With a new year comes a new age group of seniors ready to finally retire and enjoy their golden years. Before retiring in 2026, though, it pays to know the best places in America to settle down in terms of cost. Most retirees have to live off fixed incomes, and overspending on a too-high cost of living can greatly reduce the quality of your retirement.
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That’s why GOBankingRates recently culled information from U.S. News & World Report and BestPlaces to determine the 20 best American cities for retirement in 2026. From U.S. News, GOBankingRates sourced the top 20 cities, as well as their overall ranking amongst other American cities (U.S. rank) and their median monthly rent. From BestPlaces, GOBankingRates found where each city fell on the cost-of-living index. Any city indexed below 100 has a cost of living less than the national average; any city indexed above 100 has a cost of living greater than the national average.
From that matrix of information, you can see the 20 best places to retire in 2026. The cities span the entirety of America, but there are a few hotspot states. Six of the cities are in Florida, five are in Texas and three are in Michigan.
Curious about which city would work best with your retirement budget? Keep reading to find the right place for you.
1. Midland, Michigan
- Cost-of-living index: 85.7
- Median monthly rent: $790
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2. Weirton, West Virginia
- Cost-of-living index: 75.8
- Median monthly rent: $548
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3. Homosassa Springs, Florida
- Cost-of-living index: 87.8
- Median monthly rent: $863
4. The Woodlands, Texas
- Cost-of-living index: 100.1
- Median monthly rent: $1,449
5. Spring, Texas
- Cost-of-living index: 96.9
- Median monthly rent: $1,326
6. Rio Rancho, New Mexico
- Cost-of-living index: 94.9
- Median monthly rent: $1,198
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7. Spring Hill, Florida
- Cost-of-living index: 95.9
- Median monthly rent: $1,127
8. Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Cost-of-living index: 77.2
- Median monthly rent: $665
9. Palm Coast, Florida
- Cost-of-living index: 98.7
- Median monthly rent: $1,467
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10. Lynchburg, Virginia
- Cost-of-living index: 80.9
- Median monthly rent: $908
11. Bismarck, North Dakota
- Cost-of-living index: 95.2
- Median monthly rent: $873
12. Victoria, Texas
- Cost-of-living index: 83.4
- Median monthly rent: $968
13. Palm Harbor, Florida
- Cost-of-living index: 102.8
- Median monthly rent: $1,715
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14. Rochester Hills, Michigan
- Cost-of-living index: 104.9
- Median monthly rent: $1,293
15. Troy, Michigan
- Cost-of-living index: 104.9
- Median monthly rent: $1,292
16. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Cost-of-living index: 90.7
- Median monthly rent: $879
17. Pearland, Texas
- Cost-of-living index: 99.7
- Median monthly rent: $1,499
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18. Naples, Florida
- Cost-of-living index: 113
- Median monthly rent: $1,873
19. Pensacola, Florida
- Cost-of-living index: 89
- Median monthly rent: $1,188
20. Conroe, Texas
- Cost-of-living index: 100.1
- Median monthly rent: $1,295
Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 20 Best US Places To Retire in 2026 — 6 Are in Florida
