You may have heard of "digital nomads," generally younger people who work on their laptops in cafes and coffee shops around the world. Now there's a growing breed of "retired nomads." While many Americans daydream about spending “a few months” in Europe after retirement these retired nomads pop from place to place staying no longer than their tourist stamp in their passport permits.

That’s exactly what Jim and Carol, a retired couple from Georgia, figured out. They divide their year into four three-month chapters, bouncing between Schengen and non-Schengen destinations so they can legally live in Europe full-time without a residency permit. Their friends back home jokingly call them “the migrating retirees,” but the truth is: this lifestyle has given them the happiest years of their lives.

Here’s what their year looks like and what this kind of lifestyle actually costs, feels like, and demands.

Spring: Portugal – The Slow-Life Warm-Up (Schengen)

Jim and Carol start the year in the Algarve (southern Portugal) or sometimes on Madeira, easing into Europe with mild weather, cliffs, coastal walks, and endless cafés. They rent a small two-bedroom apartment for three months – long enough to settle into a routine, not long enough to feel locked in.

Carol loves the “European morning”: “Coffee on the balcony. A bakery run. A walk along the water. You don’t need much more.”

Costs:
Portugal is still one of Western Europe’s better bargains. Their rent averages $1,600–$2,000/month in the Algarve, less in smaller towns. Groceries are far cheaper than in the U.S.; restaurants too – especially if you avoid the tourist hotspots.

Summer: Montenegro or Albania – Non-Schengen, High Reward, Low Cost

Once their 90 Schengen days are up, Jim and Carol slide over to the Balkans. Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor is a favorite, but lately they’ve loved Albania’s Riviera, which is cheaper, less discovered, and incredibly friendly to Americans.

Carol jokes that Albania is their “European summer camp”: “Outdoor markets, beaches, hiking, ferries to Corfu… and our rent is half the price of Portugal.”

Costs:
In Albania or Montenegro, rent for three months often runs $900–$1,300/month with sea views. Meals out? $6–$10. The savings here offset pricier months elsewhere.

Fall: Italy, Spain, Slovenia or France – Schengen Again, This Time for Culture

With their Schengen counter reset, Jim and Carol return to the classic cities and towns Americans dream about. Never the big capitals, though. They’ve figured out that mid-size European cities deliver better value and a richer lifestyle.

Past stops include:
• Lucca, Italy (bike paths, food heaven)
• Valencia, Spain (sunshine, markets, paella lessons)
• Ljubljana, Slovenia (green, walkable, fairy-tale pretty)
• Aix-en-Provence, France (markets and slow afternoons)

Lifestyle rhythm:
Mornings at cafés, late lunches, walks through old town streets, cooking with local ingredients, a museum or concert once a week, and weekend train trips.

Costs:
Depending on the country, $1,800–$2,800/month for rent. Day-to-day living varies: Spain and Slovenia feel affordable, Italy depends heavily on region, and France once you get outside of Paris is very manageable.

Winter: The UK, Ireland, Cyprus, or Georgia — Non-Schengen Round Two

Their final quarter of the year depends on personal goals:
• UK when they want museums, theater, and English-speaking ease. Depending on where else they stayed recently, speaking English can be something they’d missed.
• Ireland when they want friendliness and pub life. Sometimes you just crave a good Guiness.
• Northern Cyprus when they want an inexpensive winter in the sun.
• Georgia (the country) when they want a cultural curveball, great food, extremely low costs, and friendly people.

This is also their “recharge season” – fewer crowds, slower days, more reading, more card games, long roasts cooking in small European ovens.

Jim likes to remind people: “Winter doesn’t have to be terrible. Just be somewhere interesting.”

Costs:
The UK and Ireland are the splurge months ($2,000–$3,000+ rents), but Cyprus and Georgia are among the cheapest places in Europe, $800–$1,200/month for long stays.

Is This Lifestyle More Expensive Overall?

Surprisingly… not really. It can be, but it doesn’t have to be.

Where costs rise:
• Moving four times a year means frequent travel: flights, ferries, trains. However, when you know you will be moving soon, you don’t take as many weekend trips. So really, travel costs are about the same.
• Shorter rentals cost more per month than year-long leases, but they always rent furnished places so there is no money spent on furniture.
• Buying household basics four times a year gets old (and adds up). You won’t be packing your ketchup, salad dressing, and laundry detergent.
• Restaurant temptation is everywhere – especially as moving day approaches. You don’t have as much food in the fridge.

Where costs drop:
• No property taxes, no home maintenance, no HOA fees.
• Many non-Schengen countries are very inexpensive.
• Eating locally and seasonally slashes grocery bills.
• They don’t need a car – ever.
• Healthcare out of pocket is shockingly affordable.

Jim estimates their total spending is roughly equal to what they used to spend living in suburban Atlanta – sometimes less, depending on the year. But, he proclaims, that’s only because they are so much more active with travel and experiences than they were living a stationary life in Georgia (the state).

What’s the Lifestyle Actually Like?

1. Routine With a Side of Adventure
Each move brings new neighborhoods, new favorite cafés, new friends. They have a routine everywhere they stay, but never boredom.
2. They Travel Light – Very Light
Two suitcases each. Layered clothing. PDFs instead of books. Books are heavy! Digital everything. The freedom feels exhilarating.
3. They Become “Temporary Locals”
When you stay three months, you learn the market vendors’ names. The bartender knows your drink. You build a little life – then pack it up and start a new one. But when you return, if you choose to do so, it’s like mini-reunions all over the place.
4. They Feel Younger Than They Did at 50
Walking everywhere, constant curiosity, new languages, new foods – it keeps them mentally and physically alive.
5. Friendships Happen Faster Than You’d Expect
Other long-stayers, digital nomads, locals curious about Americans – they meet people constantly. Carol says: “We have a little network of friends across the whole continent now.”

Is It for Everyone?

No. While anyone CAN do this, some people crave roots, consistency, or having their own home base. But for retirees wanting:
• freedom
• exploration
• mild weather year-round
• cultural immersion
• legal long-term stays without visa applications and bureaucracy
…this “3 months × 4 places” lifestyle is surprisingly elegant.

Jim calls it the “perpetual honeymoon stage of travel.”
Carol calls it “the best decision we’ve made in retirement.”

Either way, it’s a life built not around ticking boxes but soaking in every corner of Europe – slowly, deeply, joyfully, and always within the rules.

Oh, and one more thing from Jim, “If you find yourself in a place that you’re not really fond of, it’s no big deal. You’ll be leaving in 3 months anyway.”