Best cities for retirees in 2026
Retirement changes what a good city looks like: income is mostly fixed, healthcare becomes a recurring cost, and taxes apply to withdrawals rather than a paycheck. We rank cities across the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland by blending healthcare burden (30%), tax friendliness (25%), everyday affordability (25%), and housing costs (20%) from live City Intelligence data.
The ranking
Ranked by retirement fit. Home prices are shown in each city's local currency.
| # | City | Healthcare burden | Effective tax | Median home | Retirement fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX South | Low | 0.227% | $340,000 | 88 |
| 2 | Dallas, TX South | Low | 0.226% | $400,000 | 88 |
| 3 | Austin, TX South | Low | 0.225% | $545,000 | 87 |
| 4 | Nashville, TN South | Low | 0.231% | $415,000 | 86 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ Mountain | Low | 0.244% | $425,000 | 84 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA South | Low | 0.253% | $385,000 | 83 |
| 7 | Leeds England | low | 27.6% | £225,000 | 82 |
| 8 | Belfast Northern Ireland | low | 27.9% | £195,000 | 82 |
| 9 | Glasgow Scotland | low | 29% | £195,000 | 81 |
| 10 | Edmonton Alberta | low | 0.27% | CA$430,000 | 81 |
| 11 | Liverpool England | low | 28.4% | £175,000 | 81 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL Midwest | Low | 0.267% | $320,000 | 81 |
What actually moves a retirement budget
- • Healthcare burden. Premiums, out-of-pocket costs, and access vary widely by city and country. Over a 20-year retirement this often outweighs a rent or mortgage saving.
- • Effective tax rate. Retirement income can be taxed very differently across states, provinces, and countries — pension, withdrawal, and investment income are not always treated alike.
- • Housing decision. Downsizing releases capital, but a lower median home price only helps if transaction costs and property taxes don't erase it.
- • Everyday costs. Groceries, utilities, transport, and insurance compound quietly against a fixed income.
- • Proximity. Distance from family and from a major airport becomes a real recurring cost, not just a preference.
How we score retirement fit
Each city's retirement fit is a weighted blend of four City Intelligence metrics: healthcare burden (30%), tax friendliness based on the effective tax rate (25%), everyday affordability and cost of living (25%), and housing costs including median home price and ownership burden (20%). The underlying data refreshes with each intelligence update, so the ranking shifts as markets move.
This ranking is a shortlist, not personal financial or tax advice. Your own pension structure, withdrawal strategy, and residency status can change the answer.
Model your retirement move
Run your actual income, housing plan, and tax situation through the simulator before you commit to a city.