Two New York cities are among the most affordable places to retire in U.S.

Where in the US is the least expensive area to retire?

According to a recent survey, New York is one of the places where you can count on your hard-earned funds to last.

GOBankingRates, a personal finance website, ranked Rochester as the 12th-cheapest area to retire in the United States.The Empire State’s second-largest city, Buffalo, was named the 22nd most affordable city.

Toledo, Ohio, took the top spot on the list of the least expensive places to retire.

Upstate New York has previously been acknowledged as a top retirement location.

U.S. News and World Report ranked Syracuse and Rochester as two of the top American retirement destinations in 2024, while MoneyTalksNews listed Lake Placid as one of the top mountain towns for retirees in 2023.

How did Rochester and Buffalo end up on the 2025 ranking?

The annual retirement income required for necessities like groceries, healthcare, and housing in the 100 largest American cities was analyzed by GOBankingRates to create its list. Additionally, the banking website evaluated each city’s desirability and only featured neighborhoods with a minimum of 10% older citizens.

According to GOBankingRates, the cost of living in both Western New York cities is significantly lower than the national average: It is 11.5% lower in Buffalo and 16.8% lower in Rochester than the national average.

According to GOBankingRates, Rochester is among the most reasonably priced cities on its list for housing, with an annual cost of $8,455. At $11,852 annually, Buffalo’s housing was also considered to be far below the national average.

Buffalo has a greater livability rating than Rochester, despite Rochester’s higher affordability ranking.