You Can Retire In This Midwest City For Only $1,500 A Month

When choosing where to retire, many people prioritize low cost of living. GOBankingRates shares five places where retirees could live on a $1,500 monthly income while enjoying all four seasons — and Youngstown, Ohio is on the list. In Youngstown, people pay some of the country's lowest apartment rents, with a one-bedroom space often costing under $800 per month. This low rental price is borne out by Apartments.com's October 2025 averages; the website says that a 441-square-foot studio apartment goes for $600 in Youngstown, while a one-bedroom apartment of 645 square feet goes for $711. The two-bedroom average cost came in at $886 for 962 square feet. Livingcost provides even more context. As of July 2025, the cost of living for a single person in Youngstown, including rent, came in at $1,162. $575 consisted of rent and utilities. Food for a single person averaged $423 per month, with the average cost of a restaurant lunch totalling $9.13 and a dinner for two at $36. Meanwhile, transportation costs just under $49 per month. 

These scenarios could comfortably fit into many people's retirement incomes. Although Social Security averages differ by state, the amount paid nationally in August 2025 was $2008.31, according to the Social Security Administration. The Annual Statistical Supplement, 2025, states that the average Social Security check in Ohio was $1,922.91 with the median at $1,912.00. So, whether you're moving to Youngstown from elsewhere in the state or beyond, this northern Ohio city could fit into your retirement budget. 

Plenty of benefits exist if you rent a home during your retirement years, eliminating the commitment of a mortgage. People can stop paying for extravagant home renovations and no longer need to worry about mowing the grass or shoveling snow. If one apartment doesn't suit them, they can more easily pack and move without the hassle of selling a home. That said, some people — including retirees — prefer to buy a home. If so, one study predicted that Youngstown would be part of the 2025 housing market boom. A GOBankingRates survey revealed a jump in the average home value in Youngstown of $150,977 in August 2023 to $161,939 a year later. This represented an increase of $10,961, or 7.26%. The survey also anticipated continuing value growth in this city. In October 2025, Zillow listed the national average house price as $363,505.

GOBankingRates' list highlighted places where people can live on $1,500 a month while enjoying the four seasons, and Youngstown delivers on the latter, too. It's a marvelous place to enjoy the changing of autumn leaf colors in the fall and a place where people often experience a white Christmas; Youngstown gets an average of 40 inches of snow each year. Spring showers (an average of 38 inches annually) bring spring flowers and, in July, Youngstown averages summer temperatures of 81 degrees Fahrenheit.