The South's Most Practical Retirement Cities (Low Costs, High Comfort, Less Stress)

By Reuben Gregg Brewer – Feb 27, 2026 at 9:50AM ESTKey PointsIf you are looking for a fun-in-the-sun lifestyle, you'll want to consider moving to the South.Looking at costs and lifestyle, The Motley Fool identified the top cities to visit in the South as you plan your big move.The Motley Fool's 2026 Best Places to Retire report found that these three cities offer a great combination of benefits.Retirement is a big step, and it often comes along with a physical move, as retirees look to get the most bang for their buck after they stop working.

The Motley Fool's 2026 Best Places to Retire report did the heavy lifting, so you can quickly narrow your search to just a handful of the best options. If you are looking for low costs, low stress, and a lot of comfort, these three Southern cities should be on your radar. What do you want in a retirement home?

The Motley Fool's Best Places to Retire Index was created to help you find the right place to live when you stop working. The index was formulated with input from 2,000 retirees aged 55 and over to determine what was important to them. Key factors examined were affordability, safety, access to healthcare, and quality of life. Image source: Getty Images. With that foundation, The Motley Fool pitted city against city across the United States. However, if you are looking for warm weather, there's really only one direction to go -- south. That's where The Motley Fool's list of the Best Places to Retire in the South comes in. Here are three top options if you care about costs, comfort, and a stress-free lifestyle... and they are all in Florida. 1.

Fort Lauderdale Located in Broward County, Fort Lauderdale offers a coastal location with easy access to beaches and a walkable lifestyle. The cost of living is relatively low, and there are attractive healthcare options in the area. Condo fees can be high if you live on the waterfront, but if you pull back from the coast, you should be able to find more attractive housing costs. 2. St. Augustine St. Augustine, located in St. Johns County, ranks second on the list. It shares many of Fort Lauderdale's positives and negatives, most notably its easy access to the water. If you like historical architecture and a walkable downtown, it might be the preferred option. That said, access to healthcare could be more limited if you have special needs. But Jacksonville, a much larger city, isn't too far away. 3. Quincy Quincy, located in Gadsden County, was called out as offering "the best of small-town living." It isn't as close to the ocean as the two cities above, but it is near Tallahassee, Florida's capital. That means you can have the best of both worlds, with just a short drive giving you access to the culture provided by city life, even as you enjoy living in a small community. State parks, meanwhile, will provide outdoor lovers plenty of recreational opportunities.Read NextFeb 27, 2026 •By Kailey Hagen, CFPHere's How to Boost Your Social Security Benefit Up to 8% in 1 YearFeb 27, 2026 •By Kailey Hagen, CFPLow on Cash? Consider Retiring in 1 of These 10 States.Feb 27, 2026 •By Maurie Backman3 Tips for Choosing a New Medicare Advantage Plan By March 31Feb 27, 2026 •By Maurie Backman4 Easy Ways to Boost Your Social Security BenefitsFeb 27, 2026 •By Marc Guberti6 Midwest Retirement Cities That Make Your Monthly Budget Feel BiggerFeb 26, 2026 •By Maurie BackmanThis Could Be the Easiest Way to Get More Social SecurityAbout the AuthorReuben Gregg Brewer is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering energy, utilities, REITs, and consumer staples. He is the former director of research at Value Line Publishing, where he rose from mutual fund analyst to equity analyst before leading all research operations. Reuben holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Purchase, a master’s in social work from Columbia University, and an MBA from Regis University. He has been featured as a financial expert on CNBC and in the Financial Times, Barron’s, and InvestmentNews.TMFReubenGBrewer