Can you enjoy an affordable retirement anywhere in California? According to research from a 2025 GOBankingRates study, 25 cities ranked among the cheapest to retire in throughout the Golden State.
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Each city mentioned has a retirement age (65+) population percentage of at least 10%. Additional key factors include the average value of a single-family home, average monthly mortgage and expenditure costs and the total cost of living. Those who plan to retire in one of these cities should come prepared with significant savings. The annual cost of living can be as low as $51,020 (Fresno) and reach $91,570 (Anaheim).
Ranked from lowest to most expensive annual cost of living expenses, here are California’s 25 cheapest cities for retirement in 2025.
1. Fresno
- Population 65+ (%): 12.1%
- Average home value: $391,550
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $2,333
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $1,919
- Total cost of living (annually): $51,020
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2. Bakersfield
- Population 65+ (%): 10.8%
- Average home value: $393,360
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $2,343
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $1,914
- Total cost of living (annually): $51,089
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3. Stockton
- Population 65+ (%): 13%
- Average home value: $445,310
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $2,653
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $2,030
- Total cost of living (annually): $56,200
4. Modesto
- Population 65+ (%): 14.4%
- Average home value: $447,900
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $2,668
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $2,031
- Total cost of living (annually): $56,396
5. San Bernardino
- Population 65+ (%): 10.2%
- Average home value: $487,728
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $2,906
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $1,899
- Total cost of living (annually): $57,650
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6. Lancaster
- Population 65+ (%): 12%
- Average home value: $473,226
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $2,819
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $1,989
- Total cost of living (annually): $57,697
7. Sacramento
- Population 65+ (%): 14.1%
- Average home value: $486,104
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $2,896
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $2,054
- Total cost of living (annually): $59,403
8. Palmdale
- Population 65+ (%): 10.7%
- Average home value: $508,652
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $3,030
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $2,216
- Total cost of living (annually): $62,952
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9. Roseville
- Population 65+ (%): 17.2%
- Average home value: $644,655
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $3,841
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $2,043
- Total cost of living (annually): $70,601
10. Riverside
- Population 65+ (%): 11.7%
- Average home value: $649,678
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $3,870
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $2,036
- Total cost of living (annually): $70,873
11. Elk Grove
- Population 65+ (%): 13.4%
- Average home value: $647,505
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $3,858
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $2,077
- Total cost of living (annually): $71,210
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12. Ontario
- Population 65+ (%): 10.1%
- Average home value: $681,393
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $4,059
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $1,910
- Total cost of living (annually): $71,629
13. Santa Rosa
- Population 65+ (%): 18.6%
- Average home value: $745,205
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $4,440
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $2,077
- Total cost of living (annually): $78,200
14. Oxnard
- Population 65+ (%): 11.5%
- Average home value: $765,755
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $4,562
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $2,017
- Total cost of living (annually): $78,946
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15. Salinas
- Population 65+ (%): 10.3%
- Average home value: $741,976
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $4,420
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $2,197
- Total cost of living (annually): $79,412
16. Corona
- Population 65+ (%): 11.7%
- Average home value: $776,014
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $4,623
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $2,076
- Total cost of living (annually): $80,389
17. Rancho Cucamonga
- Population 65+ (%): 13.8%
- Average home value: $814,517
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $4,853
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $1,918
- Total cost of living (annually): $81,243
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18. Oakland
- Population 65+ (%): 14.3%
- Average home value: $809,232
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $4,821
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $2,181
- Total cost of living (annually): $84,024
19. Santa Clarita
- Population 65+ (%): 13.1%
- Average home value: $845,387
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $5,036
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $2,006
- Total cost of living (annually): $84,510
20. Santa Ana
- Population 65+ (%): 11.1%
- Average home value: $884,731
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $5,271
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $1,962
- Total cost of living (annually): $86,790
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21. Oceanside
- Population 65+ (%): 15.9%
- Average home value: $894,912
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $5,331
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $1,964
- Total cost of living (annually): $87,544
22. Chula Vista
- Population 65+ (%): 12.9%
- Average home value: $889,954
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $5,302
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $2,033
- Total cost of living (annually): $88,013
23. Long Beach
- Population 65+ (%): 13.2%
- Average home value: $896,830
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $5,343
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $2,070
- Total cost of living (annually): $88,950
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24. Hayward
- Population 65+ (%): 13.3%
- Average home value: $899,204
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $5,357
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $2,179
- Total cost of living (annually): $90,433
25. Anaheim
- Population 65+ (%): 12.6%
- Average home value: $948,016
- Mortgage (average monthly cost): $5,648
- Expenditures (average monthly cost): $1,983
- Total cost of living (annually): $91,570
View more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.
Methodology: GOBankingRates identified cities with populations of at least 150,000 and a population percentage of residents age 65 and over of at least 10%. Total population, population ages 65 and over, total households and household median income all were sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and include the grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous cost of living. Using the cost-of-living indexes and the national average expenditure costs for retired households, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for retired households, the average expenditure cost for each location was calculated. The average home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for December 2024 and the average mortgage was calculated using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data. Using the average mortgage and average expenditure costs, the average cost of living was calculated. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Feb. 18, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 25 Cheapest Cities To Retire in California in 2025
