The Absolute Cheapest Cities To Retire In 2020

Some people spend their whole lives looking forward to retirement.

The typical age of retirement is 62 years old. Even still, some people retire younger while others retire later.

Either way, you probably don’t want to spend all of your money right out of the gates. So it might be a good idea to look for some cheap cities that will support your retirement income.

So that’s what we set out to find to save you the research. We compared housing costs, rent costs, and state medicare calculated per person to find the absolute best and cheapest cities in the U.S. for retirees. Here’s our top 10:

Top 10 Cheapest Cities to Retire

So there you have it. Retirement made easy and stress-free. Now all you need to do is enjoy it.

If none of these cities strikes your fancy, be sure to check out our full list of cities below.

Also, don’t forget to read our article on which states are the cheapest for retirement. No. 1 may surprise you. We’ll give you a hint. It’s not Florida.

How We Determined The Cheapest Cities To Retire

We ranked each city equally on the following factors:

Median House Cost
Median Rent Cost
State Medicare Spend Per Person

First, we examined median housing costs using data from the ACS Census. Moving from a city with expensive housing costs to one with cheaper housing costs can drastically elevate retirees’ standard of living and significantly add to their retirement fund. The cheaper the housing, the better to retire.

Next we pulled in rental costs from the ACS. Not everyone wants to own a home or is capable of home maintenance as they cage. The lower the cost, the better for retirement.

Finally, we examined the cost of healthcare. You might be able to cut coupons or downsize your house, but you can’t choose to not get sick. This area is especially important because healthcare costs continue to rise each year and leaves many seniors scrambling.

We looked at state’s contributions to Medicare per residence. The more a state spends on Medicare, the better for seniors. All cities in a state received the same rank for this criteria.

We did not take weather or geography into consideration. Those craving the coast or whose retirement dream doesn’t include salting the walk may disagree with some cities in our top 10.

1. Pharr, Texas

pharr,

Source: Mig Esc|CC BY 3.0

Median Home Cost: $73,900
Median Rent Cost: $685
State Medicare Spend Per Person:$11,895

Hopefully, you don’t have to go too ~far~ to land in the cheapest city for retirees. At No. 1, Pharr, Texas, proves it’s a great city to just kick back and reap all the benefits of being retired. The city is especially great for those who choose to rent as the median rent cost of $685 is the fourth lowest in the country.

2. Mission, Texas

mission,

Source: Speer Memorial Library|CC BY-SA 4.0

Median Home Cost: $73,700
Median Rent Cost: $724
State Medicare Spend Per Person:$11,895

Yet another Texas city claims the second spot on our list. Mission, Texas, is the place to be when it comes to being retired. Whatever you decide to do, rent or buy, the prices are low enough that there is no wrong answer here. Add in the $11,895 state medicare spend per person and you’ll never want to leave. So go ahead and start on your mission to retire in Mission.

3. Buffalo, New York

buffalo,

Source: |GFDL

Median Home Cost: $78,200
Median Rent Cost: $792
State Medicare Spend Per Person:$12,179

We’ve heard Buffalo, New York, is a great place to retire. Statistically speaking, retirement living doesn’t get any better than this. With the median home cost of $78,200, you could buy a house to live out your retirement with ease. If you’re not sure about the commitment, you’re in luck. The median rent cost here is only $792 so you can spend a little more on the grandkids this year. Or you could even buy yourself a boat.

4. Syracuse, New York

syracuse,

Source: John Marino from Pittsburgh|CC BY 2.0

Median Home Cost: $85,800
Median Rent Cost: $783
State Medicare Spend Per Person:$12,179

The fourth cheapest city to retire in is located in Syracuse, New York. Now, we didn’t think rent could get much cheaper in the great state, but Syracuse proved us wrong with a median rent cost of $783. Don’t forget to add in the $12,179 state medicare.

5. Harlingen, Texas

Source: Wikimedia

Median Home Cost: $66,500
Median Rent Cost: $766
State Medicare Spend Per Person:$11,895

Next on our retirement tour is Harlingen, Texas. You’ll notice that Texas pops up a lot on this list and it’s for good reason. Harlingen is nothing short of perfect for retirement. From the $66,500 median home cost to the $11,895 state medicare, you’ll have everything you need to thrive during retirement.

6. Brownsville, Texas

Source: Wikimedia

Median Home Cost: $86,400
Median Rent Cost: $744
State Medicare Spend Per Person:$11,895

Apparently Texas is the place to be during retirement. The sixth cheapest city to retire in is Brownsville, Texas. State Medicare is set at $11,895 and the median rent cost is only $744. But if you’d rather buy your home, the median cost of $86,400 is definitely nothing to scoff at.

7. Wichita Falls, Texas

wichita

Source: |CC0

Median Home Cost: $84,200
Median Rent Cost: $771
State Medicare Spend Per Person:$11,895

You thought we were going to say Wichita, Kansas, didn’t you? We’re not leaving Texas yet. Wichita Falls, Texas, comes in as the seventh cheapest city to retire in with the median home cost only at $84,200. There are cars more expensive than that.

8. Camden, New Jersey

camden,

Source: Smallbones|Public domain

Median Home Cost: $84,900
Median Rent Cost: $929
State Medicare Spend Per Person:$12,614

Finally, a state that’s not where all my exes live. Camden, New Jersey is the No. 8 city on our list. It’s No. 8 for a good reason. Camden has the highest state medicare spending per person at $12,614 in the entire country. Plus, the median home price of $84,900 isn’t too bad either.

9. Rochester, New York

Source: Wikimedia

Median Home Cost: $76,600
Median Rent Cost: $848
State Medicare Spend Per Person:$12,179

If you’ve decided New York is calling your name, don’t forget about Rochester. Out of all the cities we looked at, Rochester has the 16th cheapest median home cost at $76,600. That should have you singing, “I’m leaving today.” Because we know you want to be a part of it.

10. Beaumont, Texas

beaumont,

Source: Wbband08 at English Wikipedia|Public domain

Median Home Cost: $81,100
Median Rent Cost: $809
State Medicare Spend Per Person:$11,895

It wouldn’t feel right ending this list with a city in any other state. Maybe that’s why Beaumont, Texas comes in as the 10th cheapest city. But it’s probably because the median rent there only costs $809 and homes go for around $81,100. Plus, state medicare spending per person clocks in at $11,895. Beaumont wraps up this list quite beautifully if I do say so myself.

Summary of the Cheapest Cities to Retire

Everyone has their dream retirement place that they’ve looked forward to for so many years.

But when the reality of how much money those places cost to live there sets in, you may be scrambling to reroute your retirement.

Instead of stressing, we found these 10 cities just for you.

With the cheapest rent costs, the cheapest median cost for a house and medicare spending calculated, you really can’t go wrong with any one of these.

Rank	City	State	Median Home Cost	Median Rent Cost	Medicare Spending Per Person
1	Pharr	Texas	$73,900	$685	$11,895
2	Mission	Texas	$73,700	$724	$11,895
3	Buffalo	New York	$78,200	$792	$12,179
4	Syracuse	New York	$85,800	$783	$12,179
5	Harlingen	Texas	$66,500	$766	$11,895
6	Brownsville	Texas	$86,400	$744	$11,895
7	Wichita Falls	Texas	$84,200	$771	$11,895
8	Camden	New Jersey	$84,900	$929	$12,614
9	Rochester	New York	$76,600	$848	$12,179
10	Beaumont	Texas	$81,100	$809	$11,895
11	Edinburg	Texas	$99,500	$776	$11,895
12	McAllen	Texas	$111,600	$780	$11,895
13	Cheektowaga CDP	New York	$116,100	$827	$12,179
14	El Paso	Texas	$115,800	$798	$11,895
15	Lakeland	Florida	$102,400	$971	$12,229
16	Longview	Texas	$121,300	$801	$11,895
17	Trenton	New Jersey	$90,600	$1,024	$12,614
18	Waco	Texas	$95,800	$864	$11,895
19	Amarillo	Texas	$117,700	$834	$11,895
20	Laredo	Texas	$103,100	$863	$11,895
21	Schenectady	New York	$102,800	$954	$12,179
22	Largo	Florida	$71,600	$1,106	$12,229
23	Abilene	Texas	$94,300	$946	$11,895
24	Gainesville	Florida	$137,900	$984	$12,229
25	Victoria	Texas	$131,200	$863	$11,895
26	Killeen	Texas	$110,800	$932	$11,895
27	Flint	Michigan	$26,100	$704	$11,318
28	Daytona Beach	Florida	$163,400	$941	$12,229
29	Springfield	Massachusetts	$148,400	$862	$11,899
30	Waterbury	Connecticut	$119,200	$953	$11,964
31	San Angelo	Texas	$140,100	$871	$11,895
32	Lubbock	Texas	$122,800	$929	$11,895
33	Temple	Texas	$145,400	$869	$11,895
34	Albany	New York	$141,200	$952	$12,179
35	Palm Bay	Florida	$152,300	$994	$12,229
36	Pine Hills CDP	Florida	$152,500	$1,005	$12,229
37	Youngstown	Ohio	$35,000	$656	$11,038
38	Decatur	Illinois	$78,200	$694	$11,116
39	Spring Hill CDP	Florida	$143,900	$1,052	$12,229
40	Canton	Ohio	$56,800	$682	$11,038
41	Erie	Pennsylvania	$83,300	$720	$11,243
42	Port Charlotte CDP	Florida	$172,000	$966	$12,229
43	Dayton	Ohio	$55,600	$707	$11,038
44	Cleveland	Ohio	$58,800	$706	$11,038
45	San Antonio	Texas	$123,300	$972	$11,895
46	Pasadena	Texas	$119,100	$989	$11,895
47	Corpus Christi	Texas	$113,200	$1,016	$11,895
48	Lorain	Ohio	$83,100	$689	$11,038
49	Baytown	Texas	$102,700	$1,043	$11,895
50	Toledo	Ohio	$70,700	$737	$11,038
51	Bryan	Texas	$150,900	$922	$11,895
52	Akron	Ohio	$80,100	$737	$11,038
53	Rockford	Illinois	$87,200	$755	$11,116
54	Reading	Pennsylvania	$61,500	$816	$11,243
55	Detroit	Michigan	$45,200	$836	$11,318
56	Lansing	Michigan	$84,000	$820	$11,318
57	Tyler	Texas	$168,600	$897	$11,895
58	Muncie	Indiana	$51,700	$764	$10,714
59	Baltimore	Maryland	$134,200	$1,057	$12,000
60	Scranton	Pennsylvania	$98,400	$789	$11,243
61	New Bedford	Massachusetts	$226,100	$812	$11,899
62	Gary	Indiana	$58,900	$773	$10,714
63	Hartford	Connecticut	$168,600	$957	$11,964
64	Kalamazoo	Michigan	$98,900	$817	$11,318
65	Jacksonville	Florida	$168,700	$1,074	$12,229
66	New Britain	Connecticut	$164,000	$969	$11,964
67	Deerfield Beach	Florida	$91,100	$1,324	$12,229
68	Lauderhill	Florida	$119,400	$1,246	$12,229
69	Cincinnati	Ohio	$110,300	$745	$11,038
70	South Bend	Indiana	$74,700	$790	$10,714
71	Melbourne	Florida	$177,700	$1,072	$12,229
72	Odessa	Texas	$133,200	$1,062	$11,895
73	Tallahassee	Florida	$225,300	$971	$12,229
74	Evansville	Indiana	$96,000	$764	$10,714
75	Fort Wayne	Indiana	$99,300	$758	$10,714
76	Houston	Texas	$148,300	$1,032	$11,895
77	Shreveport	Louisiana	$123,300	$819	$11,811
78	Springfield	Illinois	$114,500	$810	$11,116
79	East Orange	New Jersey	$186,900	$1,106	$12,614
80	Clearwater	Florida	$198,600	$1,060	$12,229
81	Albany	Georgia	$101,300	$730	$10,429
82	Lawton	Oklahoma	$78,200	$800	$10,429
83	Jackson	Mississippi	$85,100	$831	$11,021
84	St. Joseph	Missouri	$107,100	$760	$10,457
85	Fort Worth	Texas	$150,500	$1,061	$11,895
86	Fall River	Massachusetts	$242,100	$843	$11,899
87	Fort Myers	Florida	$208,900	$1,063	$12,229
88	Lehigh Acres CDP	Florida	$176,100	$1,142	$12,229
89	Hemet	California	$91,200	$1,138	$11,833
90	Springfield	Missouri	$123,400	$716	$10,457
91	Dallas	Texas	$157,900	$1,054	$11,895
92	Town ‘n’ Country CDP	Florida	$154,500	$1,241	$12,229
93	Lafayette	Indiana	$117,800	$785	$10,714
94	St. Petersburg	Florida	$197,600	$1,132	$12,229
95	Peoria	Illinois	$124,700	$826	$11,116
96	Hammond	Indiana	$89,300	$840	$10,714
97	Gulfport	Mississippi	$115,300	$824	$11,021
98	Lake Charles	Louisiana	$156,100	$808	$11,811
99	Conroe	Texas	$160,400	$1,090	$11,895

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Amanda Postma

Amanda Postma is a writer for the Zippia Career Advice blog with a focus on creating entertaining content to help you through your job search. She received her BA from the University Of Missouri-Columbia.

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