A Community Known As 'Florida's Friendliest Hometown' Is One Of The Best Places To Retire If You Don't Have Savings

If there is one state in all of America that is the epitome of retirement, some might look to the South Eastern coast and point to Florida. From the weather to the culture to the other retired adults, it's one of the best places to kick back after years in the workforce. Plus, you can live comfortably for years in Florida with just $250,000 in savings going into retirement, depending on the city and the cost of living for your lifestyle.

However, if your situation is the exact opposite, where you have just retired or are about to go into retirement without savings, you might hesitate to make the move to Florida. Before you toss it off as a pipe dream, check out The Villages. You might be surprised just how welcoming The Villages can be, as well as affordable, particularly with retirees trying to get by on a fixed income that does not include savings. Florida is already one of the best states to retire in and now, there's a place for anyone set to live the post-work life without much in the bank account.

According to Islands, "The Villages is a master-planned community that sits on over 35,000 acres (and growing) in Central Florida, about an hour north of Orlando" and "has now transformed into a metropolis spanning over 7 million square feet of space that boasts retail tenants and commercial buildings to cater to any lifestyle." Zillow lists the current average home price in The Villages as $398,594, at 2% drop since 2024 though slightly higher than the average United States home value of $367,969.

Home and Money highlighted that some of the benefits of living in The Villages are that one does not need more than a golf cart to get around, eliminating a major expense for retirees who might be worried about the cost of owning a car in Florida. One resident of The Villages, Ryan Erisman, calculated his cost of living for Inside The Bubble – The Ultimate Guide to The Villages, Florida and found that they came to about $4,000 per month for just him as a single person, slightly lower than Sunshine State's average monthly cost of living at $4,224, per SoFi.

The people might be friendly and the weather might be beautiful, but in The Villages, you still have to pay your bills. You might be putting a budget together that is less focused on savings and more aligned with making your Social Security stretch. In 2025, the average monthly Social Security retirement benefit is $1,976, adding up to about $23,712 per year, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and if you do the math, you'll see that is not enough to get by in The Villages.

Luckily, Florida has one of the best economies in the United States, so if you are looking to get a part-time job during retirement, you'll find it at The Villages. AARP listed that some of the best jobs for retirees can include bookkeeper, nanny, and security guard, all of which pay decent wages, but do not take up all of your time and energy. You are going to need it for enjoying all that The Villages and your new community of friendly older adults has to offer.