Plan Your Retirement Elsewhere
When you picture retirement, it’s easy to get swept away by the fantasy of sun, fun and beauty. But not every perfect-looking city lives up to the hype - especially once you're actually living there full-time. This guide will inform you which popular retirement destinations aren’t what they’re cracked up to be.
Miami, Florida
Miami sounds like a retiree’s paradise - sun, sand, and lots of other elderly people to hang out with. But the reality? It’s expensive, crowded, and the traffic is downright maddening. Add in hurricane threats and high insurance costs, and you might start wondering if beach life is really what you need.
Aspen, Colorado
Aspen is certainly picturesque, but it’s not actually as practical or affordable as you might think. It has a sky-high cost of living, especially when it comes to housing. Winters are brutally cold, and some people complain that wealthier people are gentrifying the area.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Everyone loves the idea of Hawaii, but daily life in Honolulu isn’t all palm trees and sunsets. It’s incredibly expensive, isolated from the mainland, and healthcare access can be limited depending on your needs. It's a great place to visit, but a tough place to actually live.
Las Vegas, Nevada
The entertainment capital of America might seem like fun in retirement, but constant noise, traffic, and tourist crowds get old fast. Summers are scorching, and water shortages are a real concern. Plus, the gambling scene can be risky if you're not careful. Definitely do not even consider moving here if you have an addictive personality.
New York, New York
The Big Apple isn’t the best for an elderly person. NYC’s cost of living is through the roof, and the traffic is crazy. It’s tough to navigate with limited mobility, and space is a luxury most retirees don’t get. You’ll find better peace and value elsewhere.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Sure, it’s popular and has gorgeous desert scenery, but beauty is only skin deep in Santa Fe. Housing prices have soared, and healthcare access isn’t always great. The dry climate can be tough on joints and skin, too. Many report that living there on a retirement budget is harder than it looks.
San Francisco, California
Retiring in the Bay Area might sound glamorous - views, food, culture - but it's one of the most expensive places in the country. Add in steep hills, constant traffic, and a (unsurprising) growing homeless crisis, and the reality doesn’t match the postcard image.
Charleston, South Carolina
People are drawn to here because of its beautiful architecture, historic charm, and Southern hospitality… and then they’re full of regret once hurricane season rolls around. Flooding is a major issue, and insurance costs reflect that. The humidity can be a problem as well. Basically, the weather makes this place a no-go.
Sedona, Arizona
Red rocks and clear skies are great for a weekend getaway, but year-round living here? Not ideal for most retirees. Housing is expensive, tourist crowds are constant, and healthcare options are limited. It’s that last issue which leads to the most regrets.
Anchorage, Alaska
Nature lovers might dream of a quiet retirement surrounded by open wilderness, but Anchorage also brings its citizens long dark winters, lots of isolation, and limited healthcare access. It’s beautiful, yes -but it’s also difficult and very expensive due to shipping costs and utilities.
Los Angeles, California
Who wouldn’t want to live in Hollywood? Well… quite a lot of people it turns out. The day-to-day reality of LA includes sky-high prices, traffic nightmares, and poor air quality. It’s not exactly the peaceful retirement of celebrity-spotting that many envision.
New Orleans, Louisiana
The music, the food, and the history of New Orleans are all big selling points. But retire here, and you’re dealing with serious downsides: hurricanes, high crime, and infrastructure that’s always one big storm away from chaos. Healthcare access isn’t great either.
Palm Springs, California
It markets itself as a retiree paradise, but Palm Springs can be brutally hot – hot enough to put elderly people in hospital, in fact. Water scarcity and rising living costs are also becoming major concerns. Plus, the area can feel isolating if you’re not, well, rich.
Portland, Oregon
If you love quirky charm, friendly people and rainy weather, Portland might appeal - until you look at housing prices, rising crime, and persistent homelessness issues. The climate can wear on you after a while, and taxes are higher than many expect.
Key West, Florida
It sounds like the ultimate island retirement, but Key West is tiny, expensive, and vulnerable to hurricanes. Healthcare options are limited, and the party atmosphere may not be what you're looking for in your golden years. Leave this one to the younger crowd.
Boulder, Colorado
Another one best left to the young ones is Boulder. This college town with mountain views is undeniably beautiful - but it comes with a jaw-dropping cost of living and housing is particularly pricey. It’s not exactly tax-friendly for retirees, either.
Washington, D. C.
The museums and monuments are amazing, but living in D.C. can be exhausting. It’s crowded, expensive, and full of traffic that affects the quality of the air. Taxes and healthcare are also more complex than in quieter regions.
Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada
Gorgeous lake, beautiful mountains - what’s not to love? Well, the prices, for starters. Plus, winters are harsh, traffic is intense, and wildfire risks are growing. Tourism drives much of the local economy, which can make it feel like you’re living in a resort town rather than a real community.
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago has famously great food and stunning architecture, but the crime rate and cold winters can make retirement here feel less than ideal. Property taxes are high, and urban living gets harder as mobility becomes an issue. Plus, let’s not forget the other thing Chicago is famous for – crime.
Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
No, you won’t get eaten by the shark from Jaws here, it’s just insanely expensive. What most folks don’t realize is that the island essentially shuts down in the off-season. That means services are limited, and healthcare requires off-island trips for anything serious.
Napa, California
California never really lives up to the hype. If you love wine, Napa sounds ideal - but the cost of living is outrageous, housing is in short supply, and wildfires are a growing threat. And tourists flood the area almost year-round, which can get frustrating fast.
Seattle, Washington
It’s famous for tech, good to the environment, and has great healthcare - but it rains. A lot. The gray skies can wear on you, especially since you’re paying a lot of money to live under them. Throw in traffic, high housing prices, and rising crime plus homelessness, and it starts to lose appeal.
Provincetown, Massachusetts
This artsy beach town on Cape Cod is lovely during the summer - but brutally quiet (and chilly) in the off-season. Costs are high, especially for housing and groceries, and getting off the Cape in winter can be a hassle. Unless you truly love solitude, it’s probably not for you.
Scottsdale, Arizona
This place promises golf courses, spas, and sunshine - but also health-threatening heat for months and rising housing costs. Water scarcity is becoming a serious concern, and the area has grown so quickly that traffic and sprawl are starting to ruin it in the eyes of many.
Vail, Colorado
If skiing every day sounds great in theory, just know Vail is built for tourists and second-homeowners - not retirees on a budget. The cost of living is sky-high, winters are intense, and healthcare access is limited. Stick to coming here on vacation.
San Diego, California
San Diego has perfect weather and ocean breezes - but jaw-droppingly high home prices and taxes. San Diego is consistently ranked as one of the most expensive places to live, and retirees often find their money doesn’t stretch anywhere near far enough.
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is quaint and peaceful, sure - but winters are snow joke. (Sorry.) Freezing tempatures, ice, and long stretches of gray skies can take a toll on elderly people. It’s also not cheap, and healthcare access can be limited depending on your needs.
Cape May, New Jersey
People love to visit Cape May. It’s a beautiful beach town with Victorian charm - but it’s expensive, crowded in summer, and far too quiet in the off-season. Medical care options are limited without traveling inland, and that’s not what you need when you’re elderly.
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is charming from the outside, but retirees often find the summers oppressive - humid, buggy, and brutally hot. Plus, flooding bad enough to destroy houses is a growing issue, and while the cost of living isn’t outrageous, healthcare access isn't exactly great.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
The mountain views here are spectacular - but the housing market is out of reach for most people. Wealthy folks coming to the area have driven prices sky-high, and not only that, but the town’s remote location makes healthcare and basic errands harder than they should be.
Montauk, New York
A favorite New York getaway for many, but retirement here isn’t what you might think. Prices are very high, especially during tourist season, and winters are isolating. The off-season feels like a ghost town, and healthcare access is minimal unless you’re willing to drive far.
Breckenridge, Colorado
Another mountain town that looks like a dream - but actually living here means dealing with long winters, altitude issues, and high costs. The local economy is built around tourism, not retirees, and healthcare is limited. Breckenridge is stunning, but it's not the most practical choice really.
Outer Banks, North Carolina
It’s quiet, scenic, and peaceful… until hurricane season rolls in. These barrier islands are vulnerable to storm damage and flooding, and services can be sparse outside the peak summer months. Healthcare is limited and groceries are more expensive than you might think.
Austin, Texas
Though it was once known for being affordable, Austin has exploded recently in terms of prices. Housing is expensive, traffic is awful, and summers are brutally hot. It’s still a great place for music and food, but it’s not the relaxed and budget-friendly city it used to be. For many retirees, it's just too much.
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
A tropical retirement in a US territory sounds amazing - but the reality is very different. It includes high costs, unreliable infrastructure, and limited healthcare. Getting back to the mainland in an emergency isn’t quick or easy, either. Best avoid.
