The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Kiplinger’s 2026 shortlist names Fargo, Rochester, Richland, Albuquerque, Kansas City, Sioux Falls and Mankato as retirement destinations with access to healthcare. Its estimated retiree costs range from 13.3% below to 0.5% above the national average—and the list is not ordered from cheapest to most expensive. Treat it as a starting point, not a guarantee that a city has the doctors, specialists or insurance coverage you need.
How the seven places compare on cost
The figures below are Kiplinger’s estimates of retiree costs relative to the national average, on its 2026 destination page accessed October 7, 2026. They are not personalized budgets or independently verified household expenses. Kiplinger’s method considers healthcare costs and facility counts, among other factors, but the figures do not establish the quality or availability of care for a particular condition.
| Place | Kiplinger retiree cost estimate | Cost position |
|---|---|---|
| Fargo, North Dakota | 2026 Kiplinger estimate: 9.4% below the national average | Below average |
| Rochester, New York | 2026 Kiplinger estimate: 11.4% below the national average | Below average |
| Richland, Washington | 2026 Kiplinger estimate: 0.5% above the national average | Above average |
| Albuquerque, New Mexico | 2026 Kiplinger estimate: 8% below the national average | Below average |
| Kansas City, Missouri | 2026 Kiplinger estimate: 11.6% below the national average | Below average |
| Sioux Falls, South Dakota | 2026 Kiplinger estimate: 3.7% below the national average | Below average |
| Mankato, Minnesota | 2026 Kiplinger estimate: 13.3% below the national average | Below average |
These are not seven cities ranked strictly by price: Kiplinger’s page places Richland ahead of cities with lower estimates, while Mankato’s estimate is the lowest of the seven. Use the percentages to decide which places merit a closer look, then build a budget around your own housing, taxes, transportation, insurance and care needs.
What to weigh in each destination
Fargo, North Dakota
Kiplinger reports low retiree housing costs in Fargo, but winter is a significant trade-off: its page gives a January average low of 0°F and average annual snowfall of 47 inches. Consider how winter weather could affect driving, mobility, heating costs and visits with family.
#1 Best Overall
Rochester, New York
Kiplinger describes retiree housing costs as particularly low, while reporting average snowfall of 97.5 inches. Its page rates New York “Not tax-friendly” for retirees. Check how state taxes would affect your actual mix of retirement income rather than relying on a general rating.
Richland, Washington
Richland’s Kiplinger cost estimate is slightly above the national retiree average, despite its place on the shortlist. Kiplinger notes outdoor recreation and wine country, and reports higher income among older residents and lower poverty than in nearby Kennewick. Those comparisons do not show what housing or healthcare will cost an individual household.
Rank #2
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Kiplinger describes Albuquerque as sunny and below average in cost. The same page reports a 17.3% poverty rate among residents 65 and older and a violent-crime rate almost double the national average. Those are source-reported figures, not independently checked here against newer primary data; look for current local data before using them to make a decision.
Kansas City, Missouri
Kiplinger highlights cultural amenities and a college-town setting. The metro area crosses the Missouri–Kansas state line, so “Kansas City” does not identify one tax or service area. Compare the specific neighborhood and state where you would live, including its providers and insurance networks.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #3
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Kiplinger reports hospitals specializing in geriatric services, a retiree wellness score of 63 and a “tax-friendly” state rating. It also cites WalletHub’s 2026 retirement ranking; a general retirement ranking is not an independent clinical quality measure. Check that the local services you need are available and covered by your plan.
Mankato, Minnesota
Kiplinger puts Mankato about 90 miles southwest of Minneapolis–St. Paul and flags cold winters and Minnesota’s “least tax-friendly” rating for retirees. If you expect to travel to the larger metro for specialist care, account for the time, transportation and costs involved.
What “good healthcare” should mean for your move
A hospital nearby—or a city’s reputation for healthcare—does not guarantee timely access to the right specialist, an appointment that fits your needs or coverage under your insurance. Evaluate the care you are likely to use, not just the number of facilities.
- List the care you need. Include primary care, current specialists, prescriptions, recurring treatment and likely future needs. Note how often you would need each service.
- Search for providers and hospitals. Medicare’s Care Compare tool can help people compare Medicare providers and hospitals. Hospital measures include mortality, safety, readmissions and patient experience. Check the specific facilities you would realistically use; a rating does not replace confirming that a provider treats your condition or accepts new patients.
- Confirm insurance coverage before choosing an address. With Original Medicare, you can generally use any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare anywhere in the United States. Medicare Advantage plans may require non-emergency care from providers in the plan’s network and service area. Contact your exact plan to verify local doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, referrals and out-of-pocket costs.
- Test the practical route to care. Check travel time and transportation options from the neighborhoods you are considering, including for appointments in bad weather or for someone who no longer drives.
Medicare summarizes its coverage this way: “Original Medicare covers most medically necessary services and supplies in hospitals, doctors’ offices, and other health care facilities.” That does not mean every service or provider is covered; confirm the details for your care and coverage.
Put cost estimates in context
For another way to compare broad price levels, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis defines Regional Price Parities as price levels expressed as a percentage of the national level. Its 2024 state estimates, released in February 2026, were 86.9 for Arkansas, 87.0 for Mississippi, and 87.8 for both Iowa and Oklahoma. These statewide figures are not city-level estimates, and none of the four states is a substitute for comparing the seven destinations above. A state average cannot tell you what a specific neighborhood, home or service will cost.
Taxes and household circumstances can also change the affordability picture. A lower general cost estimate may not offset a higher housing expense, travel to care, taxes on your retirement income or costs associated with a particular treatment. Compare likely expenses for the address and care arrangement you would actually choose.
Balance affordability with family and everyday needs
In Transamerica Institute’s 25th Annual Retirement Survey 2025, 62% of retirees selected proximity to family and friends as an important location criterion, 60% selected affordable cost of living, and 51% selected access to excellent healthcare and hospitals. These are survey responses, not guarantees about what every retiree values, but they show why a price ranking alone can miss important trade-offs.
Kiplinger also reports that 87% of respondents in a 2026 MoveBuddha survey said a lower cost of living and housing affordability would motivate them to move. The original survey’s sample and methodology are not established here, so treat that figure as a reported survey result rather than a forecast of how retirees generally behave.
Before deciding, compare the same practical factors for each finalist: your expected monthly budget, taxes, access to the care you need, plan coverage, weather, transportation, and distance from people you want to see. The best fit is the place where those costs and services work for your circumstances—not necessarily the city with the lowest percentage.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
