Picture this: you’re sitting in a beach café in Spain, scrolling property listings on your phone. That cute €120,000 flat by the sea? It’s tempting. Or maybe it’s a Balinese villa with rice field views, a townhouse in Lisbon, or a Dubai apartment with skyline views.

The age of the digital nomad isn’t just coming — it’s here. Across the world, people are closing laptops in London and opening them again hours later in Bali, Lisbon, or Dubai. It’s the dream many chase: a life filled with new places, cultures, and endless horizons.

Luxury has always had a look. Decades ago, it was the secluded villa—whitewashed walls, bougainvillaea tumbling over stone terraces, and an infinity pool spilling into the sea. The villa was freedom: space, privacy, and the dream of your own little slice of paradise.

When people dream of a Mediterranean escape, Portugal and Spain are usually the first destinations that come to mind. Both offer sunshine, culture, and affordable living compared to Northern Europe — but when it comes to retirement, lifestyle, and property investment, how do they stack up against each other?

Elounda Hills, Crete

Where Property Investors Buy vs. Where Retirees Settle — and Why