The Top 10 Cheap and Charming Places to Retire in the US

The perfect retirement spot may be waiting south of the border. If you’re a perennial snowbird spending most of your winters in the U.S., why not skip the flights and live there full time?

Retirees often choose to spend their golden years in places offering pleasant weather, a variety of things to do, good health care and low costs that will help their retirement savings go the distance. You can find all of those things overseas — or just look down south in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

If you decide to retire in the U.S., you’ll want to know which parts of the country are terrible retirement destinations and which states and towns can be delightful spots for seniors. We’ve sized up cities across the nation to find warm, welcoming locations that are inexpensive and have plenty of amenities for retirees. Here are our picks for America’s best frugal and friendly places to retire.

Scottsdale, Arizona

  • Gorgeous warm weather, beautiful parks, and immaculate streets.
  • Proximity to Phoenix offers fantastic shopping, restaurants, and entertainment.
  • World-famous golf courses due to year-round arid weather.
  • Excellent health care with a major branch of the Mayo Clinic.

Cape Coral, Florida

  • Lovely town on Florida’s Gulf Coast with low crime rate and sunny weather.
  • More than 640 kilometres of canals and close to Fort Myers and the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Relatively low cost of living compared to Miami or Fort Lauderdale.

The Woodlands, Texas

  • Houston suburb with excellent housing and low cost of living.
  • Median rent around $1,100 U.S. or $1,400 Canadian and median home value of about $379,582 U.S. or $483,999 Canadian.
  • Very low crime rate and lovely warm weather.

Torrance, California

  • Smaller community near Los Angeles with California’s sunny weather.
  • Access to nearby beaches and multiple health care centres.
  • Pricier with typical home value close to $925,090 U.S. or $1,180,035 Canadian.

Augusta, Georgia

  • Warm and beautiful weather with low crime rate and rich Southern history.
  • Wide variety of shopping and nightlife options.
  • Top-notch health care including medical centres focusing on women’s health.

Metairie, Louisiana

  • Good compromise between big-city and suburban living with robust nightlife.
  • Relatively low cost of living and just a 15-minute drive from New Orleans.
  • Multiple health care centres with easy access to the city.

Mesa, Arizona

  • Modest living with median rent of $1,646 U.S. or $2,100 Canadian and homes selling at less than $200,000 U.S. or $255,000 Canadian.
  • Enjoy suburban living in dry but warm climate with excellent health care resources.

Lakeland, Florida

  • Warm and mild climate with affordable cost of living.
  • Close to central Florida attractions including Walt Disney World.
  • Family-friendly town with hospital and numerous health care centres.

Overland Park, Kansas

  • Slightly higher cost of living with median household income over $86,400 U.S. or $110,100 Canadian.
  • Close to Kansas City with low crime rate and mild, sunny summers.

Mobile, Alabama

  • Inexpensive living with mild, temperate climate.
  • Median household income about $47,600 U.S. or $60,700 Canadian.
  • Numerous health care centres including hospitals and nursing homes.