3 Cities To Retire In That Are as Awesome as Honolulu and San Francisco But Way Cheaper
Written by
Jami Farkas
Edited by
Maria Concepcion
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We can dream of having it all in retirement. Warm weather, a place with arts, culture and pro sports. Time at the beach with a cool drink in hand, followed by an evening of great food.
Cities like Honolulu and San Francisco might fit the bill. But not your finances. After all, according to Sperling’s Best Places, living in Honolulu costs 71.5% more than the national average. And in San Francisco, it’s 145.5% higher.
So where can you retire so you’ll enjoy great weather, beautiful scenery and plenty to do? Consider these three locations.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
What isn’t to love about Myrtle Beach, where retirees can enjoy the beaches – and plenty of golf at more than 90 championship courses – at an affordable price? Best Places puts Myrtle Beach at 90.4 in the cost of living, nearly 10% below the national average.
A city of about 40,000, Myrtle Beach is a vacation destination. While you might find more traffic during the high tourist season, you’ll enjoy the benefits, too. Myrtle Beach has plenty of restaurants to keep the tourists – and retirees – fed, as well as a calendar full of activities and entertainment.
Tucson, Arizona
If the beach isn’t your thing, maybe a desert state is, and the cost of living in Tucson comes in at 3% below the national average at 97, per Best Places. Living in Tucson gives you city life – about 550,000 residents – and everything it offers, starting with great food. The city, after all, has claimed the title of America’s Best Mexican Food and was named the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy.
To burn off some of those calories, there’s golf, of course, as well as hiking or walking through some of the area’s historic sites and museums.
Sarasota, Florida
Head south to Sarasota, where the cost of living is 5.3% above the national average, according to Best Places.
Sarasota, on Florida’s Gulf Coast, has a beach and a thriving arts scene, with spots for fine dining. Sports fans will enjoy baseball in Sarasota, the spring training home of the Baltimore Orioles. With a population of about 58,000, Sarasota isn’t too big. Plus, with almost 30% of the residents being 65 and older, retirees shouldn’t have trouble finding activities for the senior set.
At the same time, with more young professionals settling in Sarasota, there will still be a vibe to keep you young.
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