Seeking an inexpensive East Coast spot for your retirement years? Not only do retirees have their pick of 20 places to choose from, but the total cost of living is under $31,000 annually, per results from an in-house GOBankingRates study.
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Qualifying cities for this study are on the East Coast with a total population of 5,000 (at least). The cost of necessities — a key factor for determining the cheapest cities — was calculated by combining each location’s average mortgage and expenditure costs. Georgia, with six places mentioned, had the most affordable cities out of any East Coast state in the top 20 ranking.
If you’re retiring this year, you may want to retire in one of these 20 cheap East Coast locales. And for more relocation inspiration, see the 18 best East Coast cities for retirees with a monthly budget of $3,000 or less.
1. Oil City, Pennsylvania
- Population 65+ (%): 19.3%
- Single family home average value: $99,486
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $557
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $27,247
- Livability: 68
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2. Bennettsville, South Carolina
- Population 65+ (%): 18.1%
- Single family home average value: $100,039
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $560
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $27,340
- Livability: 53
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3. Richlands, Virginia
- Population 65+ (%): 23.4%
- Single family home average value: $110,891
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $620
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $28,784
- Livability: 67
4. Dillon, South Carolina
- Population 65+ (%): 16.4%
- Single family home average value: $115,172
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $644
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $28,845
- Livability: 63
5. Marion, South Carolina
- Population 65+ (%): 22.7%
- Single family home average value: $122,759
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $687
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $29,373
- Livability: 54
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6. Franklin, Pennsylvania
- Population 65+ (%): 20.4%
- Single family home average value: $137,031
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $767
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $29,610
- Livability: 68
7. Sandersville, Georgia
- Population 65+ (%): 16.1%
- Single family home average value: $134,488
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $752
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $29,739
- Livability: 71
8. Union, South Carolina
- Population 65+ (%): 23%
- Single family home average value: $126,520
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $708
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $29,809
- Livability: 51
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9. Fitzgerald, Georgia
- Population 65+ (%): 16.8%
- Single family home average value: $125,994
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $705
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $29,813
- Livability: 51
10. Bluefield, West Virginia
- Population 65+ (%): 19.9%
- Single family home average value: $116,336
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $651
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $29,815
- Livability: 53
11. New Castle, Pennsylvania
- Population 65+ (%): 18.6%
- Single family home average value: $142,092
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $795
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $29,865
- Livability: 79
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12. Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
- Population 65+ (%): 27.5%
- Single family home average value: $118,009
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $660
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $29,881
- Livability: 77
13. Ogdensburg, New York
- Population 65+ (%): 17.8%
- Single family home average value: $111,922
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $626
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $29,967
- Livability: 67
14. Blakely, Georgia
- Population 65+ (%): 14.5%
- Single family home average value: $118,505
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $663
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $30,031
- Livability: 55
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15. Swainsboro, Georgia
- Population 65+ (%): 14%
- Single family home average value: $123,320
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $690
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $30,074
- Livability: 57
16. Cordele, Georgia
- Population 65+ (%): 15.1%
- Single family home average value: $134,878
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $755
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $30,188
- Livability: 53
17. Americus, Georgia
- Population 65+ (%): 14.8%
- Single family home average value: $127,515
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $713
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $30,196
- Livability: 51
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18. Massena, New York
- Population 65+ (%): 20.8%
- Single family home average value: $117,783
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $659
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $30,370
- Livability: 71
19. Bluefield, Virginia
- Population 65+ (%): 23.6%
- Single family home average value: $134,108
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $750
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $30,431
- Livability: 59
20. Moundsville, West Virginia
- Population 65+ (%): 23.5%
- Single family home average value: $127,315
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $712
- Total cost of living for necessities (annually): $30,562
- Livability: 66
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Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.
Methodology: To qualify for this study, each city had to be on the East Coast and have at least 5,000 population as well as data from all sources. Population data was sourced from the U.S. Census’ 2023 5-Year American Community Survey. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces. National average expenditure costs for all households were sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey. Home values were sourced from Zillow Home Value Index, and the average mortgage was calculated assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes. The cities were sorted to show the cheapest cost of living for necessities first. All data was collected on Oct. 3, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 20 Cheapest Places To Retire in the East
