Retire in USA
Featured city: Asheville, NC
US State Dept · Level 1 — Exercise Normal PrecautionsMid-range benchmark for a couple. Use the Matcher for FX- and inflation-adjusted comparisons.
The US offers unmatched diversity in climate and lifestyle. Asheville blends mountain scenery with a vibrant arts scene and excellent food. Medicare kicks in at 65, and many retirees downsize to lower-cost states to stretch their budget.
Diverse climates, strong healthcare, familiar culture
- Healthcare
- Modern Infrastructure
- English-Speaking
- Long-term residency requires meeting specific income, investment, or paperwork thresholds — engage a licensed immigration attorney.
Retirement visa
The US does not have a dedicated retirement visa; most foreign retirees use investment-based (EB-5) or family sponsorship routes.
Cost of living
In Scottsdale, Arizona, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,900, with high costs for healthcare and transport.
Numbeo cost indexHealthcare
Healthcare is world-class but extremely expensive; retirees should budget extensively for private insurance and out-of-pocket costs.
Healthcare indexSafety
Safety varies significantly by city and neighborhood, with the country generally being stable for residents.
travel.state.govMonthly cost of living in USA
These figures reflect a comfortable life in Asheville, North Carolina, a popular retiree destination for its mountain scenery, arts scene and moderate cost relative to major coastal cities. Costs vary enormously across the US — coastal California, New York and South Florida run far higher, while much of the South, Midwest and parts of Appalachia run considerably lower. Because there is no national retirement visa question for citizens, the real planning variables are which state and city you choose, and how you handle healthcare before and after Medicare eligibility at 65.
| Expense | USD / mo | USD / mo |
|---|---|---|
| Rent — 1-bedroom, city centre (Asheville)Coastal metros (SF, NYC, Miami) commonly run $2,800-4,000+ | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Rent — 1-bedroom, outside centre | $1,150 | $1,150 |
| Electricity, water, internet | $210 | $210 |
| Groceries (one person)Grocery inflation has been significant across the US in recent years | $420 | $420 |
| Eating out (10-15 meals) | $230 | $230 |
| Transport (car payment/insurance/gas or none)Most US retirees outside a few dense cities need a car | $350 | $350 |
| Mobile phone plan | $45 | $45 |
| Medicare supplement (Medigap/Part D, if 65+)Highly variable by plan and state; pre-65 retirees need ACA marketplace insurance instead, often $400-900+/month | $260 | $260 |
| Property/renters insurance | $45 | $45 |
| Leisure and travel fund | $190 | $190 |
About $3,200/month for one person in Asheville at 65+ with Medicare; pre-65 retirees should budget several hundred dollars more for ACA marketplace health insurance.
About $4,500/month for a couple — housing and utilities are shared; food, insurance and transport scale up.
Figures last reviewed September 2026. Cross-checked against Numbeo cost of living in United States . Currency conversions move — re-check before budgeting.
How much do you need to retire in USA?
US retirement costs swing more by location than in almost any other country on this list — the same income can be comfortable in rural Tennessee and genuinely tight in coastal California.
A lower-cost state or small town, paid-off or modest housing, careful budgeting.
- Modest apartment or paid-off home in a lower-cost state
- Home cooking and limited dining out
- One older car, minimal discretionary transport spending
- Medicare (if 65+) with a basic supplement plan
The realistic target: a good apartment or home in a mid-cost city like Asheville, regular dining out, solid insurance.
- 1-bedroom apartment or modest single-family home
- Reliable car and regular restaurant meals
- Medicare Advantage or a robust supplement plan, or solid ACA coverage pre-65
- Regular domestic travel and hobbies
A desirable coastal or resort area with more space and comprehensive coverage.
- Larger home or premium condo in a high-demand area
- One or two cars and frequent dining out
- Comprehensive supplemental insurance and access to concierge or private-pay care
- Frequent domestic and international travel
For US citizens there is no visa question — but here is what does matter
- No immigration barrier for citizens
- US citizens and permanent residents can live anywhere in the country freely; the real planning questions are state tax, cost of living and healthcare access, not visas.
- Medicare eligibility
- Federal Medicare coverage begins at 65 for most citizens and permanent residents with sufficient work history; it covers a large share of hospital and medical costs but not all of them, which is why most retirees add a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan.
- Pre-65 retirees
- Anyone retiring before 65 must buy ACA marketplace insurance or COBRA continuation coverage, which can be a major and underestimated expense — often several hundred to over a thousand dollars a month depending on income, age and state.
- State tax matters enormously
- Nine states (Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, and New Hampshire for wage income) levy no state income tax, which can be worth tens of thousands of dollars a year to a retiree with a large pension or IRA.
- Foreign retirees moving to the US
- Non-citizens who want to retire in the US have no dedicated retirement visa either; realistic routes are an EB-5 investor visa (large capital investment), family sponsorship, or a long-stay tourist visa (up to 6 months, no work or formal residency rights).
- Property tax varies by state
- Annual property taxes range from under 0.3% of home value in Hawaii to over 2% in New Jersey and Illinois — a significant recurring cost that varies more by location within the US than in most other countries.
Medicare rules, ACA marketplace premiums and state tax law all change; confirm current details with Medicare.gov, a licensed insurance broker, and a state-specific tax adviser before relocating.
Compare retirement visas across countries →Taxes for retirees in USA
- Tax system
- Worldwide (citizenship-based)
- When you become tax resident
- US citizens and green card holders are taxed on worldwide income wherever they live.
- Income tax rates
- Federal 10–37% plus state income tax of 0–13.3%.
- Capital gains, wealth & inheritance
- Long-term capital gains 0/15/20% plus 3.8% NIIT; no federal wealth tax; federal estate tax above a very high exemption; state property taxes vary widely.
- How your foreign pension is treated
- Social security is taxable on up to 85% of benefits; pensions and IRA withdrawals are ordinary income; Roth withdrawals are tax-free.
- US tax treaty
- n/a — this is the US.
Tax incentives for retirees
- Nine states levy no income tax (FL, TX, TN, NV, WA, WY, SD, AK, NH on wages).
- Roth conversions before RMDs are the core retirement tax strategy.
- Qualified charitable distributions from IRAs after 70½ reduce taxable income.
General information only, not tax advice. Rates, thresholds and special regimes change frequently and your outcome depends on your citizenship, residency history and treaty position — confirm with a cross-border tax adviser before you move money or change residence.
Retiring in USA: common questions
How much money do you need to retire in the US?
Plan on roughly $2,400/month for a lean life in a lower-cost state, about $3,200/month for a comfortable life in a mid-cost city like Asheville, and $5,500+/month in a desirable coastal or resort area. Before Medicare eligibility at 65, add several hundred to over a thousand dollars a month for ACA marketplace health insurance, which is one of the biggest and most variable costs in US retirement planning.
Is there a retirement visa for the US?
No — the US has no dedicated retirement visa for foreign nationals wanting to retire there. Non-citizens generally need family sponsorship, a substantial investor visa (EB-5), or must rely on repeated long-stay tourist visits of up to six months at a time, which grant no work rights or path to residency. This makes the US considerably harder for a non-citizen to retire to than for a citizen already living there.
Can foreigners buy property in the US?
Yes, there are essentially no federal restrictions on foreign nationals buying US real estate, and the process is well-established and transparent through standard title and escrow procedures. Financing as a non-resident foreign buyer is harder and usually requires a larger down payment. Buying property does not grant any visa or residency status on its own.
How does Medicare work for retirees?
Medicare Part A (hospital) is typically premium-free at 65 for those with sufficient US work history, while Part B (medical) and Part D (prescription drugs) carry monthly premiums, and most retirees add either a Medigap supplement or a Medicare Advantage plan to cover gaps and caps on out-of-pocket costs. Retiring before 65 means bridging the gap with ACA marketplace insurance or COBRA, both of which can be expensive, especially for those with pre-existing conditions or higher income (which reduces ACA subsidies). This gap-coverage cost is one of the most important numbers to model before an early retirement in the US.
Do retirees pay tax on Social Security and pensions?
Up to 85% of Social Security benefits can be federally taxable depending on total income, while pension and traditional IRA/401(k) withdrawals are generally taxed as ordinary income; Roth IRA withdrawals in retirement are typically tax-free. Nine states charge no state income tax at all, which can meaningfully change where retirees choose to live, and some additional states specifically exempt Social Security income even though they tax other income. A CPA or fee-only financial planner familiar with retirement income sequencing (including Roth conversion strategy) is worth the cost for most retirees with meaningful savings.
Which US city or state is best for retirees?
Asheville, NC is popular for its mountain scenery, arts scene and moderate cost relative to major metros, though it has grown pricier in recent years. States with no income tax — Florida, Texas, Tennessee and others — are popular purely for the tax savings on pension and investment income. The right choice depends heavily on personal priorities: climate, proximity to family, healthcare access, and state tax treatment all pull in different directions.
Is the US safe for retirees?
Safety in the US varies enormously by specific city and even neighbourhood, far more than in most other countries on this list, so national statistics are not very useful for personal planning. Most small towns and suburban areas favoured by retirees have low crime rates comparable to Western Europe, while some specific urban areas have meaningfully higher rates. Researching crime data for the specific neighbourhood you're considering, not just the city or state, is the standard practical approach.
What is the biggest financial risk for US retirees?
Healthcare costs are widely regarded as the single largest financial risk in US retirement — even with Medicare, out-of-pocket costs for supplemental premiums, dental, vision, hearing and long-term care (which Medicare largely does not cover) can run into tens of thousands of dollars a year for a couple, and long-term care in particular can cost $100,000+ a year if needed. Long-term care insurance, Medicaid planning for those with fewer assets, and simply building a larger healthcare-specific reserve are the three common strategies retirees use to manage this risk. This is arguably the most consequential difference between US retirement planning and retirement planning in most countries on this list, which have some form of universal healthcare.
Still deciding? Ask retirees in the forum or read the retirement visa guide.
Ready to compare with your budget?
Run the calculator or open the Destination Matcher to see how USA fits.
Other destinations in Americas
Educational content only — not immigration, tax, legal, or financial advice. Visa, golden-visa, and citizenship-by-investment rules change frequently. Verify with the official government source above and a licensed professional before making any relocation, investment, or citizenship decision.