Being a car owner while retired can add nearly $4,000 to your annual spending budget. Specifically, a car can cost you $3,989 annually for insurance, finance charges, maintenance and repair and gas. When on a fixed retirement budget, $4,000 is not an insignificant amount of money, and cutting that amount can provide a greater financial safety net in your golden years.
To successfully live without a car, though, requires living in a city in which walkability and livability are high. With that in mind, GOBankingRates recently launched a study to find the 50 best places to retire without a car. GOBankingRates was able to do this by locating cities with a population in which at least 20% were of retirement age, and scored highly on the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Walkability Index (a score above 15.26 indicates the most walkable cities, and a score above 10.51 indicates above-average walkability).
After locating the 50 best places to retire without a car nationwide, GOBankingRates then narrowed its study to a state known for being a retirement haven: Florida. Within the Sunshine State, GOBankingRates located 20 cities that boast high walkability, good livability and affordable cost of living for retirees.
1. Wilton Manors, Florida
- Livability: 91
- Walkability: 17.0
- Cost of living (annually): $73,020
- Cost of transportation index: 130.3
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2. Tavares, Florida
- Livability: 76
- Walkability: 19.0
- Cost of living (annually): $46,517
- Cost of transportation index: 104.3
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3. New Port Richey, Florida
- Livability: 80
- Walkability: 16.5
- Cost of living (annually): $45,577
- Cost of transportation index: 102.0
4. Miami Springs, Florida
- Livability: 83
- Walkability: 15.0
- Cost of living (annually): $76,859
- Cost of transportation index: 139.8
5. North Port, Florida
- Livability: 76
- Walkability: 16.5
- Cost of living (annually): $45,422
- Cost of transportation index: 97.0
6. Dr. Phillips, Florida
- Livability: 89
- Walkability: 11.0
- Cost of living (annually): $63,686
- Cost of transportation index: 111.1
7. Lighthouse Point, Florida
- Livability: 71
- Walkability: 17.8
- Cost of living (annually): $103,626
- Cost of transportation index: 128.8
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8. Lakeland, Florida
- Livability: 77
- Walkability: 15.2
- Cost of living (annually): $44,454
- Cost of transportation index: 84.6
9. Palm Harbor, Florida
- Livability: 80
- Walkability: 13.8
- Cost of living (annually): $57,320
- Cost of transportation index: 103.3
10. Orange City, Florida
- Livability: 71
- Walkability: 17.2
- Cost of living (annually): $44,229
- Cost of transportation index: 96.4
11. Rockledge, Florida
- Livability: 81
- Walkability: 12.8
- Cost of living (annually): $51,260
- Cost of transportation index: 84.1
12. Seminole, Florida
- Livability: 89
- Walkability: 9.5
- Cost of living (annually): $53,597
- Cost of transportation index: 98.5
13. Marco Island, Florida
- Livability: 70
- Walkability: 16.8
- Cost of living (annually): $118,209
- Cost of transportation index: 81.4
14. Ormond Beach, Florida
- Livability: 83
- Walkability: 11.7
- Cost of living (annually): $49,215
- Cost of transportation index: 90.9
15. Vero Beach, Florida
- Livability: 79
- Walkability: 13.0
- Cost of living (annually): $49,192
- Cost of transportation index: 87.1
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16. Jensen Beach, Florida
- Livability: 69
- Walkability: 16.8
- Cost of living (annually): $54,897
- Cost of transportation index: 90.8
17. Bradenton, Florida
- Livability: 82
- Walkability: 11.7
- Cost of living (annually): $51,853
- Cost of transportation index: 100.0
18. New Smyrna Beach, Florida
- Livability: 70
- Walkability: 15.7
- Cost of living (annually): $53,512
- Cost of transportation index: 96.0
19. North Palm Beach, Florida
- Livability: 78
- Walkability: 12.5
- Cost of living (annually): $87,101
- Cost of transportation index: 121.0
20. Titusville, Florida
- Livability: 84
- Walkability: 10.0
- Cost of living (annually): $42,544
- Cost of transportation index: 87.0
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed retirement hotspots to find the best places to retire without a car. Using the U.S. Census 2024 one-year American Community Survey, the total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, median household income and mean household income were all sourced for this study. In order to qualify for this study, the city had to have a percentage of the population ages 65 and over or at least 20%. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and by using the national average expenditure costs for retired consumer units as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for retired consumer units, the average expenditure costs can be calculated for each location. Using the transportation cost-of-living index for each city as well as the national average costs for various transportation-related expenses, the average cost of those services can be calculated for each city, showcasing an example of the savings someone can expect by not owning and driving a vehicle. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index and by assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage can be calculated. Using the mortgage and expenditure costs, the total cost of living for necessities can be calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes and used to determine the quality of life. The walkability index was sourced from the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Walkability Index and used to determine the ability to live without driving a car. The livability was scored and weighted at 1.00, the walkability was scored and weighted at 1.00. The scores were summed and sorted to show the best places in America to retire without a car. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Oct. 20, 2025.
Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 20 Best Florida Cities To Retire Without a Car
