Methodology
Transparent matching, not an AI hunch
Rankings come from structured evidence, published scoring anchors and repeatable formulas. AI does not decide scores, exclusions or explanations.
What the percentage means
It measures compatibility with the answers you supplied across nine factors. It is not a probability, a guarantee, or a scientific prediction that you will enjoy living there.
How preferences change it
The matcher starts with published default weights. Importance answers adjust selected weights using fixed multipliers, then normalise the complete set back to 100%. The same answers and evidence always produce the same result.
Walkability and amenities
Your car preference changes how strongly walkability, practical public transport and car independence influence the existing infrastructure score. Restaurants, culture and everyday services influence the existing lifestyle score according to the importance you select. These do not create hidden extra dimensions.
Why the displayed shortlist is diverse
Compatibility is ranked normally first. To avoid an unhelpful top five dominated by closely related places, the displayed shortlist includes no more than two destinations from one country where enough alternatives exist. Scores are never altered, and the complete unmodified ranking remains available.
How affordability is estimated
Six indicative profiles cover essential, comfortable and affluent spending for singles and couples. They include housing, utilities, groceries, transport, healthcare allowance, communications, leisure and contingency. Local-currency values use a dated stored FX rate for GBP display.
Sourced facts and modelled estimates
Sources may provide local rent or other cost observations. We combine those inputs using one documented planning model to create indicative budget profiles. The resulting budget is our estimate—not a figure published by the source and not a universal cost of retirement.
How evidence confidence works
Confidence is separate from compatibility. Every factor has its own confidence based on source quality, verification and freshness. Overall confidence gives more weight to evidence for factors that matter more to you.
Why uncertainty remains
Local costs, language use and practical access cannot always be measured precisely. Missing information remains missing; lower-tier or ageing evidence reduces confidence and qualifies result wording rather than being silently replaced.
How often facts are reviewed
Visa, tax, pension and healthcare eligibility are reviewed every 90 days; costs, rent and travel every 180 days; climate and stable local characteristics every 365 days. Known expiry dates take precedence. Airline assumptions are also checked around seasonal timetable changes and FX is refreshed from a stored reference-rate snapshot.
What can exclude a destination?
Only explicit requirements: Europe only, annual UK State Pension uprating, maximum practical UK journey time, or extreme budget incompatibility. The current budget safeguard applies only when modelled essential costs are more than 25% above available monthly spending. Other preferences influence rank rather than removing choices.
Evidence hierarchy
Official government and authority sources come first, followed by institutional datasets such as OECD, European Commission and World Bank material. Reputable secondary sources are used where local practical evidence is unavailable, and this is reflected in confidence. Modelled costs are planning estimates—not visa thresholds, quotes or personalised financial advice.