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Depending on location, retiring by the beach can be extremely expensive. A new GOBankingRates study analyzing the nation’s most expensive seaside retirement hotspots finds that the cost of living in all 50 cities exceeds $5,700 per month. And the most expensive city, a popular Florida enclave, stunned with monthly costs of nearly $60,000.
GOBankingRates used media outlets like Travel + Leisure and US News & World Report to find these cities. We studied each city’s population aged 65+, median household income and cost of living index. The average expenditure cost for each city was calculated using the national average expenditure cost for retired households. The total cost of living for a retiree was then determined using average expenses and mortgage costs.
key findings
- Retiring by the beach costs more than $25,000 per month in the three most expensive cities. The cities and their monthly cost of living are Palm Beach, Florida ($59,821); Montecito, California ($34,380); and Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina ($26,110).
- Fourteen California cities appeared in the ranking, including five in the top 10. They are Montecito (#2), Malibu (#4), Santa Monica (#6), Carmel-by-the-Sea (#7), Solana Beach (#8), Santa Barbara (#11), San Clemente (#12), Half Moon Bay (#16), Capitola (#17), Cayucos (#19), San Diego (#23), Pismo Beach (#24), Los Angeles (#26) and Morro Bay (#32).
- Massachusetts has the largest number of beach cities compared to Florida. Six beach towns in Massachusetts had a strong turnout, including Nantucket (#5), Provincetown (#15), Chatham (#21), Newburyport (#27), Brewster (#39) and Gloucester (#43). By comparison, Florida’s only four beach cities in the ranking were Palm Beach (#1), Sanibel (#31), Jupiter (#40) and Miami (#50).
Here are the 50 most expensive places to retire by the beach. And if you’re looking for affordable beach locations for your retirement, consider retiring in one of these 50 cities.
1. Palm Beach, Florida
- % of population 65+: 63.5%
- median household income: $168,403
- Monthly Cost of Living: $59,821
- Habitable: 69
2. Montecito, California
- % of population 65+: 33.5%
- median household income: $231,005
- Monthly Cost of Living: $34,380
- Habitable: 68
3. Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina
- % of population 65+: 28.2%
- median household income: $192,813
- Monthly Cost of Living: $26,110
- Habitable: 67
4. Malibu, California
- % of population 65+: 31.8%
- median household income: $194,421
- Monthly Cost of Living: $22,941
- Habitable: 53
5. Nantucket, Massachusetts
- % of population 65+: 16.1%
- median household income: $148,017
- Monthly Cost of Living: $20,828
- Habitable: 72
6. Santa Monica, California
- % of population 65+: 19.5%
- median household income: $114,885
- Monthly Cost of Living: $16,733
- Habitable: 73
7. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
- % of population 65+: 58%
- median household income: $129,250
- Monthly Cost of Living: $16,485
- Habitable: 78
8. Solana Beach, California
- % of population 65+: 26.7%
- median household income: $152,167
- Monthly Cost of Living: $16,300
- Habitable: 76
9. Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
- % of population 65+: 32.1%
- median household income: $151,563
- Monthly Cost of Living: $15,512
- Habitable: 60
10. Montauk, New York
- % of population 65+: 20%
- median household income: $142,961
- Monthly Cost of Living: $13,789
- Habitable: 69
11. Santa Barbara, California
- % of population 65+: 20.6%
- median household income: $106,182
- Monthly Cost of Living: $12,988
- Habitable: 73
12. San Clemente, California
- % of population 65+: 21.4%
- median household income: $140,062
- Monthly Cost of Living: $12,196
- Habitable: 63
13. Haleiwa, Hawaii
- % of population 65+: 23.7%
- median household income: $97,780
- Monthly Cost of Living: $12,057
- Habitable: 68
14. Shelter Island, New York
- % of population 65+: 18.7%
- median household income: $165,734
- Monthly Cost of Living: $12,018
- Habitable: 59
15. Provincetown, Massachusetts
- % of population 65+: 23.9%
- median household income: $158,125
- Monthly Cost of Living: $11,567
- Habitable: 82
16. Half Moon Bay, California
- % of population 65+: 23.1%
- median household income: $157,884
- Monthly Cost of Living: $11,050
- Habitable: 77
17. Capitola, California
- % of population 65+: 24.8%
- median household income: $102,976
- Monthly Cost of Living: $10,392
- Habitable: 80
18. Paia, Hawaii
- % of population 65+: 10.3%
- median household income: $100,559
- Monthly Cost of Living: $9,778
- Habitable: 64
19. Cayucos, California
- % of population 65+: 35.4%
- median household income: $87,235
- Monthly Cost of Living: $9,715
- Habitable: 61
20. Honolulu
- % of population 65+: 22%
- median household income: $86,504
- Monthly Cost of Living: $9,554
- Habitable: 78
21. Chatham, Massachusetts
- % of population 65+: 53.5%
- median household income: $83,750
- Monthly Cost of Living: $9,526
- Habitable: 65
22. Folly Beach, South Carolina
- % of population 65+: 38.8%
- median household income: $102,279
- Monthly Cost of Living: $8,632
- Habitable: 57
23. San Diego
- % of population 65+: 14.6%
- median household income: $108,077
- Monthly Cost of Living: $8,359
- Habitable: 75
24. Pismo Beach, California
- % of population 65+: 32.7%
- median household income: $118,072
- Monthly Cost of Living: $8,299
- Habitable: 65
25. Kennebunkport, Maine
- % of population 65+: 45.3%
- median household income: $121,189
- Monthly Cost of Living: $8,110
- Habitable: 68
26. Los Angeles
- % of population 65+: 14.2%
- median household income: $81,939
- Monthly Cost of Living: $7,824
- Habitable: 67
27. Newburyport, Massachusetts
- % of population 65+: 24.4%
- median household income: $139,625
- Monthly Cost of Living: $7,690
- Habitable: 80
28. New York City
- % of population 65+: 16.6%
- median household income: $80,483
- Monthly Cost of Living: $7,533
- Habitable: 75
29. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- % of population 65+: 39.2%
- median household income: $94,657
- Monthly Cost of Living: $7,515
- Habitable: 63
30. Newport, Rhode Island
- % of population 65+: 22.2%
- median household income: $86,313
- Monthly Cost of Living: $7,514
- Habitable: 78
31. Sanibel, Florida
- % of population 65+: 54.9%
- median household income: $108,644
- Monthly Cost of Living: $7,355
- Habitable: 67
32. Morro Bay, California
- % of population 65+: 32.6%
- median household income: $95,843
- Monthly Cost of Living: $7,347
- Habitable: 56
33. Long Beach, New York
- % of population 65+: 21.8%
- median household income: $140,739
- Monthly Cost of Living: $7,300
- Habitable: 81
34. Seattle
- % of population 65+: 13%
- median household income: $123,860
- Monthly Cost of Living: $7,143
- Habitable: 75
35. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
- % of population 65+: 43.6%
- median household income: $137,500
- Monthly Cost of Living: $6,996
- Habitable: 69
36. Canon Beach, Oregon
- % of population 65+: 36.7%
- median household income: $69,375
- Monthly Cost of Living: $6,986
- Habitable: 80
37. Emerald Isle, North Carolina
- % of population 65+: 36.8%
- median household income: $89,773
- Monthly Cost of Living: $6,802
- Habitable: 61
38. Friday Harbor, Washington
- % of population 65+: 19.7%
- median household income: $80,378
- Monthly Cost of Living: $6,707
- Habitable: 77
39. Brewster, Massachusetts
- % of population 65+: 37.6%
- median household income: $113,214
- Monthly Cost of Living: $6,648
- Habitable: 61
40. Jupiter, Florida
- % of population 65+: 24.4%
- median household income: $110,240
- Monthly Cost of Living: $6,402
- Habitable: 70
41. Edisto Beach, South Carolina
- % of population 65+: 48.3%
- median household income: $85,521
- Monthly Cost of Living: $6,398
- Habitable: 57
42. St. Simons Island, Georgia
- % of population 65+: 37.8%
- median household income: $108,771
- Monthly Cost of Living: $6,235
- Habitable: 70
43. Gloucester, Massachusetts
- % of population 65+: 27.9%
- median household income: $83,883
- Monthly Cost of Living: $6,231
- Habitable: 71
44. Nags Head, North Carolina
- % of population 65+: 40%
- median household income: $91,264
- Monthly Cost of Living: $6,089
- Habitable: 62
45. Douglas, Michigan
- % of population 65+: 37.4%
- median household income: $81,627
- Monthly Cost of Living: $5,979
- Habitable: 69
46. Port Aransas, Texas
- % of population 65+: 32.9%
- median household income: $88,947
- Monthly Cost of Living: $5,964
- Habitable: 68
47. Asbury Park, New Jersey
- % of population 65+: 12.5%
- median household income: $75,544
- Monthly Cost of Living: $5,934
- Habitable: 67
48. Cape May, New Jersey
- % of population 65+: 33.3%
- median household income: $62,576
- Monthly Cost of Living: $5,786
- Habitable: 63
49. Tybee Island, Georgia
- % of population 65+: 41.6%
- median household income: $120,479
- Monthly Cost of Living: $5,780
- Habitable: 59
50. Miami
- % of population 65+: 15.9%
- median household income: $62,462
- Monthly Cost of Living: $5,771
- Habitable: 81
See more original studies and surveys GOBankingRates Original Research Center.
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities along the coast to find the most expensive places to retire. Previously GOBankingRates explored beach cities sourced from Travel + Leisure, Thrillist, USA Today and US News & World Report. Several factors were found for each city, including total population, population age 65 and older, total households, and median household income, all obtained from the US Census 2024 ACS. The average single-family home value was obtained from the Zillow Home Value Index for February 2026. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 6.37%, as obtained from Federal Reserve economic data as of April 15, 2026. Cost of living indices were obtained from Sperling’s BestPlaces and using the national average cost of living for retired households, as obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Consumer Expenditure Survey For retired consumer units, the average expenditure cost can be calculated for each city. Using average expenses and mortgage costs, the total cost of living for a retiree was calculated. The cities were ranked to show the most expensive places to live along the coast for a retiree. All data is updated as of April 15, 2026.