Thinking of selling up and retiring elsewhere? Research by fashion brand WITT has put a £1m retirement fund to the test to see how long it would last in the top 15 expat destinations. Whether you a looking for a modest lifestyle or want to enjoy some of life's little luxuries, these European countries offer a very different rate of expenditure. We ranked them from most expensive to cheapest, so you know how far your money will go...

We have a lot to envy the Danes for. Their lifestyle is repeatedly described as one of the happiest, not just in Europe but in the world, but with the basic cost of living here averaging out at kr250,863 (£30k) a year – kr376,308 (£45k) for a few more luxuries – your retirement fund will shrink quickly. Living a basic existence will see you stretch the money out to 25 years, but if you’d like some level of luxury, 17 years is the most you can expect.

Love this? Discover the 10 best UK cities for raising a family.

As the most expensive of the destinations to live in, Denmark is not suitable for a lengthy retirement unless you've got a lot of funds at your disposal. Renowned for daring architecture, the gorgeous houses here sell for an average asking price of kr1.98 million (£237k), meaning you could snap up this minimalist villa and still have kr376,000 (£45k) a year to live on for 17 years. However, with many restrictions in place, Denmark is not the easiest place for overseas buyers to purchase a property.

If you’ve ever read A Year in Provence, you may dream of retiring to rural France. However, while there are no shortage of amazing chateaus and vineyards to buy, with a basic cost of living of €28,332 (£25k) – €42,498 (£38k) at the more comfortable end – you can expect your pot of money to last just 19 years, or 28 years if you’re prepared to live frugally.

Still, this villa, just south of Perpignan, may still sway you, plus it falls within the area's average asking price. Sure, it needs a little updating but with marble floors throughout, large windows and mountain views, it has so much going for it.

If you’d rather stay in the UK, then like in France, you can expect your money to last about 19 years, with the basic cost of living estimated as £26,000, or £39,000 for a few more home comforts. The good news is that if you're careful, your pot will last you 29 years (one year longer than in France).

But where to retire if you remain in the UK? Perhaps a seaside apartment in Cornwall, a country cottage in Sussex or how about this two-bed house in the attractive and quintessential Cotswolds village of Chipping Norton?

There’s much to be said for the wild allure of Ireland – the romance of the west coast around Kerry and Clare is hard to ignore, as long as you think you could cope with the harsh winters. If you cut costs and live on a budget, you could get by on €30,689 (£27k) each year – meaning your money would last 29 years – otherwise, you’ll need to budget for €46,033 (£41k) per year.

Bungalows are popular properties in Ireland and very practical for those reaching retirement age with one eye on the future, too. We spied this four-bed detached bungalow in Wexford nestled in large gardens, going for less than the average asking price at €213,751 (£191k).

Love this? Check out these 27 ways to futureproof your home.

In Germany, the research suggests a luxury standard of living will set you back €42,486 (£38k), while on a budget you could scrape by on €28,330 (£25k). Choose between historic towns such as Bamberg (pictured) or one of the buzzing cities such as Berlin or Hamburg.

In Berlin, for just over the national average asking price, you could buy this one-bed apartment in a cool block near lots of green space. Because who said retirement had to be dull? If renting is more your bag, you'll be interested to know that Berlin has just introduced a five-year rent freeze.

If the land of tulips and windmills has always appealed then you're in luck. In the Netherlands, (much like Germany) your £1m pot of money could last you 20 years when living a comfortable lifestyle on around €44,750 (£40k) a year. For a more basic standard of living, it could stretch to 29 years.

If you're looking for modern open-plan living in a nice city pad, then this one-bed apartment in Amsterdam falls within the average house price at €22,500 (£201k). As you can see, there's plenty of bike storage too, so you can really buy into the Dutch lifestyle.

OK, so if you’re planning to live a fairly generous lifestyle post-retirement, then your money will last in Sweden much the same as it would in Germany and the Netherlands. However, if you can stick to a basic budget of kr298,806 (£25k) a year then a retirement fund of £1 million could last for 30 years. If you want to splash out a little more, you're looking at kr448,470 (£37.6k).

For just under the average asking price, you could nab you this really romantic hideaway. Originally designed as a summer house, there’s nothing to say you couldn’t live in this property in Vastra Gotaland on the west coast of Sweden all year round. You’d have to drag us away from those sea views.

Yearning for the ocean? Step inside these incredible homes for sale by the sea.

In Austria, the land of mountain peaks, hidden lakes and historic villages, you could live in reasonable comfort for €39,950 (£36k) per year. Make a few cutbacks – surely with all that open space to explore you don’t need too much money – and you could get by on an annual budget of €26,633 (£24k), which would last you 32 years.

This two-bedroom architect's house has lots of downsizing potential. It's a mid-century design lover's dream with bespoke cabinetry and cool fittings, but it's also got double glazing, underfloor heating, a roomy cellar and a garage with an electric door. Located 15 minutes walk from Lake Klopein, it's on the market for just €235,000 (£210k). 

Fans of France might want to consider the homeland of Hercule Poirot instead. Here, with a fairly generous annual budget of €39,000 (£35k), you could live happily for 23 years. Make some cutbacks though and that £1m could last you 35 years.

With a very reasonable asking price of just over €224,200 (£200k), you could buy this two-bed apartment in one of Brussels' most laid-back neighbourhoods. Think bike rides along the canal and eating locally produced chocolate, all washed down by Belgian beer. Now we’re talking.  

Now we see a bit of a jump in terms of where your money could take you. In Italy, even living a fairly comfortable life, the money would last 26 years, while if you could keep your spending to within €24,380 (£22k) per year then you could get by for as long as 39 years.

For a smidgen over the average asking price for Italy, you could buy this pretty-as-a-picture villa in the medieval mountain village of Montalto Ligure. Complete with its own roof terrace (well you need somewhere to appreciate those views), it’s just a 15-minute drive from the sea.

Love this? Check out these dream homes for sale in Italy.

Malta has become a popular tourist destination in recent years, and for good reason. A stroll through the Baroque streets of the capital Valletta will conjure up visions of past lives, while the beaches are not to be sniffed at either. While a life of luxury will set you back €36,000 (£32k) per year, for a more basic budget of €24,000 (£21.4k) per year, your money would last you 40 years here.

These studio apartments in the San Gwann region of Malta fall within the average asking price of €152,000 (£136k). They are currently being sold on plan and will be completed by December 2021, so it would give you plenty of time to organise the move.

Spain is famous for its expat community and it’s no real surprise: a life of luxury here could be yours for 29 years. Those good at budgeting can get by on around €22,320 (£20k) per year, which would mean your pot would take 43 years to empty.

For us, no retirement home in Spain would feel right without a pool. A two-bed apartment in this complex with your own terrace and access to the pools, would set you back €168,240 (£150k) – just over the average asking price of €159,310 (£142k).

It may surprise you to know that Portugal offers even better value for money than its neighbour. Here a luxury lifestyle could be supported on savings of £1m for 32 years, or on a more basic budget of €20,670 (£18.4k) per year, you could live here for 48 years. Early retirement anyone?

A two-bed townhouse in this secluded complex set in stunning countryside near the traditional village of Anarita costs a little over the average asking price at €130,000 (£115.5k), but it does come with two swimming pools and a private garden with sea views.

Love this? Here's everything you need to know about buying an overseas property.

Could there be a more perfect place to see out your sunset years than in the cradle of western civilisation? Greece is renowned for its sugar cube villages perched precariously on hilltops, ancient sites and breathtaking beaches. With a not too extravagant budget of €31,500 (£28k) per year your money could last 32 years here, or 48 years if you can stick to a budget of under €21,300 (£19k).

With an average asking price of under €112,140 (£100k), your money can go a long way in Greece. This cute two-bed apartment in Corfu on the market for €110,000 (£98k) comes with a sun terrace and pool, although these facilities are shared with five apartments in the block. The views are spectacular and the house is modern and bright, with air-conditioning in place.

The best value for money for retirees, according to the research, can be found in Poland, where a life of relative luxury costs just 101,120zł (£21.2k) per year, meaning a £1m pot of money would last 42 years. If you want to stretch it even further, stick to a basic budget of 67,410zł (£14k) and your money could last a staggering 64 years.

Talk about a dream property to spend your retirement years in! Located in Jawornik Polski, Sub-Carpathia, this three-bedroom detached farmhouse has so many lovely features inside including a wood-burner in the bright living room. Set on 0.8-acre plot, it's private yet still within 2km of the nearest village. Best of all, the private seller is asking for offers in the region of 47,500zł (£42k).

Love this? Discover the best retirement villages in America.