9 Cities With Affordable Housing and Great Healthcare (#5 Is the Dream)

Even if you don't currently need intensive medical care, you're likely to need more constant healthcare monitoring as you age. With that in mind, planning ahead to live in an affordable, senior-friendly city with easy access to high-quality healthcare is a great way to stretch your retirement dollars further.

If you're interested in relocating to a budget-friendly city with a solid hospital network, the nine cities we list below are a great place to start.

All cost of living data pulled from Salary.com unless otherwise noted.

Looking for an outdoor-friendly town where everything is cheaper, not just healthcare costs? According to data from Zillow, rent in the Billings suburb of Laurel is nearly 20% lower than the U.S. average. The city's healthcare costs are also 7.9% lower than average. 

Best of all, Laurel gives you a quieter suburban life without cutting you off from access to the Billings Clinic, which is a Mayo Clinic network member.

New York City's Mount Sinai hospital is one of the highest-ranked hospitals in the United States, but the cost of living puts NYC well out of budget for many seniors. Fortunately, Mount Sinai partners with hospitals and clinics in cheaper cities across the region, including the Valley Health System based in Ridgewood.

Along with its below-average housing costs and secure hospital access, Ridgewood's historic buildings, museums, and gardens give retirees plenty of opportunities to rest and relax.

The Midwest is known for its low housing prices and below-average cost of living. While urban hubs like Cleveland can be a little pricier, suburbs like University Heights are cheaper, but still close enough to ensure you can access life-saving care at the Cleveland Clinic.

University Heights' cost of living is 17% below the American average, according to BestPlaces. You can enjoy the suburb's low food, housing, and healthcare costs during your everyday life and go into the city for cultural events and fine dining on the weekend.

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With an average rent of $975 per month, according to Zillow, Weston's housing market should appeal to seniors living on a fixed income. The small village is also near multiple ThedaCare clinics, such as a physicians office in Tigerton, which are in turn part of the wider Mayo Clinic network.

In your spare time, you can visit the state's second-biggest bowling alley, enjoy nearby hiking trails, or swing by the regional farmer's market.

Retiring to Florida is a dream for many seniors, but the state's high cost of living can be a deterrent unless you settle in a lower-cost city like Titusville. Even though it's located on the coast just a few miles away from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Titusville's healthcare costs are 21.2% below average while its food costs are 14.6% lower.

In 2024, Titusville's Parrish Medical Center became the first U.S.-based Cleveland Clinic Connected Member, giving local patients access to the world-class hospital's expertise and services.

Louisiana's capital city has 300 years worth of rich, colorful history. Along with perks like stellar southern food, a unique music scene, and dozens of parks, Baton Rouge's healthcare costs are nearly 17% lower than the national average while its housing costs come in at 4.4% lower than average.

High-quality healthcare is available at the Baton Rouge Clinic AMC, a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member.

According to Newsweek, the hospital at the University of Pennsylvania is one of the top 15 best hospitals in the world. Although healthcare costs in Philadelphia's suburb New Berlinville are just 1.2% below average, its housing costs are 18.8% lower than the norm.

With the extra money you save on rent, you can book a massage at the Himalayan Salt and Wellness Cave or spend weekends watching races at the Grandview Speedway.

Housing costs in Granger are more than 32% lower than the national average, but the low rent doesn't translate to limited services and amenities.

The city is home to the Beacon Granger Hospital, part of the Beacon Health System and Mayo Clinic network. You can keep your heart healthy by spending time in nature via the trails throughout the St. Joseph County Parks, and you can keep your mind engaged by attending events at the nearby University of Notre Dame.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago is part of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. Its affiliate hospitals across the region include the Valley West Hospital in Sandwich.

Zillow puts the average rent in the city at $1,500, though prices can run as low as $650 depending on the size of the rental.

Depending on how well you've prepared for retirement, you should have a tidy nest egg available to cover crucial costs like healthcare and housing expenses. But no matter how much you've saved, it never hurts to save where you can so your savings go even further.

Relocating to a cheaper city can help you do just that without forcing you to sacrifice quality healthcare in the name of maintaining your retirement budget.