If you are thinking about retiring soon, or if you have already retired, there are many surprisingly affordable living options for seniors right here in the United States. You don’t have to retire as an expat in South America to be able to enjoy the finer things in life without the price of downtown San Francisco. Here are some affordable options where seniors can retire on the cheap enjoying all the amenities of the good old U. S. of A.
Ohio
Ohio is one of the country’s most populous states, and was home to America’s richest-ever man, John D. Rockefeller. Yet, Ohio today still has many affordable places to live. Bowling Green puts you outside the metropolitan Toledo area, yet still offers rentals as low as $650 a month. There are plenty of activities in Ohio’s numerous metropolises, or perhaps you might enjoy the many water activities available on Lake Erie. Check out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or the Cincinnati Zoo for a fun weekend activity.
Texas
Texas offers seniors a respite from harsh winter climates, with many towns and cities that have low costs of living. From the hustle and bustle of San Antonio, Houston and Dallas to the prairies and ranches of the old West, Texas has it all from mesquite style Bar-B-Que to very modern and progressive cities. There are a number of places in Texas where one can rent from $600-700 a month (and that’s no Texas-style Enron accounting snafu). If you are a political buff, you might enjoy museums associated with Ross Perot or the former president Bush; you can also pay your respects to JFK at the Memorial Plaza.
Florida
No list of places to retire in the United States would be complete without Florida. While South Beach and Miami can present some of the country’s most expensive beachfront living (and home to stars such as Matt Damon), there are many more affordable places to live in central Florida, especially near Orlando and Disneyland. A favorite for snowbirds from Canada and the upper Mid-West, there is so much affordable inventory in Florida that many people simply leave their second homes their empty for half of the year. You can definitely live in Florida for under $1,000 a month, making those fixed Social Security dollars go further without having to pay the expensive home heating costs of the states with harsh winter. Just be sure to watch out for gators.
Alabama
Some of the most affordable places to live are in Alabama. From beautiful Mobile to metropolitan Burmingham, Alabama is often overlooked. If you decide to “Roll Tide” into ‘Bama, you could land a one bedroom apartment for cheaper than most any other state in the Union. Quick searches reveal you could choose from inland to the coast while keeping your costs in this very reasonable price range.
Massachusetts
Boston is one of the country’s most expensive cities, so you might be surprised to see this New England state make the list. But, Massachusetts is home to many formal mill communities and towns once you get out of Boston, making this tony state a surprisingly affordable place to live. From small cities like that of Worcester to other small towns in the Berkshires, there are a great number of rentals in Massachusetts available in the $800 to $1,000 a month price range.
Conclusion
Retiring in the United States doesn’t have to break the bank. While your Social Security dollars certainly go farther if you decide to retire abroad, you will be further away from friends and family, and you may have to learn a second language. If you know where and how to look, you can find an amazing deal online, using the internet.