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CityLedger

Best for retirees

Where a fixed income goes furthest — gentle prices and lower housing costs.

Top 50 of 300 metros, ranked by our published formula.

In retirement, income is usually fixed or drawn down from savings, so keeping costs low does more for your standard of living than chasing a high local wage ever could. This ranking weights cost of living heavily alongside broader affordability, on the simple principle that a dollar saved on rent, utilities, and everyday expenses goes straight to the bottom line when you're no longer earning a paycheck. The lower the price level, the longer a nest egg lasts and the less pressure on Social Security or a pension.

Read the top entries as metros where a fixed income stretches furthest, not as a verdict on whether you'd enjoy living there. The honest caveat: this ranking is silent on the things that often matter most in later life, namely healthcare access and quality, climate, taxes on retirement income, and proximity to family. Use it to find affordable candidates, then check our weather and air-quality rankings and research local healthcare before settling.

  1. 1
    Rochester, MN
    Cost of living: 91 CoL
    88
    Livability
  2. 2
    Wildwood, FL
    Cost of living: 85 CoL
    65
    Livability
  3. 3
    Columbia, MO
    Cost of living: 89 CoL
    74
    Livability
  4. 4
    Sioux Falls, SD
    Cost of living: 91 CoL
    77
    Livability
  5. 5
    Des Moines, IA
    Cost of living: 92 CoL
    72
    Livability
  6. 6
    Omaha, NE
    Cost of living: 92 CoL
    69
    Livability
  7. 7
    Raleigh, NC
    Cost of living: 98 CoL
    85
    Livability
  8. 8
    Huntsville, AL
    Cost of living: 93 CoL
    74
    Livability
  9. 9
    Rapid City, SD
    Cost of living: 89 CoL
    65
    Livability
  10. 10
    Provo, UT
    Cost of living: 98 CoL
    74
    Livability
  11. 11
    St. Cloud, MN
    Cost of living: 88 CoL
    56
    Livability
  12. 12
    Fayetteville, AR
    Cost of living: 91 CoL
    70
    Livability
  13. 13
    Kansas City, MO
    Cost of living: 93 CoL
    69
    Livability
  14. 14
    Austin, TX
    Cost of living: 98 CoL
    83
    Livability
  15. 15
    Appleton, WI
    Cost of living: 92 CoL
    71
    Livability
  16. 16
    Cedar Rapids, IA
    Cost of living: 89 CoL
    61
    Livability
  17. 17
    Topeka, KS
    Cost of living: 89 CoL
    56
    Livability
  18. 18
    Lexington Park, MD
    Cost of living: 101 CoL
    78
    Livability
  19. 19
    Slidell, LA
    Cost of living: 93 CoL
    57
    Livability
  20. 20
    Jefferson City, MO
    Cost of living: 88 CoL
    59
    Livability
  21. 21
    Waterloo, IA
    Cost of living: 87 CoL
    56
    Livability
  22. 22
    Fargo, ND
    Cost of living: 91 CoL
    72
    Livability
  23. 23
    Idaho Falls, ID
    Cost of living: 94 CoL
    59
    Livability
  24. 24
    Midland, TX
    Cost of living: 96 CoL
    72
    Livability
  25. 25
    Traverse City, MI
    Cost of living: 93 CoL
    71
    Livability
  26. 26
    Springfield, IL
    Cost of living: 93 CoL
    69
    Livability
  27. 27
    Greeley, CO
    Cost of living: 100 CoL
    70
    Livability
  28. 28
    Wichita, KS
    Cost of living: 89 CoL
    52
    Livability
  29. 29
    Davenport, IA
    Cost of living: 89 CoL
    56
    Livability
  30. 30
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Cost of living: 90 CoL
    52
    Livability
  31. 31
    Bloomington, IL
    Cost of living: 94 CoL
    71
    Livability
  32. 32
    Decatur, AL
    Cost of living: 87 CoL
    41
    Livability
  33. 33
    Green Bay, WI
    Cost of living: 93 CoL
    65
    Livability
  34. 34
    Nashville, TN
    Cost of living: 96 CoL
    69
    Livability
  35. 35
    Chattanooga, TN
    Cost of living: 91 CoL
    51
    Livability
  36. 36
    Iowa City, IA
    Cost of living: 92 CoL
    70
    Livability
  37. 37
    Florence, AL
    Cost of living: 85 CoL
    47
    Livability
  38. 38
    Peoria, IL
    Cost of living: 91 CoL
    57
    Livability
  39. 39
    Birmingham, AL
    Cost of living: 92 CoL
    52
    Livability
  40. 40
    Lincoln, NE
    Cost of living: 92 CoL
    63
    Livability
  41. 41
    Charlottesville, VA
    Cost of living: 99 CoL
    84
    Livability
  42. 42
    Tyler, TX
    Cost of living: 92 CoL
    49
    Livability
  43. 43
    Duluth, MN
    Cost of living: 89 CoL
    50
    Livability
  44. 44
    La Crosse, WI
    Cost of living: 92 CoL
    65
    Livability
  45. 45
    Salt Lake City, UT
    Cost of living: 101 CoL
    74
    Livability
  46. 46
    Tulsa, OK
    Cost of living: 89 CoL
    48
    Livability
  47. 47
    Madison, WI
    Cost of living: 97 CoL
    82
    Livability
  48. 48
    Ogden, UT
    Cost of living: 100 CoL
    72
    Livability
  49. 49
    Auburn, AL
    Cost of living: 88 CoL
    55
    Livability
  50. 50
    Canton, OH
    Cost of living: 89 CoL
    46
    Livability

Common questions

Does this factor in healthcare access?
No, and that's a meaningful gap for retirees. The ranking focuses on cost of living and affordability, so once you have a shortlist, research proximity to hospitals, specialist availability, and Medicare-accepting providers in each area.
What about taxes on retirement income?
This metric doesn't include state taxes on Social Security, pensions, or withdrawals, which vary a lot by state and can change the picture. Treat tax treatment as a separate factor, since a low-cost metro in a high-tax state may net out differently.
Why not just move to the warmest place?
Climate is a personal preference this affordability-focused ranking doesn't score, though it matters for comfort and even some costs like heating and cooling. If weather is a priority, cross-reference this list with our mildest-weather ranking to find an affordable spot that's also comfortable.