Retired in America

Your Guide to a Confident Retirement

  • Home
  • Personal finance
  • Retirement Life
  • Saving & Spending

12 Most Affordable U.S. Cities Where You’ll Really Want to Retire

March 10, 2021 · Retirement Life
Steep streets and expensive Victorian homes in San Francisco.
San Francisco’s steep, foggy streets and Victorian homes offer iconic views that come with high retirement costs.

Don’t retire in San Francisco

If you want to live your retirement years admiring the Golden Gate Bridge, make sure your retirement budget can live up to the challenge of living in San Francisco. That’s because senior citizens usually spend an average of $150,000 a year on annual expenditures. In addition, the median list price of $1.25 million is as eye-popping as it can be, and definitely not for anyone’s budget, Golden Bridge or not.

A senior couple shopping at a sunny local farmers market.
A smiling senior couple holds hands while exploring a sunlit farmers market filled with fresh, colorful produce.

Instead, opt for Sacramento, California

A much more affordable option lies just inland of San Francisco and offers people aged 65 and older much more reasonable costs, whether it’s living or housing costs. The median list price in Sacramento is $312,000, less than a quarter of the one in San Francisco. Not only that but the average senior expenditure $63,413.76 a year, which gives you plenty of room to save. If you need more incentives, just know that Sacramento is the home of a famous restaurant that contributed to Sacramento winning the title of America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital.

Check out: Retiring Soon? Here’s How To Find the Perfect Home in Retirement

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Latest Posts

  • A senior woman looking thoughtfully at her phone in a bright, modern home office. 6 Social Security Scams You Need to Pay Attention to
  • A happy retired couple enjoying the sunset on a beautiful porch. 8 States to Retire For Less Than 45K a Year
  • A retired couple looking at a map on a sunny balcony overlooking a beautiful coastal town. 10 Countries to Retire Where $150K Is More Than Enough
  • A happy retiree working on a laptop on a sunny patio, symbolizing flexible part-time work. 20 Great Part-Time Jobs For Retirees
  • A senior couple smiling while looking at a tablet in a bright, modern kitchen. 5 Crucial Medicare Changes Coming Soon
  • A senior couple happily unpacking groceries in a bright, modern kitchen. 9 Ways to Shop at Costco Without a Membership
  • A happy retired couple stands on the porch of a beautiful, sunny home, symbolizing an affordable and joyful retirement. 10 Best Places to Retire That Won't Break the Bank
  • An older man confidently using a laptop in a sunlit home office, symbolizing digital security. 7 Common Passwords To Avoid
  • A retired couple looking out a window in their bright, downsized modern home. 11 Mistakes to Avoid When Downsizing Your Home
  • A retired couple smiling on a balcony overlooking a scenic coastal village at sunset. 12 Best Countries to Live Perfectly Well on Social Security

Newsletter

Get retirement planning tips, savings strategies, and lifestyle insights delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

11 Smart Ways to Save $1 Million for Retirement on a $50K Salary

Save Your Tax Refund If you’re the lucky recipient of a big tax refund, a…

Read More →
A happy senior couple walks through a sunny town square, symbolizing a comfortable and affordable retirement.

These 23 Budget Cities Help Seniors to Retire With $1500/Month

Discover the 23 most affordable retirement cities in the US where seniors can live comfortably…

Read More →

Mistakes That Can Sabotage Your Retirement

Sometimes, all it takes is one mistake to sabotage your retirement. In some cases, seniors…

Read More →

Does Your Employer Want You to Retire? Here Are 15 Ways to Tell!

Your Supervisor Becomes More Hands-On While some bosses might stoop down to making rude comments…

Read More →

9 Social Security Secrets to Maximize Your Benefits in Retirement

A smiling senior couple reviews a map, enjoying the financial freedom that minimized retirement taxes…

Read More →

10 Crucial Things to Consider If You Plan on Retiring in the Next 5 Years

How well-prepared is your nest egg? You might have heard it before. As you get…

Read More →

13 Truths About Retirement No One Wants To Talk About

Your golden years may come with some unexpected issues if you haven’t managed to plan…

Read More →
A happy retiree working on a laptop on a sunny patio, symbolizing flexible part-time work.

20 Great Part-Time Jobs For Retirees

Explore 20 great part-time jobs for retirees, from remote consulting to outdoor work, and learn…

Read More →

25 Tips to Save 20% for Your Retirement with No Effort

7. Decrease Fixed Expenses We often think of our expenses as being part of two…

Read More →
Retired in America

Your Guide to a Confident Retirement

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@retiredinamerica.com

Trust & Legal

About Us

Editorial Policy

Advertiser Disclosure

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us

Disclaimer

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

Subscribe

Unsubscribe

Categories

  • Personal finance
  • Retirement Life
  • Saving & Spending

© 2026 Retired in America. All rights reserved.