Retiring here is not an extended holiday.

Potentially, but a non-EU retiree normally needs the appropriate long-stay visitor route and must meet resource, accommodation and medical-cover requirements. Nationality-specific rules apply.

Nice. It has the most extensive tram and bus network, direct airport tram and the largest hospital infrastructure. Antibes and Menton work without a car if you choose a central, walkable address near the station.

August 2026 market estimates put median apartment rent around €28/m² in Nice, €25/m² in Antibes and €27/m² in Menton. Two-room estimates were about €26, €24 and €26/m² respectively.

Using INSEE 2023 age bands, residents aged 65+ were about 23.4% in Nice, 27.7% in Antibes and 25.2% in Menton.

Nice has CHU Pasteur 2 and other CHU sites; Antibes has Centre Hospitalier d’Antibes with 24/7 general emergencies; Menton has La Palmosa with 24/7 emergency care.

It is the smallest and slowest of the three, but it is a real year-round town with a hospital and frequent trains to Nice. Whether that feels calm or too quiet is precisely why a winter rental is useful before buying.

The 2026 Social Security Financing Act created a financial contribution for certain PUMa beneficiaries who live in France stably, do not work and are not liable for CSG, CRDS or a health-insurance contribution because of an international convention. When we checked on 13 October 2026, the implementing decree setting the amount had still not been published (Service-Public says it is pending).