generic 22 US Cities Where You Can Retire on $5,000 a Month
One of the most common worries people have when approaching retirement is whether they’ll have enough to retire comfortably, especially with many people living longer. Kiplinger calls this the longevity risk; the life expectancy for American men has increased more than 15 years since 1950. For women, the increase is nearly 15 years.
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That presents a challenge for soon-to-be retirees who will likely earn less after leaving the workforce. To add to this problem, many people fall victim to lifestyle inflation as their earnings increase, and it can be difficult to reverse that trend. However, keeping your expenses under control is key to having a financially secure retirement. So, how do you make that happen? The answer will inevitably vary depending upon your own expenses. In other words, we all spend different amounts on different things; some prefer only buying organic produce or luxury vehicles. In general, though, some cities are better than others in terms of affordability. Thus, this list will take a look at some of the winners by total monthly expenditures.
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First, we’ll take a look at U.S. averages and then go from the highest total monthly expenses to the lowest total monthly expenses. The list will also break down the cost by rent, groceries, healthcare and transportation. These are the biggest costs for most Americans; thus, they are the most important categories to consider.
US Averages
Monthly expenditures: $2,183.00
2020 Average 1 bedroom rent: $1,277.00
% of population 65 and older: 16.5%
Annual grocery cost: $4,204
Monthly grocery cost: $350.33
Annual healthcare cost: $6,668
Monthly healthcare cost: $555.67
22. Walnut Creek, California
Monthly expenditures: $3,076
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $2,077
% of population 65 and older: 29.6%
Livability: 78
Annual grocery cost: $4,708.48
Monthly grocery cost: $392.37
Annual healthcare cost: $7,288.12
Monthly healthcare cost: $607.34
21. Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Monthly expenditures: $3,048
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $2,120
% of population 65 and older: 29.9%
Livability: 81
Annual grocery cost: $4,594.97
Monthly grocery cost: $382.91
Annual healthcare cost: $6,541.31
Monthly healthcare cost: $545.11
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20. Aventura, Florida
Monthly expenditures: $2,901
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,972
% of population 65 and older:28.8%
Livability: 72
Annual grocery cost: $4,557.14
Monthly grocery cost: $379.76
Annual healthcare cost: $6,587.98
Monthly healthcare cost: $549.00
19. Boca Raton, Florida
Monthly expenditures: $2,850
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,919
% of population 65 and older: 26.8%
Livability: 80
Annual grocery cost: $4,632.81
Monthly grocery cost: $386.07
Annual healthcare cost: $6,541.31
Monthly healthcare cost: $545.11
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18. Beachwood, Ohio
Monthly expenditures: $2,628
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,813
% of population 65 and older: 32.4%
Livability: 84
Annual grocery cost: $4,288.08
Monthly grocery cost: $357.34
Annual healthcare cost: $5,494.43
Monthly healthcare cost: $457.87
17. Delray Beach, Florida
Monthly expenditures: $2,561
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,645
% of population 65 and older: 26%
Livability: 71
Annual grocery cost: $4,452.04
Monthly grocery cost: $371.00
Annual healthcare cost: $6,541.31
Monthly healthcare cost: $545.11
16. Naples, Florida
Monthly expenditures: $2,543
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,572
% of population 65 and older: 52.5%
Livability: 78
Annual grocery cost: $4,918.68
Monthly grocery cost: $409.89
Annual healthcare cost: $6,734.68
Monthly healthcare cost: $561.22
15. Palm Harbor, Florida
Monthly expenditures: $2,533
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,598
% of population 65 and older: 28.4%
Livability: 85
Annual grocery cost: $4,460.44
Monthly grocery cost: $371.70
Annual healthcare cost: $6,761.35
Monthly healthcare cost: $563.45
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14. Bonita Springs, Florida
Monthly expenditures: $2,516
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,488
% of population 65 and older: 41.8%
Livability: 80
Annual grocery cost: $4,519.30
Monthly grocery cost: $376.61
Annual healthcare cost: $7,821.56
Monthly healthcare cost: $651.80
13. Wilton Manors, Florida
Monthly expenditures: $2,435
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,520
% of population 65 and older: 25.1%
Livability: 71
Annual grocery cost: $4,527.71
Monthly grocery cost: $377.31
Annual healthcare cost: $6,454.62
Monthly healthcare cost: $537.89
12. Tamarac, Florida
Monthly expenditures: $2,248
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,347
% of population 65 and older: 25.6%
Livability: 79
Annual grocery cost: $4,359.55
Monthly grocery cost: $363.30
Annual healthcare cost: $6,454.62
Monthly healthcare cost: $537.89
11. Fairview, Texas
Monthly expenditures: $2,227
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,337
% of population 65 and older: 27.8%
Livability: 78
Annual grocery cost: $4,258.65
Monthly grocery cost: $354.89
Annual healthcare cost: $6,427.95
Monthly healthcare cost: $535.66
10. Bradenton, Florida
Monthly expenditures: $2,207
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,329
% of population 65 and older: 25.4%
Livability: 72
Annual grocery cost: $4,363.75
Monthly grocery cost: $363.65
Annual healthcare cost: $6,174.57
Monthly healthcare cost: $514.55
9. Largo, Florida
Monthly expenditures: $2,156
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,227
% of population 65 and older: 25.9%
Livability: 82
Annual grocery cost: $4,388.98
Monthly grocery cost: $365.75
Annual healthcare cost: $6,761.35
Monthly healthcare cost: $563.45
8. Sarasota, Florida
Monthly expenditures: $2,138
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,222
% of population 65 and older: 27.3%
Livability: 71
Annual grocery cost: $4,477.26
Monthly grocery cost: $373.11
Annual healthcare cost: $6,507.97
Monthly healthcare cost: $542.33
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7. Estero, Florida
Monthly expenditures: $2,132
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,105
% of population 65 and older: 48.2%
Livability: 84
Annual grocery cost: $4,502.48
Monthly grocery cost: $375.21
Annual healthcare cost: $7,821.56
Monthly healthcare cost: $651.80
6. Dunedin, Florida
Monthly expenditures: $2,108
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,175
% of population 65 and older: 32.6%
Livability: 88
Annual grocery cost: $4,431.02
Monthly grocery cost: $369.25
Annual healthcare cost: $6,761.35
Monthly healthcare cost: $563.45
5. Oro Valley, Arizona
Monthly expenditures: $2,065
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,268
% of population 65 and older: 33.9%
Livability: 83
Annual grocery cost: $4,132.53
Monthly grocery cost: $344.38
Annual healthcare cost: $5,434.42
Monthly healthcare cost: $452.87
4. Georgetown, Texas
Monthly expenditures: $1,979
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,131
% of population 65 and older: 29.1%
Livability: 87
Annual grocery cost: $3,998.00
Monthly grocery cost: $333.17
Annual healthcare cost: $6,181.24
Monthly healthcare cost: $515.10
3. Palm Coast, Florida
Monthly expenditures: $1,974
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,071
% of population 65 and older: 28.2%
Livability: 73
Annual grocery cost: $4,233.43
Monthly grocery cost: $352.79
Annual healthcare cost: $6,601.32
Monthly healthcare cost: $550.11
2. Catalina Foothills, Arizona
Monthly expenditures: $1,888
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $1,079
% of population 65 and older: 31.5%
Livability: 77
Annual grocery cost: $4,275.47
Monthly grocery cost: $356.29
Annual healthcare cost: $5,434.42
Monthly healthcare cost: $452.87
1. Winter Haven, Florida
Monthly expenditures: $1,838
2020 average 1 bedroom rent: $943
% of population 65 and older: 25.3
Livability: 77
Annual grocery cost: $4,313.30
Monthly grocery cost: $359.44
Annual healthcare cost: $6,427.95
Monthly healthcare cost: $535.66
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Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates found the best cities to retire on a budget of $5,000 dollars or less. GOBankingRates used ApartmentList October 2021 data to find every city in the U.S. that has an (1) average 2021 monthly rent of $2,500 dollars or less for a 1 bedroom apartment. GOBankingRates then used Sperling’s Best to find the cost of living index for every city on the list, looking at (2) grocery and (3) healthcare index scores. Next, GOBankingRates used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2020 Consumer Expenditure Survey to find the annual expenditure amount for both grocery (“food at home”) and healthcare costs for people aged 65 and older in order to find how much a person 65 and over would spend on groceries and healthcare in each city on a monthly basis. GOBankingRates then added monthly housing, grocery and healthcare costs together to find where a person 65 and older could survive on $5,000 or less. In order for a city to be qualified for the study, it had to have a livability score of 65 or higher as sourced from AreaVibes and its population had to be 25% or more over the age of 65 according to the Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. All data was collected on and up to date as of November 15, 2021.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 22 US Cities Where You Can Retire on $5,000 a Month
