Florida cities sweep top 3 places for retirees in 2026

The Sunshine State continues to shine brightly as the top place to retire in WalletHub's annual Best and Worst Places to Retire report.

Cities in Florida swept the top three spots in the budgeting tools platform's 2026 survey. Orlando topped the list, followed by Miami and then Tampa after considering 45 key measures, from the cost of living and tax laws to the availability of activities and the quality of health care. WalletHub compared the retiree-friendliness of more than 180 U.S. cities across 45 key metrics for its report.

With retirees on a fixed income still grappling with elevated inflation, it's important Americans land somehwere affordable with enough perks that they can enjoy their golden years and relax, WalletHub said.

"The best cities for retired people are those that minimize taxes and expenses, as well as have good opportunities for retirees to continue paid work for extra income, if they choose to do so," said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst. "In addition, the top cities provide high-quality health care and offer plenty of enjoyable activities for retirees.”

Low taxes is a common thread between top-rated Orlando, Miami and Tampa, according to WalletHub. They all benefit from Florida's lack of estate or…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/money/