7 'Affordable' Cities for Retirees With Surprisingly Steep Transportation Costs

Depending on where in the country you established your career, the best way to maximize your senior benefits could be relocating to a city where your dollar stretches as far as possible. But the housing market isn't the only thing you need to consider when calculating costs, especially now that gas prices are the highest they've been in years. Cities with poor transit networks and high gas prices might have been manageable a few years ago, but they'll take a major toll on your budget today.

If you're contemplating retirement while struggling to keep up with rising transportation costs, keep reading. We'll cover popular retirement cities that this year's energy costs might make less appealing to budget-conscious seniors.

Editor's note: Unless otherwise noted, median and average monthly housing costs were calculated by FinanceBuzz.

Birmingham, Alabama

Average rent: $1,296.04

Median home price: $189,800

The American South is a popular retirement destination, in part because its housing prices are notoriously low compared to the East and West Coasts. Birmingham's mild winters, lush greenery, and mouth-watering food likely appeal to many seniors, but Alabamians consume the most gas per person in the country.

Birmingham's public transit is notoriously dysfunctional, and it's unlikely to improve as long as Alabama remains the only state that doesn't fund public transit.

Fresno, California

Average rent: $1,694.66

Median home price: $396,300

Fresno is one of the cheapest California retirement spots, but its public transit system makes it hard to get around without a car. Since California currently has some of the highest gas prices in the nation, you'll be paying a pretty penny just to get stuck in traffic while driving around the county.

Atlanta, Georgia

Average rent: $1,883.83

Median home price: $462,200

Atlantans who don't want to deal with big-city traffic rely on the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority's, or MARTA's, buses and subways to get around. Unfortunately, the system doesn't seem to save either residents or visitors much time or money: 81% of Atlantans commute via car, with only 2% of workers accessing MARTA's services, according to a study by Clever. Since the city is home to the world's busiest airport, the lack of good public transit is a problem, especially when it comes to getting out of the city for a beachside weekend getaway.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Average rent: $1,693.11

Median home price: $368,300

Minneapolis' affordable rent, good job opportunities for working seniors, and excellent access to health care mean it's growing in popularity as a top retirement destination. But while Minneapolis has a public transit structure in place, 81% of people in the Twin Cities area still primarily rely on cars to get around, citing greater convenience, time, and reliability, according to Move Minnesota. That said, the city recently conducted surveys aimed at understanding what residents want in their public transit, so Minneapolis could become a more transit-friendly city over the next decade.

Jacksonville, Florida

Average rent: $1,565.76

Median home price: $325,300

Florida is a dream retirement for sun- and sea-loving seniors. But high home insurance costs, dangerous weather, and, in cities like Jacksonville, poor public transit with high gas costs are keeping retirees away.

Most recently, Jacksonville invested millions into a Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation (NAVI) system where residents could hitch a ride on small, communal, self-driving vehicles, according to Jacksonville Today. So far, the system is clunky, costly, and difficult to navigate, doing next to nothing to improve Jacksonville's already notoriously bad traffic (and worse walkability).

Charlotte, North Carolina

Average rent: $1,698.92

Median home price: $431,900

Charlotte's mild climate makes it a good pick for health-conscious, outdoor-loving retirees who don't want to spend their winters indoors. Unfortunately, while the city has good parks with walking opportunities, it's one of the least walkable big cities in the country (in fact, the only one rated lower is Jacksonville).

The city was built when neighborhoods and streets were intentionally disconnected from each other, which makes updating the area's public transit tricky.

That said, the Cross Charlotte Trail project aims to add a 30-mile green trail that would put walking and biking opportunities within reach for 140,000 Charlotte residents in the coming years.

San Antonio, Texas

Average rent: $1,333.88

Median home price: $260,900

San Antonio is a history lover's dream: it's home not just to the Alamo, but also to several old Spanish missions designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. However, you'll have to drive yourself to most of these locales, as walking is impractical thanks to unkempt sidewalks and sweltering summer heat, and only 16% of San Antonio residents live close enough to public transit to catch the bus, according to the San Antonio Current.

Bottom line

Gas and travel are two of the first things to cut when living on retirement, especially when gas prices are this high, and you're trying hard to pinch every penny. It may feel like a bitter pill to swallow, but if you're worried about affording travel after moving, it might be worth staying in place a little longer to keep your retirement dollars firmly in your wallet.

But the good news about city roads and gas prices is that both change: cities could decide to expand their transportation systems, electric cars could become more affordable, and gas prices could continue to trend downward. Just because transportation costs are keeping you from moving to your dream retirement city now doesn't mean they always will.