8 Cities With Great Health Care Where You Can Live on Nothing but Social Security

Amid talk of rising insurance premiums, retirees are feeling the pressure to plan for health care costs now more than ever. Seniors on a fixed income are likely feeling the pinch even more than most. The average monthly Social Security benefit is just $2,008.31 for retired workers. If you live off just benefits, careful planning is needed to stretch your retirement dollars further.

If that's the boat you're in, keep reading. Several cities around the country have a low cost of living, affordable housing, and access to great health care — and one of them could be just the right spot for your retirement relocation.

Editor's note: All rental and mortgage data pulled from Redfin unless otherwise noted.

Median rent: $1,400

Median home sales price: $465,000

Spanish Fork is a sunny, quaint little town on the Wasatch Front with just over 49,000 people. While Spanish Fork has its own hospital, it's just 20 minutes away from Utah Valley Hospital — Intermountain Healthcare's larger, regional hub — in Provo.

Further north in Salt Lake City, residents can access world-class care at the University of Utah Hospital, one of the top academic hospitals in the country.

Median rent: $878

Median home sales price: $335,000

Pocatello is a small, outdoor-oriented community in Southeast Idaho. It's home to Idaho State University, so you'll have ample opportunity to see plays, visit art exhibits, and take classes at discounted rates.

While the city's cultural events keep your mind young and its sunny summers make exercise a treat, Pocatello also hosts the Portneuf Medical Center. If you need specialist medical intervention, Salt Lake City and Boise are both just a few hours away.

Median rent: $1,408

Median home sales price: $420,300

If the Pacific Northwest's rain and expenses aren't for you, consider a smaller, cheaper Oregon town like Medford. Medford is far sunnier than Western Oregon, but with a similarly temperate climate and easy access to recreational activities (like nearby Crater Lake).

Medford's Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center offers cutting-edge care for cancer, diabetes, heart problems, and strokes. Its home care, neurology, and neurosurgery services make it the ideal care center for seniors.

Median rent: $1,005

Median home sales price: $185,000

Davenport's below-average home values make it a good pick for seniors who want to own, not rent. As for healthcare, the MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center conducts in-depth community surveys to create responsive, multi-year strategies that actively improve Davenport residents' health and happiness.

The University of Iowa Health Care also operates the state's only comprehensive cancer clinic, plus a heart and vascular clinic and a kidney and pancreas transplant clinic in Davenport.

Median rent: $1,152

Median home sales price: $185,000

If you thought big cities were outside your Social Security budget, think again. Memphis is known for its incredible music scene, optimal weather, and low cost of living (a full 10% below the national average).

Memphis's regional hospitals include the Methodist Le Bonheur Hospital, Regional One Medical Center, and the Saint Francis Hospital. Regional One particularly stands out with Centers of Excellence in trauma and burn care, plus it has a partnership with the UT Health Science Center.

Median rent: $1,261

Median home sales price: $255,000

Gainesville is a quiet town near the Oklahoma border where seniors benefit from low prices, no state income tax, and easy access to high-quality health care in the nearby Dallas-Fort Worth area.

You can get care locally at Gainesville's North Texas Medical Center, which has a 60-bed acute care facility and specialized wound care treatment. But just an hour away in the Dallas-Fort Worth urban hub, you'll find 20+ award-winning hospitals across a world-class regional medical complex.

Median rent: $1,072

Median home sales price: $311,500

If you love the sun but not the cold, Sierra Vista's slightly higher elevation gives seniors the high desert experience without Phoenix or Tucson's heat extremes. When you aren't taking advantage of the city's expansive trail system, you can find top-notch healthcare at the Canyon Vista Medical Center. The hospital's Bone and Joint Center for Excellence offers total joint replacement and similar services that seniors find themselves needing as they age.

Median rent: $1,300

Median home sales price: $212,250

Greensburg is just 30 miles outside of Pittsburgh, meaning seniors can access big-city perks like sports events and varied healthcare options without paying big-city housing prices.

The Westmoreland Hospital and Independence Health System serve patients across the county from a facility that includes behavioral health services and an interventional heart and vascular center. If you need more specialized care, you can find it at one of Pittsburgh's three regional hospitals, which includes the Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Of course, housing, health care, and transportation costs aren't the only things that matter when it comes to relocating after retirement. Factors like benefits for seniors, proximity to friends and family, and recreational opportunities can also impact your post-retirement quality of life.

However, you shouldn't underestimate just how hard money stress can hit. Whether you relocate to one of these cities or not, make sure you're taking time to review your budget each month and find areas where you can save. Living off Social Security alone can be possible all over the country, but only if you take the time to budget appropriately.