Cheapest Cities to Retire in the US (2026)
Data-driven city rankings · 2026
Overview
Retirement is the ultimate test of cost-of-living math. Fixed incomes from Social Security, pensions, and investment withdrawals mean every dollar of cost savings directly extends how long your money lasts. The cities below combine low overall costs with reasonable healthcare indices, the two factors that matter most for retirees.
We filtered for cities where the overall index stays below 95 and the healthcare index remains below 105, ensuring that the savings are not offset by expensive medical care.
Ranking Criteria
Ranked by overall cost index with healthcare index cap of 105 and overall index cap of 95. This dual filter ensures affordability is genuine across both general living costs and the healthcare category that becomes increasingly important in retirement.
Top Cities
| # | City | Index | Rent | Home Price | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Smith, AR | 73 | $1,110/mo | $276,000 | $41,700 |
| 2 | Fishers, IN | 76 | $890/mo | $188,000 | $39,700 |
| 3 | Columbia, MO | 77 | $1,170/mo | $248,000 | $48,700 |
| 4 | Rockford, IL | 80 | $1,230/mo | $310,000 | $45,900 |
| 5 | Morgantown, WV | 80 | $1,380/mo | $300,000 | $43,100 |
| 6 | Akron, OH | 81 | $1,180/mo | $264,000 | $47,300 |
| 7 | Jackson, MS | 82 | $900/mo | $125,000 | $36,528 |
| 8 | Lubbock, TX | 83 | $950/mo | $175,000 | $49,834 |
| 9 | Brownsville, TX | 83 | $1,220/mo | $271,000 | $46,400 |
| 10 | Overland Park, KS | 83 | $1,220/mo | $274,000 | $55,300 |
| 11 | Fayetteville, AR | 83 | $1,080/mo | $254,000 | $46,000 |
| 12 | Gulfport, MS | 83 | $810/mo | $192,000 | $47,500 |
| 13 | Little Rock, AR | 84 | $950/mo | $170,000 | $47,638 |
| 14 | Memphis, TN | 84 | $1,000/mo | $155,000 | $41,228 |
| 15 | Wichita, KS | 84 | $900/mo | $165,000 | $52,428 |
| 16 | Springfield, MO | 84 | $1,090/mo | $236,000 | $48,800 |
| 17 | Mobile, AL | 84 | $1,390/mo | $308,000 | $42,900 |
| 18 | Hattiesburg, MS | 84 | $1,220/mo | $259,000 | $44,600 |
| 19 | Rapid City, SD | 84 | $1,210/mo | $275,000 | $46,800 |
| 20 | Charleston, WV | 85 | $850/mo | $135,000 | $42,034 |
City-by-City Breakdown
1. Fort Smith, AR (Index: 73)
Fort Smith sits 27% below the national average with a cost index of 73. Median rent runs $1,110/mo per month, and the median home price is $276,000. With a median household income of $41,700, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 92, which drives most of the overall cost in Fort Smith.
2. Fishers, IN (Index: 76)
Fishers sits 24% below the national average with a cost index of 76. Median rent runs $890/mo per month, and the median home price is $188,000. With a median household income of $39,700, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 65, which is the most affordable category in Fishers.
3. Columbia, MO (Index: 77)
Columbia sits 23% below the national average with a cost index of 77. Median rent runs $1,170/mo per month, and the median home price is $248,000. With a median household income of $48,700, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 72, which is the most affordable category in Columbia.
4. Rockford, IL (Index: 80)
Rockford sits 20% below the national average with a cost index of 80. Median rent runs $1,230/mo per month, and the median home price is $310,000. With a median household income of $45,900, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 90, which drives most of the overall cost in Rockford.
5. Morgantown, WV (Index: 80)
Morgantown sits 20% below the national average with a cost index of 80. Median rent runs $1,380/mo per month, and the median home price is $300,000. With a median household income of $43,100, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 97, which drives most of the overall cost in Morgantown.
6. Akron, OH (Index: 81)
Akron sits 19% below the national average with a cost index of 81. Median rent runs $1,180/mo per month, and the median home price is $264,000. With a median household income of $47,300, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 84, which drives most of the overall cost in Akron.
7. Jackson, MS (Index: 82)
Jackson sits 18% below the national average with a cost index of 82. Median rent runs $900/mo per month, and the median home price is $125,000. With a median household income of $36,528, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 56, which is the most affordable category in Jackson.
8. Lubbock, TX (Index: 83)
Lubbock sits 17% below the national average with a cost index of 83. Median rent runs $950/mo per month, and the median home price is $175,000. With a median household income of $49,834, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 59, which is the most affordable category in Lubbock.
9. Brownsville, TX (Index: 83)
Brownsville sits 17% below the national average with a cost index of 83. Median rent runs $1,220/mo per month, and the median home price is $271,000. With a median household income of $46,400, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 95, which drives most of the overall cost in Brownsville.
10. Overland Park, KS (Index: 83)
Overland Park sits 17% below the national average with a cost index of 83. Median rent runs $1,220/mo per month, and the median home price is $274,000. With a median household income of $55,300, the purchasing power here stretches further than in most metros. Housing is indexed at 90, which drives most of the overall cost in Overland Park.
How to Use This Data
When planning a retirement relocation, pay special attention to state income tax treatment of retirement income. Some states exempt Social Security benefits, pension income, or both from state income tax. Use our take-home pay calculator to model your specific retirement income sources, and compare the after-tax results between candidate cities. A city with a slightly higher cost index but no state income tax on retirement income may end up cheaper in practice.
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