Southern retirement spots folks love for affordability and easy living

These Southern retirement spots deliver affordability, comfort and community — ideal for retirees wanting a simpler, lower‑stress life.

Retirement is a big step, and it often comes along with a physical move, as retirees look to get the most bang for their buck after they stop working. The Motley Fool's 2026 Best Places to Retire report did the heavy lifting, so you can quickly narrow your search to just a handful of the best options. If you are looking for low costs, low stress, and a lot of comfort, these three Southern cities should be on your radar.

The Motley Fool's Best Places to Retire Index was created to help you find the right place to live when you stop working. The index was formulated with input from 2,000 retirees aged 55 and over to determine what was important to them. Key factors examined were affordability, safety, access to healthcare, and quality of life.

Unretired: They had enough money to retire. Then the cost of living went up.

With that foundation, The Motley Fool pitted city against city across the United States. However, if you are looking for warm weather, there's really only one direction to go − south. That's where The Motley Fool's list of the Best Places to Retire in the South comes in. Here are three top options if you care about costs, comfort, and a stress-free lifestyle... and they are all in Florida.

Located in Broward County, Fort Lauderdale offers a coastal location with easy access to beaches and a walkable lifestyle. The cost of living is relatively low, and there are attractive healthcare options in the area. Condo fees can be high if you live on the waterfront, but if you pull back from the coast, you should be able to find more attractive housing costs.