Where is the safest and most affordable place to retire?

Asked by: Dr. Gabriel Heaney  |  Last update: March 28, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (45 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.

What country is the safest and cheapest 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.

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.

Which state has the lowest cost of living for retirees?

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.

What is the best and safest state to retire in?

Delaware (1), West Virginia (2), Georgia (3), South Carolina (4) and Missouri (5) are the top five states for retirement in 2024.

8 Safest and Most Affordable Places To Retire in the USA

21 related questions found

Where do the happiest retirees live?

Here are the top 10 cities in the U.S. to retire for the highest quality of life, according to WalletHub.
  • Pearl City, Hawaii.
  • Honolulu.
  • Scottsdale, Arizona.
  • Columbia, Maryland.
  • Fremont, California.
  • Glendale, California.
  • Madison, Wisconsin.
  • San Jose, California.

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.

What is the #1 retirement state?

The top state for retirement is Delaware, according to Bankrate's 2024 Best States to Retire study.

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.

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.

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.

Where is the safest place for seniors to live in the US?

Retire in One of the Safest Cities to Live in the U.S.
  • San Rafael, California, M.S.A. ...
  • Safe large cities. ...
  • Plano, Texas. ...
  • Portland-South Portland, Maine. ...
  • Provo-Orem, Utah. ...
  • Worcester, Massachusetts. ...
  • Environmental factors to consider for safe cities. ...
  • Working with a trusted banking partner.

What country 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.

What is the cheapest and nicest country to live in?

10 of the cheapest and safest places to live in the world
  • Albania.
  • Portugal.
  • Costa Rica.
  • Panama.
  • Mexico.
  • Thailand.
  • Malaysia.
  • Vietnam.

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.

Where is the nicest but cheapest place to live?

10 Most Affordable Cities To Live In The U.S.
  • Evansville, Indiana.
  • Fort Wayne, Indiana.
  • Dayton, Ohio.
  • Wichita Falls, Texas.
  • Toledo, Ohio.
  • Akron, Ohio.
  • Springfield, Illinois.
  • Rockford, Illinois.

What state has the worst cost of living?

Right behind Hawaii are the states you might expect to have big living costs as they're home to some of the most expensive cities in the nation. No. 2 is California, which “has notoriously high prices for housing, gas, utilities, and food,” according to the data.

What state is like California but cheaper?

Oregon – While Oregon does have state income tax, it has a lower cost of living compared to California and a thriving tech industry, which can provide job opportunities.

What is the happiest state to retire in?

The results

The top two states to retire in according to our formula are — drumroll please — Alaska and New Hampshire!

Where are retirees moving to in 2024?

It's no secret why Florida continues to be one of the best states to retire in 2024. With a warm and sunny climate, retirees enjoy Florida's beautiful beaches and outdoor activities year-round. From the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic, Florida offers endless opportunities for leisure.

What is the best state to retire to avoid taxes?

Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming are the top tax-friendly states for retirees. All of them have no personal income taxes. 1 Other taxes, cost of living, and overall quality of life are also important considerations.

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.