10 Arizona Cities Where You Can Actually Live on Nothing but Social Security

Florida has a reputation as one of the most popular retirement destinations for retirees who love the sun. But the Sunshine State isn’t the only place where seniors with budget-conscious retirement plans can enjoy good weather year round. Arizona is another popular (and sunny) retirement destination, especially for seniors who want to enjoy the low property taxes and affordable homeowners insurance — something they won’t find in Florida.

If you’re looking for affordable Grand Canyon State cities where you can maximize your retirement savings, keep reading. We have put together a list of 10 cities where seniors relying largely on Social Security benefits — an amount that averaged $1,907 per month as of January 2024 — can make ends meet while enjoying a stress-free retirement.

Unless noted otherwise, all information on apartment rentals came from Apartments.com and all home pricing data came from Redfin. Numbers are based on data from November 2024 (Apartments.com) and October 2024 (Redfin).

Average rent: $943 per month

Median home sale price: $310,050

Thanks to the Wild West classic 3:10 to Yuma, this small city in Arizona’s southwest corner has a reputation as a sunny high desert town.

But along with beautiful desert landscapes, Yuma’s location along the Colorado River means it’s also a great spot for anyone who loves gorgeous riverside views. Residents can also enjoy low-impact, low-cost activities like kayaking, swimming, and fishing — activities which are accessible year-round thanks to Yuma’s sunny weather.

Average rent: $1,012 per month

Median home sale price: $325,000

If you want to live in a bigger city without dealing with Phoenix’s higher prices, Tucson could be a good fit.

At just over $1,000 per month, rent still leaves retirees with around $900 for necessary expenses like healthcare. Ideally, you’ll also have some money left over to enjoy Tucson’s incredible food scene when you’re done, since the city’s 5,000-year history of excellent food earned it a prestigious designation as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2015.

Average rent: $1,105 per month

Median home sale price: $300,000

Although Coolidge’s average rent is just above Tucson’s, you’ll get more bang for your buck in the smaller city since the average apartment size is 702 square feet (compared to Tucson’s average of 595 square feet).

Plus, Coolidge is positioned halfway between Phoenix and Tucson, so you can travel to bigger cities while enjoying a much lower cost of living.

Average rent: $1,046 per month

Median home sale price: $313,500

If you’re interested in a quieter retirement away from the big city, Kingman is a scenic and affordable choice. As a crucial city along Route 66, Kingman has a rich history with plenty of museums to explore.

And if big city life calls you for a weekend, Las Vegas is just an hour and a half away.

Average rent: $1,233 per month

Median home sale price: $425,000

Glendale’s median home price is higher than most other cities on our list, but for a suburb just outside of Phoenix, the price is pretty hard to beat.

The city is near Camelback Mountain and other popular outdoor destinations, like Lake Pleasant. That may make it easier to find affordable things for active seniors to do in their downtime, like taking advantage of affordable Phoenix-area golf courses.

Average rent: $731 per month

Median home sale price: $442,035

Located northeast of Prescott, Clarkdale is a small desert town nestled in Arizona’s distinctive red rock desert.

While the median home price remains high in Clarkdale, prices have gone down more than 18% over the last year, which could be an encouraging sign for individuals planning on retirement homeownership in a few years.

Average rent: $609 per month

Median home sale price: $485,000

If you like Arizona’s sun but don’t want to give up on your dream of enjoying retirement along a waterfront, consider this city right along Lake Havasu. From boating and fishing to hot air balloon festivals, Lake Havasu City offers plenty of opportunities for low-cost outdoor fun.

Average rent: $454 per month

Median home sale price: $303,000

Nogales is located in southern Arizona near the Mexican border.

With stunning Mexican food on either side of the border — which you can cross toll-free — no city property taxes, and generally low utility rates, Nogales is one of the most affordable and culturally rich cities in Arizona for fixed-income households.

Average rent: $622 per month

Median home sale price: $406,000

Camp Verde’s central Arizona location means it’s about an hour away from Phoenix, Prescott, and Flagstaff.

But if you relocate to this small town along the Verde River, you might not have much occasion to leave — the beautiful free-flowing river, intriguing archeological sites, and several dozen hiking trails should keep you occupied without taking a toll on your budget.

Average rent: $457 per month

Median home sale price: $345,000*

*Price taken from Realtor.com based on data from October 2024.

If you want to enjoy clear skies without saying goodbye to snow for good, the mountain town of Springerville might be exactly what you’re looking for. Thanks to its high elevation, Springerville actually has all four seasons and it’s located just 30 minutes away from the Sunrise Ski Park.

Part of setting yourself up for retirement means finding a retirement location you genuinely love where your retirement savings will stretch as far as possible.

If you love cloudless skies but hate the high property taxes and astronomical homeowners insurance like what you’d pay for in Florida, one of these Arizona towns could be the perfect place to enjoy your golden years.