Naples And Orlando Are Great, But This Affordable Florida City Might Be A Better Deal For Retirees

Florida is an appealing place to retire for many reasons. In addition to not taxing Social Security benefits, it's home to many appealing and affordable places older people could easily call home. And while iconic cities like Orlando or Naples might be among the first to jump to mind, October 2025 research from GoBankingRates suggests Jacksonville, Florida, is one of the most affordable places to retire. Ranked as the second-cheapest city in the Sunshine State with a population of at least 150,000 people, Jacksonville had an average home value of $298,463 and average mortgage payments of around $1,778, according to the survey.

Monthly expenditures come out to around $1,924, bringing the annual cost of living to approximately $44,430 when mortgage payments are included. This makes Jacksonville one of Florida's coastal towns where $2,500 a month provides comfortable living. For comparison, the GoBankingRates report ranked Orlando seventh in retirement affordability, with an average home value of $405,721, mortgage payments of $2,417, and monthly expenditures of $1,986. The report also listed an annual retirement-cost figure of $52,840. Naples, meanwhile, didn't even make the list of the 12 most affordable Florida cities for retirees.

September 2026 home values reported by Zillow show the same home-value order: $284,832 in Jacksonville, $372,775 in Orlando, and $545,587 in Naples. In another comparison, BestPlaces reported in October 2026 that the cost of living in Jacksonville was 8.8% lower than in Orlando. Besides lower housing costs, the site shows Jacksonville as cheaper in several other categories, including healthcare (3.1% less), food (1.5% less), and personal expenses (1% less). Plus, the city offers two types of homestead exemptions for seniors. BestPlaces also showed the cost of living as 17.8% lower in Jacksonville than in Naples. Food is 17.9% less costly; healthcare costs are 6.5% less; and personal expenses are 8.2% less.

Jacksonville seems to be one of Florida's best coastal places to retire. If retirees prefer to rent, prices range from affordable to ones where the sky is the limit. In mid-October 2026, per Rent.com, advertised prices for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom rental started at $675 monthly. If you need two bedrooms, rent starts at $750. The average one-bedroom apartment rent, per Apartments.com in October 2026, is $1,306; contrast this with the Florida average of $1,667, which makes Jacksonville about 22% cheaper and one of the state's less expensive choices. 

As far as other expenses, CostofLivingData listed April 2026 average transportation costs at $126 monthly. As of mid-October, AAA showed Duval County, where Jacksonville is located, with slightly lower gas prices than the national average: $4.21 a gallon compared to $4.33. Plus, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority offers a wide range of services with fares for on-demand transportation starting at $3.

Retirees needing healthcare also have access to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville where medical professionals offer more than 40 specialties. U.S. News & World Report has ranked this hospital nationally in 2026-2027 in nine specialties, including it in the Best Hospitals Honor Roll. Ranked No. 1 in Northern Florida, the hospital was also rated high performing in 21 procedures or conditions. Baptist Health includes a network of six hospitals and 10 emergency care locations around the city and Northeast Florida, providing more options.