I Asked ChatGPT for Safe and Beautiful Retirement Spots on $3,000/Month — These 5 Surprised Me
Written by
Laura Bogart
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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There are a lot of factors to consider when picking your perfect retirement spot: Affordability often matters most, of course, followed by safety. But you’re also hoping for a city or town with natural beauty and plenty of fun things to do, whether that involves a thriving arts and culture scene or active sports leagues.
You’ve got a lot to consider, and the search already feels daunting. Fortunately, you have a terrific ally at your fingertips — ChatGPT.
Using ChatGPT, you can input your criteria for a place to spend retirement — down to how much you’d prefer to spend every month — and generate a list of interesting options. That’s exactly what I did. Though I’m quite a while away from retirement, I wanted to see what ChatGPT could offer if I gave it a clear set of parameters. I wanted retirement spots that were safe and beautiful, where I could live on $3,000 a month.
I must say, ChatGPT didn’t disappoint. In fact, it surprised me with some great selections.
How ChatGPT Shared Its Results
ChatGPT organized its results clearly, with individual towns and cities ranked under subheadings that reflected different U.S. regions while also offering an international option. Understanding that Florida is celebrated as a haven for retirees, ChatGPT even carved out a separate section for spots in the Sunshine State. It also listed options under a category titled “Other U.S. Gems Identified in Recent Coverage.”
For readers who wanted a quick overview, it highlighted one top pick followed by two cities that tied for second place. Here’s how it looked in my window:
Hagerstown, Maryland
- Monthly cost: ~$2,804 for necessities per couple — including rent, groceries, healthcare, utilities and transportation. (Source: Nasdaq)
- Why consider it: Affordable healthcare and living expenses give retirees some wiggle room each month.
Virginia – Lynchburg and Danville
- Lynchburg: Monthly necessities cost ~$2,956; highest livability score of 90 in the study. (Source: Nasdaq)
- Danville: Even cheaper at ~$2,836 for essentials; livability score: 75. (Source: Nasdaq)
- Why these stand out: Lower costs of living with access to cultural and outdoor amenities.
The Retirement Choices I Didn’t Expect
Here are a few spots that ChatGPT surprised me with.
Hagerstown, Maryland
Intrigued by ChatGPT’s top pick, I wanted more information. ChatGPT included a link to a Nasdaq republication of a GOBankingRates article from 2023 listing top East Coast choices for retirees.
Two years ago? I might not rely on those numbers today. So, I asked ChatGPT to give me more updated information on Hagerstown.
That prompt yielded much more detail, including that the cost-of-living index in Hagerstown is roughly 5% below the U.S. average. ChatGPT also indicated that seniors enjoy a high quality of life, particularly when it comes to access to healthcare.
Lynchburg, Virginia
That livability score of 90 caught my attention. Since ChatGPT again linked to the 2023 GOBankingRates article, I wanted more current insights into what made Lynchburg such a great retirement spot.
I received substantive answers, including the fact that Virginia doesn’t tax Social Security benefits (which I confirmed online). ChatGPT also cited the natural beauty of the area, along with opportunities for healthy living: “With 18+ miles of urban trails like the scenic Blackwater Creek Trail — complete with creek views, a waterfall, and a historic train tunnel — Lynchburg supports an active, healthy lifestyle.”
I also got information about Lynchburg’s arts and culture scene, as well as opportunities for seniors to engage in the community.
Guanajuato, Mexico
When I checked the sourcing for this city, I found it came from a Vocal Media article published this year. That gave me confidence that ChatGPT’s summary was reasonably accurate: “Charming colonial town, monthly budget around $2,200-$2,700 (rent included). Affordable food, utilities, and healthcare. Walkable city, friendly expat scene.”
American retirees aren’t often encouraged to move abroad, which piqued my interest. But looking at the source, I can see why ChatGPT highlighted it: Fresh produce is readily available, healthcare seems quite affordable and the culture is thriving. Sounds like fun.
Milwaukee
I was naturally curious about cities listed under the “Other U.S. Gems Identified in Recent Coverage” section. I don’t recall ever hearing Milwaukee recommended as a retirement hotspot, but ChatGPT’s summary made it sound appealing: “Affordable housing, vibrant arts, excellent healthcare, strong transit, and low taxes on Social Security.”
Checking the source — a recently published Investopedia article — confirmed those insights. As writer Brittany Brown put it: “Milwaukee County offers remarkably affordable housing compared to the national average. The median monthly housing cost in Milwaukee is $1,156, compared to the national average of $2,120.”
Brown also emphasized the area’s accessible and low-cost transit, strong healthcare systems and strong sense of community: “About 15% of Milwaukee residents are over the age of 65, with several adult and retirement communities throughout the metro area.”
Sebring, Florida
No list of retirement destinations would be complete without Florida. Since Sebring was new to me — and appeared in that “U.S. Gems” section — I decided to look into it.
Once again, ChatGPT pulled from a recent Investopedia piece, which increased my trust in its summary: “Quiet, lake-rich environment, moderate risk from natural disasters, no income/inheritance tax, below-average housing costs.”
In addition to a lower-than-average cost of living, Sebring also offers retirees a strong art, culture and history scene. And for speedsters, there’s the Sebring International Raceway.
My Takeaway
As you’ve likely noticed, I used ChatGPT as a foundation for my search for beautiful and safe retirement spots where I could live on $3,000 a month — mostly checking the sources it offered and doing my own research.
That approach seems wise, because ChatGPT sometimes doesn’t include the most up-to-date sourcing.
That said, it’s a great tool for brainstorming and generating ideas to investigate further. Good luck in your own research for retirement destinations!
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