What is the safest, least expensive place to retire?

Asked by: Daphnee Lind  |  Last update: January 16, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (57 votes)

Read on to explore the cities with the most affordable housing that notched highly on the U.S. News 2024 Best Places to Retire ranking.
  • Lexington, Kentucky.
  • Oklahoma City.
  • Omaha, Nebraska.
  • Montgomery, Alabama.
  • Davenport, Iowa.
  • Green Bay, Wisconsin.
  • Hickory, North Carolina.
  • Wichita, Kansas.

Where is the cheapest and safest place to retire to?

23 Cheap Places Where You Will Want To Retire
  • Tulsa, Oklahoma. ...
  • Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. ...
  • Sioux Falls, South Dakota. ...
  • Chattanooga, Tennessee. ...
  • Sherman, Texas. Cost of living for retirees: 13.0% below U.S. average. ...
  • St. George, Utah. ...
  • Roanoke, Virginia. Cost of living for retirees: 8.7% below U.S. average. ...
  • Spokane, Washington.

Where is the best place to retire with no money?

  • 10 Best Places To Retire With No Savings. Affordability is the key reason these cities are the top 10 places to retire if you have no savings. ...
  • Port Charlotte, Florida. ...
  • Punta Gorda, Florida. ...
  • Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. ...
  • Fredericksburg, Texas. ...
  • Pinehurst, North Carolina. ...
  • Rotonda West, Florida. ...
  • Bella Vista, Arkansas.

What is the safest and most affordable country to retire in?

For those who wish to retire to safe havens that offer cheap living expenses, some of the cheapest and safest countries to retire to include Indonesia, Ghana, Romania, North Macedonia, and Vietnam.

What is the best state to retire on a budget?

What state is the best financially to retire in? A 2022 Kiplinger analysis ranked the most tax-friendly places in the country for retirement: Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Mississippi, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming.

Cheapest countries to retire (for $1000/mo or less)

31 related questions found

Where can I retire on $500 a month?

Thailand. Is it possible to retire in Thailand and keep the costs in check? Certainly! It's another top choice for digital nomads with an achievable $500 monthly budget, focusing on affordable accommodation.

What states do not tax social security and retirement income?

There are currently seven states in which individual income is not subject to tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. In two other states — New Hampshire and Tennessee — only dividends and interest are subject to state taxes.

Where in the world can I live comfortably on $1000 a month?

Retiring abroad on $1,000 per month doesn't mean sacrificing quality of life. Many countries offer excellent health care, infrastructure and amenities at a fraction of the cost compared to the U.S. The cheapest places to retire abroad include Panama, the Philippines, Portugal, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam.

What is the safest and most affordable country?

What are the safest and cheapest countries to live in?
  • Czech Republic.
  • Bulgaria.
  • Albania.
  • Portugal.
  • Costa Rica.
  • Panama.
  • Mexico.
  • Thailand.

Where is the cheapest place to retire with good healthcare?

Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and Tennessee are all highly ranked retirement destinations for health care needs due to low or no income taxes, access to quality health care facilities, and access to nature and recreational activities.

What is the cheapest way for a senior to live?

Seniors can save money on housing by choosing to stay in their own homes and becoming a member of a local virtual retirement community. Virtual retirement communities are grassroots, nonprofit organizations that provide older adults with a variety of accessibility services.

Where can you live for $100 a day?

Table of Contents
  • Low-cost locales.
  • Aurora, Colorado.
  • Cleveland.
  • Dallas.
  • Durham, North Carolina.
  • Jacksonville, Florida.
  • Kansas City, Kansas.
  • Madison, Wisconsin.

How are people retiring with no money?

Low-income people may retire by cutting their expenses, downsizing their homes, taking Social Security benefits, and/or applying for financial assistance through government benefit programs.

What is the safest state for seniors?

New Jersey takes the top spot as the safest state to retire, thanks to its low rates of property and violent crimes against seniors (523.2 and 33.9 per 100,000, respectively), fewer fall-related deaths among older adults (35.4 per 100,000), and minimal senior involvement in fatal traffic accidents (11.5 per 100,000 ...

Where can I retire on $1-200 a month?

Here are the 15 best East Coast cities to retire on a budget of $1,200 a month:
  • Blacksburg, Virginia. Cost of Living Index: 89.6. ...
  • Rochester, New York. Cost of Living Index: 88.6. ...
  • Clemson, South Carolina. ...
  • Hampton, Virginia. ...
  • Anderson, South Carolina. ...
  • Athens, Georgia. ...
  • Columbia, South Carolina. ...
  • Jacksonville, North Carolina.

What is the safest least expensive state to live in?

Here are some of the cheapest and safest places to live in the US!
  • Live in Boise, Idaho.
  • Affordable living in Des Moines, Iowa.
  • Winston Salem, North Carolina: among the cheapest cities in USA.
  • Live affordably in Naples, Florida.
  • Enjoy Lexington, Kentucky.

Where is the cheapest but nicest place to live?

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Fort Wayne residents enjoy a lower cost of living than those in other top U.S. cities and spend just 19.56% of the median household income on housing, making it the Best Affordable Place to Live in the U.S. in 2024-2025.

What is the cheapest country to live in with US dollars?

What is the least expensive country to live in? The cheapest places to live are Pakistan, Egypt, Nepal, Bhutan, and Burundi. In these states, a person needs less than $430 per month to live comfortably.

What is the cheapest and safest country to retire in?

Their healthcare, public safety and other metrics make these countries relative bargains, even compared with some of the cheapest places to retire in America.
  • Slovenia.
  • Qatar. ...
  • Estonia. ...
  • Portugal. ...
  • Bulgaria. ...
  • Lithuania. Cost-of-living index: 47.1. ...
  • Finland. Cost-of-living index: 63.2. ...
  • Hungary. Cost-of-living index: 41.7. ...

Where in the world can I retire on $2000 a month?

Costa Rica

Once settled, most retiree couples can live well within the country for as little as $2,000 per month.

Where can I live in $800 a month in the US?

10 Big City ZIP Codes Where You Can Rent For Under $800
  1. Columbus, OH (43227)
  2. Indianapolis, IN (46254) ...
  3. Houston, TX (77034) ...
  4. Indianapolis, IN (46227) ...
  5. Indianapolis, IN (46229) ...
  6. El Paso, TX (79930) ...
  7. Houston, TX (77099) ...
  8. Fort Worth, TX (76133) ...

Should I retire in Costa Rica?

What makes Costa Rica the best place to retire in 2024? Costa Rica was found to have an affordable cost of living, diverse microclimates, and of course, an abundance of natural beauty. Plus, Costa Rica is home to a Blue Zone, which has one of the healthiest, longest-living populations in the world.

What state do most retirees move to?

Top Inbound Retirement States
  • Florida (39%)
  • South Carolina (37%)
  • Arizona (36%)
  • Delaware (34%)
  • Idaho (29%)
  • Nevada (29%)
  • Wyoming (28%)
  • Mississippi (28%)

At what age is 401k withdrawal tax free?

As a general rule, if you withdraw funds before age 59 ½, you'll trigger an IRS tax penalty of 10%. The good news is that there's a way to take your distributions a few years early without incurring this penalty. This is known as the rule of 55.

Which states have no property tax for seniors?

The following states offer partial exemption on property taxes for seniors and people over 65.
  • Hawaii. In Hawaii, if you're 65 or older, you could knock $160,000 off your home's assessed value, reducing your property tax liability. ...
  • Louisiana. ...
  • Alaska. ...
  • New York. ...
  • Washington. ...
  • Mississippi. ...
  • Florida. ...
  • South Dakota.