Retirement Hot Spots: Compare the Costs
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How Much Does It Cost in ...
Thinking about changing your address during your golden years? A move is a big decision that should be based on many factors, including what the cost of living will be. Bankrate has rounded up key stats on 62 popular retirement spots, we highlight 30 of them here.
Click through our gallery to check out the prospective communities. Compare the price of goods and services there, everything from the cost of a dozen eggs to median home prices.
Next: Albuquerque, N.M. -
Ronald Modra, AP
Albuquerque, N.M.
Population: 504,949
State sales tax: No sales tax, but a 5% "gross receipts tax" that businesses pass along to consumers
State income tax: 1.7 - 5.3%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $323,379
Movie: $9.27
Dentist visit: $67.20
Ibuprofen: $6.44
Dozen eggs: $1.51
Coffee: $3.61
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Albuquerque
Next: Asheville, N.C. -
Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau
Asheville, N.C.
Population: 398,009
State sales tax: 4.25%
State income tax: 6 - 8.25%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $337,633
Movie: $8.49
Dentist visit: $69.66
Ibuprofen: $6.04
Dozen eggs: $1.43
Coffee: $2.91
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Asheville
Next: Atlanta, Ga. -
Don Ryan, AP
Atlanta, Ga.
Population: 486,411
State sales tax: 4%
State income tax: 1 - 6%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $288,758
Movie: $8.73
Dentist visit: $81.25
Ibuprofen: $5.89
Dozen eggs: $1.30
Coffee: $3.44
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Atlanta
Next: Austin, Texas -
Harry Cabluck, AP
Austin, Texas
Population: 709,893
State sales tax: 6.25%
State income tax: None
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $228,613
Movie: $8.25
Dentist visit: $74.11
Ibuprofen: $5.55
Dozen eggs: $1.94
Coffee: $3.22
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Austin
Next: Bellingham, Wash. -
Dean Rutz / MCT
Bellingham, Wash.
Population: 71,289
State sales tax: 6.5%
State income tax: None
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $426,099
Movie: $7.53
Dentist visit: $86.96
Ibuprofen: $6.21
Dozen eggs: $1.77
Coffee: $4.43
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Bellingham
Next: Bend, Ore. -
Don Ryan, AP
Bend, Ore.
Population: 75,290
State sales tax: None
State income tax: 5%, 7% and 9%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $442,674
Movie: $8.57
Dentist visit: $85.19
Ibuprofen: $6.10
Dozen eggs: $1.95
Coffee: $4.44
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Bend
Next: Birmingham, Ala. -
Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau
Birmingham, Ala.
Population: 242,820
State sales tax: 4%
State income tax: 2-5%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $236,911
Movie: $8.63
Dentist visit: $78.39
Ibuprofen: $5.94
Dozen eggs: $1.29
Coffee: $2.77
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Birmingham
Next: Bozeman, Montana -
Erik Petersen, AP
Bozeman, Montana
Population: 27,509
State sales tax: None
State income tax: 1-6.9%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $390,928
Movie: $7.63
Dentist visit: $71.00
Ibuprofen: $7.18
Dozen eggs: $1.34
Coffee: $3.62
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Bozeman
Next: Burlington, Vt. -
Alden Pellett, AP
Burlington, Vt.
Population: 206,007
State sales tax: 6%
State income tax: 3.6-9.5%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $395,295
Movie: $7.83
Dentist visit: $69.03
Ibuprofen: $5.85
Dozen eggs: $1.78
Coffee: $3.04
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Burlington
Next: Charleston, S.C. -
Charleston Visitors Bureau | AP
Charleston, S.C.
Population: 107,845
State sales tax: 5%
State income tax: 2.5-7%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $272,635
Movie: $7.80
Dentist visit: $92.42
Ibuprofen: $5.84
Dozen eggs: $1.55
Coffee: $2.73
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Charleston
Next: Charlottesville, Va. -
Amy Sancetta, AP
Charlottesville, Va.
Population: 398,009
State sales tax: 4.25
State income tax: 6 - 8.25%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $443,485
Movie: $8.71
Dentist visit: $75.62
Ibuprofen: $5.19
Dozen eggs: $1.48
Coffee: $3.32
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Charlottesville
Next: Cheyenne, Wyo. -
Frontier Days | AP
Cheyenne, Wyo.
Population: 55,362
State sales tax: 4%
State income tax: None
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $331,716
Movie: $7.84
Dentist visit: $62.68
Ibuprofen: $6.35
Dozen eggs: $1.62
Coffee: $4.07
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Cheyenne
Next: Chicago, Ill. -
Jeff Roberson, AP
Chicago, Ill.
Population: 3 million
State sales tax: 6.35%
State income tax: 3%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $354,224
Movie: $9.94
Dentist visit: $82.13
Ibuprofen: $5.34
Dozen eggs: $1.56
Coffee: $4.14
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Chicago
Next: Colorado Springs -
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Population: 370,000
State sales tax: 2.9%
State income tax: 4.63%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $275,259
Movie: $7.40
Dentist visit: $76.47
Ibuprofen: $6.14
Dozen eggs: $1.27
Coffee: $3.46
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Colorado Springs
Next: Columbus, Ohio -
Chris Kasson, AP
Columbus, Ohio
Population: 733,203
State sales tax: 5.5%
State income tax: 0.681 - 6.87%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $303,182
Movie: $7.33
Dentist visit: $85.33
Ibuprofen: $5.28
Dozen eggs: $1.27
Coffee: $3.26
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Columbus
Next: Denver, Colo. -
David Zalubowski, AP
Denver, Colo.
Population: 566,974
State sales tax: 2.9%
State income tax: 4.63%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $351,968
Movie: $8.90
Dentist visit: $80.78
Ibuprofen: $5.99
Dozen eggs: $1.31
Coffee: $4.08
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Denver
Next: Flagstaff, Ariz. -
Thomas Swick / MCT
Flagstaff, Ariz.
Population: 145,866
State sales tax: 5.85 - 6.73%
State income tax: 2.73 - 4.79%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $505,009
Movie: $8.33
Dentist visit: $80.33
Ibuprofen: $5.97
Dozen eggs: $1.64
Coffee: $3.86
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Flagstaff
Next: Hattiesburg, Miss. -
Steve Rouse, AP
Hattiesburg, Miss.
Population: 44,779
State sales tax: 7%
State income tax: 3 - 5%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $257,002
Movie: $6.83
Dentist visit: $61.20
Ibuprofen: $5.42
Dozen eggs: $1.48
Coffee: $2.91
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Hattiesburg
Next: Hilton Head Island -
Getty Images | AP
Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Population: 33,862
State sales tax: 5%
State income tax: 2.5 - 7%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $324,078
Movie: $8.03
Dentist visit: $77.59
Ibuprofen: $5.58
Dozen eggs: $1.58
Coffee: $3.75
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Hilton Head Island
Next: Honolulu, Hawaii -
Marco Garcia, Getty Images
Honolulu, Hawaii
Population: $377,357
State sales tax: 4%
State income tax: 1.4 - 8.25%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $767,846
Movie: $8.60
Dentist visit: $73.00
Ibuprofen: $6.97
Dozen eggs: $2.80
Coffee: $6.20
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Honolulu
Next: Ithaca -
AP
Ithaca, N.Y.
Population: 29,952
State sales tax: 4%
State income tax: 4 - 6.85%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $310,600
Movie: $9.00
Dentist visit: $67.76
Ibuprofen: $5.98
Dozen eggs: $1.43
Coffee: $3.13
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Ithaca
Next: Knoxville -
Knoxville, Tenn.
Population: 173,890
State sales tax: 7%
State income tax: None
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $235,560
Movie: $8.28
Dentist visit: $60.20
Ibuprofen: $5.06
Dozen eggs: $1.43
Coffee: $2.76
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Knoxville
Next: Las Vegas, Nev. -
Business Wire | AP
Las Vegas, Nev.
Population: 478,434
State sales tax: 6.5%
State income tax: None
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $433,133
Movie: $9.61
Dentist visit: $77.81
Ibuprofen: $6.04
Dozen eggs: $1.51
Coffee: $3.56
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Las Vegas
Next: Olympia, Wash. -
John Froschauer, AP
Olympia, Wash.
Population: 42,514
State sales tax: 6.5%
State income tax: None
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $302,433
Movie: $8.84
Dentist visit: $102.80
Ibuprofen: $6.41
Coffee: $4.40
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Olympia
Next: Portland, Maine -
Robert F. Bukaty, AP
Portland, Maine
Population: 64,249
State sales tax: 5%
State income tax: 2 - 8.5%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $399,215
Movie: $8.00
Dentist visit: $72.27
Ibuprofen: $5.68
Dozen eggs: $1.96
Coffee: $2.98
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Portland
Next: San Antonio, Texas -
Morry Gash, AP
San Antonio, Texas
Population: 1.3 million
State sales tax: 6.25%
State income tax: None
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $237,351
Movie: $8.24
Dentist visit: $87.27
Ibuprofen: $5.68
Dozen eggs: $1.44
Coffee: $2.92
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on San Antonio
Next: San Diego, Calif. -
Eric Noland, AP
San Diego, Calif.
Population: 1.3 million
State sales tax: 6.25%
State income tax: 1 - 9.3%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $711,733
Movie: $9.88
Dentist visit: $94.54
Ibuprofen: $7.07
Dozen eggs: $2.09
Coffee: $4.33
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on San Diego
Next: San Francisco -
Jeff Chiu, AP
San Francisco, Calif.
Population: 744,041
State sales tax: 6.25%
State income tax: 1 - 9.3%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $866,637
Movie: $10.07
Doctor visit: $119.93
Ibuprofen: $7.19
Dozen eggs: $3.20
Coffee: $4.96
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on San Francisco
Next: Spokane, Wash. -
Amy Sinisterra, AP
Spokane, Wash.
Population: 198,000
State sales tax: 6.5%
State income tax: None
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $264,778
Movie: $9.00
Dentist visit: $82.07
Ibuprofen: $5.92
Dozen eggs: $1.71
Coffee: $3.44
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Spokane
Next: Springfield, Mo. -
Brian McTavish / MCT
Springfield, Mo.
Population: 150,797
State sales tax: 4.225%
State income tax: 1.5 - 6%
Cost of Goods & Services
Home price: $224,734
Movie: $8.08
Dentist visit: $65.45
Ibuprofen: $5.45
Dozen eggs: $1.32
Coffee: $3.21
(Data as of Sept. 2007)
· Full Profile on Springfield
· See All 62 Communities
More on AOL: Hot Spots for Less -
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Six Retirement Hot Spots for Less
Sinking housing prices are stressing homeowners. But behind "for sale" signs in some desirable locales lie golden opportunities for retirees who can choose when and where they want to move.
Click through our gallery and see six places that have cooled considerably in recent months and represent some of today's best values in places to retire.
Six Retirement Hot Spots for LessMore Money & Finance:
