Top 10 Most Affordable, Gay Retirement Cities | LGBTQ Retirement | Queer Money

Here are the most affordable, LGBTQ+-friendly cities for gay people to retire.
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We’re David and John Auten-Schneider, the founders of Debt Free Guys and creators of the Queer Money® podcast. We help queer people (and allies) achieve financial, relationship, time, and location freedom by helping them architect their Wealth Builder’s Pyramid.
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[@carmshlotsky5447]

What a yucky list. No thank you!

[@queermoney]

That’s fine. You do you. If you can afford to live in the top tier gay Meccas, by all means do so. Not everyone has that kind of financial privilege. Some folks need to live/retire where it may be less financially stressful.

[@chevychase]

I'm glad Lexington, Kentucky, is on this list. It's great. Nicest people on earth and the horse farms are gorgeous! I just went to the University of Kentucky Medical Center and every employee there was wearing a rainbow flag!

[@queermoney]

Wow! That’s awesome. It’s great to see how some folks in red states go out of their way to show inclusion. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🤩

[@jonniesantos]

This is eye opening. I’m an old Gay and still worry about being a target in smaller towns and definitely the South. We’re in SoCal currently.

[@queermoney]

I would say if you’ve earned a SoCal income, built a budget and planned for retirement based on SoCal cost of living you’re probably one of the lucky ones that can afford to stay in a blue state and enjoy a long and happy retirement. For many others that may not be the case, so we want to give them options. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

[@larsedik]

We have houses in Los Angeles and Palm Springs but are going to sell our house in L.A. and live full time in Palm Springs. The heat does not bother me, but I will miss Los Angeles.

[@feesor]

Harrisburg is so boringk.! Everything closes up at 5 pm. It is on Amtrak line can be in Philadelphia in 90 minutes and 2.5 hours New York. Carlisle? Yuck!!! No gay people back in ‘93. The mall with Sears outlet 1 and Sears outlet 2. There is a great restaurant. Scales!

[@queermoney]

Ha! We clearly didn’t make this list for the retirees that still want the ooonz oooonsz ooonz, but are looking for affordability, community and lifestyle that’s a bit more laid back. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@franklove]

Take into account downsizing during retirement. And that opens up a lot more better places. When you're going by the average house cost for retirement you don't really need to heat and cool a three-bedroom two-bath house when a one-bedroom condo in a place like Wilton Manors Florida is $250,000

[@queermoney]

You are right that many downsize in retirement and most American homes sold today are larger than average. It’s hard to get that kind of data, so it’s probably more directional than exact with home prices. Although I’ve seen in many cities where a decent condo can be much more expensive than a home due to HOA fees.

[@exnihilo415]

I'll be retiring in Thailand. Waaay more affordable and honestly far nicer than this pick of mid tier US cities. Easily the most gay friendly country in Asia.

[@queermoney]

We’ve heard a lot of great things about Thailand. What do you think have been your overall costs of prepping for and moving there? What kind of moving costs or visa costs are you running into? Also what’s the tax implication living there?

[@exnihilo415]

@@queermoney I’m about 7 years from my target net assets of 2.2M to 2.5M in my mid / late 50’s. 4% rule gives me $88k/annual or $7k monthly pre-tax and pre future social security. I’ve been a FIRE enthusiast since my 20’s. Extreme overkill for Thailand where $3000 monthly will get you a comfortable middle class existence with a small new house, a cheaper new car, restaurants for every meal, a part time maid and platinum plan health insurance. A Thai permanent retirement visa can be obtained at 50 with a deposit of less than $30k in a Thai bank. Moving expenses are low since I’m just shipping a few boxes. Anything you would bring can just be obtained as or more cheaply in Thailand. My wife is a Thai trans woman and she already has a house and her own separate world of assets. We’ll probably only stay 179 days a year in Thailand to avoid being a Thai tax resident and paying additional Thai taxes on our US held assets. We’ll likely spend the hottest and wettest Thai months in Spain and Portugal and doing a bit of traveling but that can be done much more cheaply of course by visiting the Philippines or Kula Lumpur for a few months which is an easy $100 oneway flight away. There are way more options in this world than settling for Ohio or TN because it’s cheap and west hollywood isn’t. I know a number of people living comfortably on $1800 a month in Thailand. Depends on your sense of adventure. YOLO! Happy to answer any follow up questions.

[@exnihilo415]

@@queermoney I tried to answer comprehensively. Is my comment held for moderation or gone?

[@exnihilo415]

@@queermoney I’m about 7 years from my target net assets of 2.2M to 2.5M in my mid / late 50’s. 4% rule gives me $88k/annual or $7k monthly pre-tax and pre future social security. I’ve been a FIRE enthusiast since my 20’s. Extreme overkill for Thailand where $3000 monthly will get you a comfortable middle class existence with a small new house, a cheaper new car, restaurants for every meal, a part time maid and platinum plan health insurance. A Thai permanent retirement visa can be obtained at 50 with a deposit of less than $30k in a Thai bank.

[@exnihilo415]

@@queermoney Moving expenses are low since I’m just shipping a few boxes. Anything you would bring can just be obtained as or more cheaply in Thailand. My wife is a Thai trans woman and she already has a house and her own separate world of assets. We’ll probably only stay 179 days a year in Thailand to avoid being a Thai tax resident and paying additional Thai taxes on our US held assets. We’ll likely spend the hottest and wettest Thai months in Spain and Portugal and doing a bit of traveling but that can be done much more cheaply of course by visiting the Philippines or Kula Lumpur for a few months which is an easy $100 oneway flight away. There are way more options in this world than settling for Ohio or TN because it’s cheap and west hollywood isn’t. I know a number of people living comfortably on $1800 a month in Thailand. Depends on your sense of adventure. YOLO!

[@larsedik]

I'm in L.A. and Palm Springs, and I think Palm Springs is a better place to retire than West Hollywood. Anyway, that is where I am going to retire, but I do wish I had a larger house in Palm Springs.

[@queermoney]

We ❤️ PS too. Just visited last month. We have recently heard some pretty negative things about the healthcare in PS area. Long waits, few specialists and long drives were among the most common issues. Have you seen this too. I think this may be what kept it from a higher ranking on US News & World Repot’s list of best retirement destinations

[@jamesslate6664]

I just visited Milwaukee, WI over the Memorial Day weekend. So I was glad to see it make your retirement list. There are many things to love about this mid-western town that feels like Chicago's little sister. I have visited Milwaukee many times. As a Chicagoan, it's my favourite weekend getaway. During my latest trip, I couldn't help but notice numerous same-sex couples everywhere I went. The city is extremely gay-friendly. There are also many cultural attractions, including the world-class Milwaukee Art Museum as well as a thriving restaurant and bar scene in the historic Third Ward neighbourhood. On this trip, I walked through several of the areas that mimic their Manhattan counterparts with names like Murray Hill, Riverside Park, Lower East Side and Upper East Side. Of course the closer you get to Lake Michigan, the more posh it becomes, but generally, rents and home values are reasonable compared with bigger cities. And if you ever tire of the slower pace and need a big-city fix, then Chicago is an easy Amtrak ride away. Looking ahead to the prospect of climate change over the next 30+ years, cities that have an abundance of fresh water, such as those bounding the Great Lakes, will be in the best position to weather the effects of warming temperatures.

[@queermoney]

Yay! Love getting this boots on the ground/real life perspective. We’ve so many good things about Milwaukee we definitely need to go check it out. You’re the 3rd person to tell us what a lively place it’s become. Thank you! Happy Pride! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤

[@wayoutwest1600]

Seriously, consider Tucson! A big bastion of blue! Great weather, affordability, and healthcare is amazing! Very low property taxes, and the food is amazing

[@queermoney]

You had me at "the food is amazing." Tuscon lands at #60 on our list because it scores really low for median and average incomes, and we know many "retired" folks still work in retirement. It also scored in the bottom third on US News & World Reports list of best retirement cities. But it's definitely cheaper than California and Phoenix. Love the recommendation and insights. It's always helpful for those looking to make a move. Thank you!

[@wayoutwest1600]

@@queermoney oh, while I love Pittsburgh, you don’t have to shovel sunshine in Tucson!

[@harold1901]

Best place is where state doesn’t tax your social security and ssdi.

[@queermoney]

Totally get that. Taxes are a big factor in retirement. We did an episode about that here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hn6zY2iGq8p7haMsi=tCskxZuZUVZpDQnr

[@RainbowBoo42]

Can you make one for young gays and college students lol. Some of us are still trying to figure this out and probably will never be able to retire if the country keeps going the way its going

[@queermoney]

College town is coming in a few weeks. Make sure you’re subscribed 😉

[@stuartm6069]

Love Pittsburgh. I grew up in eastern Ohio and Went to Pittsburgh Quite often. I'm surprised there weren't any North Carolina cities on the list. Raleigh, Greensboro/Winston-Salem, and Asheville are spots of blue and very gay friendly in a red/purple state.

[@queermoney]

Pittsburgh is a great city. I/we think it’s one of the next big gay meccas. It’s affordable and very friendly. Plus, we love to go in and buy low cost real estate and put our gay sparkle all over it to make it our own. 🤩🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

[@queermoney]

Oh and Greensboro was the highest ranked NC city at #37. North Carolina is one of the most popular states when we did all 50. Watch it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2bGk5ugitKgp6ssi=SFmhOzsibyzKN6wY

[@feesor]

Pittsburgh person here. I don’t understand other studies rank Pittsburgh low because of the % of gay population, 2.3% I think?

[@feesor]

@@queermoneyif you guys find a modern home under 750 square feet in the city. Let me know that’s what I’m looking for. Tiny home without wheels, but on a foundation. I’ve lost out twice because of real estate agent with no urgency.

[@stuartm6069]

@@queermoney I would be interested to know what would be the most affordable and gay friendly neighborhoods in Pittsburgh. I'm thinking of moving back north from Greensboro, NC.

[@tedhodoba3637]

You've got to be kidding me. I wouldn't want to live on any of these lists. There are a lot of gay retiring here to Albuquerque and New Mexico in general. Cost of living is relatively low although it is rising as more people move here. Why would any senior want to live in a cold area like Pennsylvania where I'm originally from? It's not just a cold and snow factor but it's dangerous for seniors with. No thanks.

[@queermoney]

The data is the data. We’re not expressing any opinions here but just providing folks information to make more informed decisions. Keep in mind that not everyone in the queer community has a “heteronormative” desire for retirement. We know folks returning in places like Michigan and up state NY. ALB is a great city. What kept it lower on the rankings was home prices and low incomes compared to other cities. I think the influx of people from CA has pushed the affordability for some out of reach. You may have the financial privilege that allows for a location that aligns with your lifestyle others may not. You do you. That’s all any of us can do 😉

[@jimjanowski1750]

West Virginia???? No thank you. PA is awesome. I have had 10 corporate moves and have lived all over the USA. Obviously California is the best but I would rank Pennsylvania 2nd. Specifically Lanaster. Foodie town, gay bar, beautiful homes, nice people, train into Philly or the airport

[@queermoney]

We 😍 Lancaster too. Sadly the city hasn’t requested to be ranked by HRC on their Municipal Equality Index, but the city seems very gay friendly. We used to live nearby and would go into town for dining and drinks.

[@nikokatos]

So proud to see Syracuse on here!

[@queermoney]

Yay!

[@JimParrillo]

Rochester, NY! Not surprised to see us on the list, but a bit shocked that we made #1. Post-COVID, we are certainly getting a lot of people moving here and leaving the more expensive cities.

[@queermoney]

Rochester keeps popping up as one of the best cities on our list because it’s NY, it’s affordable and soooo inclusive. It was the runner up to Yonkers when we did the state of NY only because Yonkers has access to high NYC incomes. Check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mX2afmOrbJxqpcksi=FbbmWHhBLapAph05

[@francoisbessing]

As Realtor based in Rochester, NY I'd be happy to assist you in finding investment property in Rochester.

[@queermoney]

We need to plan a visit in the summer/fall to check the city out. Seems like an up and coming gay/queer mecca.

[@TropicTrdr]

Just how much of a difference does HRC's MEI really make to the average LGBTQ person on the street? They appear to operate in a rarified environment where their metrics may not match everyday concerns by those not employed by a municipality. Thanks.

[@queermoney]

Great question. I think for many folks who have location privilege to live in an already very LGBTQ friendly city like LA, SF, NYC it’s probably not a huge factor, but folk folks in smaller cities or areas of the country that aren’t known for being LGBTQ meccas then it’s a big deal. It lets folks know that there is a strong enough community of LGBTQ folks and allies that they put forth the effort to get the benefits and laws in place as well as apply to HRC to get scored. That means there is a critical mass of people to find community and support if you need and want that. Plus for us it’s a metric that is the same across over 500 cities and towns that is LGBTQ focused. There aren’t any else like it and would be impossible for us to research and track without a research team and a ton of money.

[@peterbejger3356]

Very puzzling that Syracuse and Rochester in Upstate New York make the list but a much larger and livelier Buffalo doesn't. Quite odd.

[@queermoney]

Great point. I think Buffalo would have been higher on the list except for three factors; it doesn’t get a 100 on HRCs MEI and it has lower median & average incomes than many other cities. If you’re a high income earner or can bring a remote job with you I’m sure it could be a great place.

[@peaceloveandunderstanding]

Great video, fellas!

[@queermoney]

Thanks 🤩