French Retirees Choose Morocco for an Active Retirement

Alain and Christelle, a French retired couple, now live in Morocco on a monthly budget of 2,500 euros for both of them. They say they did not retire just to sit at home doing crossword puzzles while waiting to grow old. Instead, they wanted an active life abroad.

Another French retiree, René, travels across Morocco in a camper van. He explains that in France, he used to take pills for his rheumatism, a painful condition in the joints. In Morocco, he says the sunny weather means he no longer needs any medicine.

Other French retirees have invested larger amounts of money to settle in Morocco. One couple spent 45,000 euros buying a mobile home near the coastal city of Agadir, where they now spend part of the year.

These stories reflect a wider trend among French retirees who are choosing to spend their retirement in Morocco. The main reasons given include a lower cost of living compared to France, as well as a warmer, sunnier climate that many say improves their health and overall quality of life.

For some, like Alain and Christelle, the move is also about staying active and avoiding a quiet, uneventful retirement. For others, like René, it is linked directly to physical health benefits that they say they feel after moving. Buying property, such as mobile homes or apartments, has also become common among this growing group of retirees looking for a new lifestyle outside France.