires reach the suburbs of Athens and resort islands almost every season. People who live in Greece year-round often leave for somewhere cooler in July and August.

You can stay legally on a digital nomad visa with an income of at least €3,500 a month or on a property golden visa. Since the 2024 reform its threshold depends on the region and type of property, with the lowest option starting at €250,000 for converting a commercial building into housing. Details of the first route are on our page about Greece's digital nomad visa.

Chile: what is the climate like in the centre of the country?

Chile stretches more than 4,000 kilometres from north to south, and its climate runs from the Atacama, the driest non-polar desert on Earth, to the glaciers of Patagonia. The centre is the part that matters for living. In the port city of Valparaíso, under DMC's 1991-2020 normals, January and February average 17.9 °C and July 12.1 °C.

That makes it the coolest summer in the top 10. The cold Humboldt Current keeps the coast from warming up, and the ocean stays cold even in summer. In Santiago, roughly 100 kilometres inland, summers are hotter and drier, and in winter the city suffers from smog trapped by the Andes. More than 80% of Valparaíso's 363 mm of annual rain falls between May and August.

The second risk is seismic. Chile sits where tectonic plates meet, and in 2010 it was struck by a magnitude 8.8 earthquake. The country is known for strict seismic building codes, but the year a building went up still matters when you choose a home.

Under Migration Law 21.325, residence permits are requested in advance from abroad through the SERMIG portal (Servicio Nacional de Migraciones, the national migration service) rather than after arriving as a tourist. How it works and how long it takes is covered in our overview of relocating to Chile in 2026.

New Zealand: does its climate suit people who dislike heat?

If heat bothers you more than cold, New Zealand is one of the best countries in the world. In Auckland, according to NIWA's 1991-2020 normals, the warmest month, February, averages 20.5 °C and the coldest, July, 11.2 °C. Snow is practically unknown in the city, and so is exhausting heat.

The price is wind and changeable weather: sunshine and a downpour in the same day are common in Auckland. Many older houses are poorly insulated and lack central heating, so they can be cold and damp in winter. The South Island is noticeably cooler than the North.

Entry is the most expensive on the list. The Active Investor Plus visa requires at least $2.9 million (5 million New Zealand dollars) in the Growth category. In return the time you must spend in the country is minimal: 21 days over three years. Alternatives and details are on our page about New Zealand residence by investment.

Where in France has the warmest climate?

The Côte d'Azur is the warmest and sunniest part of mainland France. In Nice, under Météo-France's 1991-2020 normals, there are 2,760 hours of sunshine a year and only 8.5 days at 30 °C or more. Summer here is gentler than in Spain, Italy or Greece.

Winter, however, is cooler than anywhere else in the top 10: January averages 9.5 °C, with nights around 6 °C. Autumn brings downpours: October and November each get 128-138 mm, about a third of the annual 791 mm.

For people with their own income France offers the long-stay visiteur (visitor) visa: you may live in France but not work there, and your income must be at least the net minimum wage. The process is covered on our page about the French visiteur visa.

Which country has the best climate in Europe?

Measured by year-round comfort, Europe splits into three belts. The first is the ocean islands: the Canaries and Madeira. January there averages 17-18 °C, and heat above 30 °C comes on only a handful of days a year.

The second is the southern coast of the Iberian Peninsula: the Algarve, Málaga, Valencia. Winters are cooler, around 12 °C on average, but the sunshine is abundant: Málaga gets 2,905 hours a year. The third is the classic Mediterranean of Italy, Greece and the south of France: mild winters and increasingly punishing summers.

The most direct answer to where in Europe has the best climate to live is the Canary Islands and Madeira. If you need the mainland and a big city, pick the coast over the interior: Málaga is more comfortable than Seville, Heraklion than Athens, Nice than Marseille.

Countries with good weather all year round: who missed the top 10?

The steadiest climates on the planet are found not by the sea but in the mountains near the equator. At roughly 1,500-2,600 metres, tropical heat fades and seasons almost disappear. That is how the climate works in Medellín, which Colombians call the city of eternal spring, in Cuenca in Ecuador, and in Mexico's highland cities.

We left them out of the top 10 for other reasons: safety varies a lot from one district to the next, there are wet seasons, and everyday adaptation is harder for many newcomers. But if climate matters more to you than anything else, they are worth a look. Colombia, for instance, has a digital nomad visa.

Cyprus and Malta, by contrast, are often named among the sunniest countries in Europe, but their summers are hotter than in the Canaries or Madeira. For year-round living they belong closer to the third, Mediterranean belt.

How is heat changing the ranking, and where will the climate still be good in 20 years?

Europe is warming faster than any other continent. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the EU's climate monitoring programme, it has warmed twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s. Rankings built on last century's normals no longer describe what people moving now will face.

One country shows the difference. In summer 2025 mainland Spain ran 2.1 degrees above normal, the Balearic Islands 1.5 degrees, and the Canaries 0.9. The ocean smooths out both winter and summer, so Atlantic islands and coasts cooled by cold currents, like those of Chile and Cape Town, handle warming better than continental interiors.

For a decision that has to hold for years, look beyond average temperatures at the number of hot days, the trend in heatwaves, and the risk of fire and drought. A country with perfect 1991-2020 statistics may turn out to be uncomfortable by the 2040s.

How can you stay long-term in a country with a good climate in 2026?

Tourist rules are built for short trips: in the Schengen area that means no more than 90 days in any 180. To live somewhere all year you need a residence permit, and the thresholds differ by orders of magnitude.

Judged by visa thresholds, Portugal and Spain are the cheapest way into a good European climate, while the Southern Hemisphere is the most expensive: Australia and New Zealand have no simple visa for people who just want to live somewhere pleasant. For a comparison of countries by tax, cost of living and visas, see our overview of the 10 best countries to relocate to in 2026.

What are the pitfalls of moving for the climate?

People choose a climate on holiday and then live in it for all twelve months. Most disappointments have less to do with the weather itself than with how daily life is adapted to it.

• Cold homes in warm countries. Housing in Spain, Portugal and Italy was built for heat, not cold. Many flats have no central heating, walls are thin, and homes are often colder in winter than newcomers expect. Heating with air conditioners and portable heaters pushes up electricity bills noticeably.
• Summer under air conditioning. In Seville, Athens and Palermo people spend July and August indoors or leave. If you are moving for an outdoor life, that is two lost months a year.
• Water and fire. Droughts have already led to water restrictions in Cape Town in 2018 and in Catalonia in 2024. Summer wildfires threaten suburbs in Greece, Portugal, Spain, Australia and Chile.
• Tax follows the sunshine. Spend more than 183 days a year in a country and in most cases you become its tax resident, taxed on your worldwide income. Portugal's NHR regime (non-habitual resident, a tax regime for new residents who had not been Portuguese tax residents in the previous five years) has been closed to new applicants since 2024, apart from transitional cases.
• Healthcare. Most visas require private health insurance, and access to public healthcare does not come straight away.
• Tourist season. In the best-weather months rents and queues rise in the Canaries, the Algarve and on the Côte d'Azur, while in winter some resorts empty out.

The most reliable test is to visit in the least comfortable season: Seville or Athens in July, Costa Rica in October, Auckland in July. Two or three weeks in the worst month tell you more than any ranking.

Who should not move for the climate?

Anyone who wants 25 °C in January and Europe at the same time. No such place exists in Europe. Even in the Canaries January averages about 18 °C and the sea is cool. For real summer in winter you have to fly to the tropics or the Southern Hemisphere.

Anyone without income that meets visa requirements. A good climate in a developed country almost always requires proven foreign income, savings or a large investment. Working for local employers on a nomad visa is restricted or banned.

Anyone who struggles with humidity or wind. The gentle temperatures of Madeira, Costa Rica and Auckland come with high humidity, a rainy season or strong winds.

Anyone who needs a passport quickly. Countries with the best climates are rarely the fastest routes to citizenship. Spain, for example, grants it only after 10 years of legal residence. If a second passport is the goal, treat the climate as a bonus rather than the main criterion.

If you want to know which of these countries fits your climate preferences, budget and visa eligibility, get in touch: we will look at your situation and tell you straight if another country would serve you better.

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