Retirees Are Leaving Florida for These 6 Cheaper States. It’s Hard to Blame Them

For decades, Florida was the undisputed finish line of American retirement.

The sunshine, beaches, and no state income tax made it the obvious place to spend your golden years.

That’s changing fast.

In 2025, nearly as many retirees left Florida as moved in, leaving the Sunshine State with a razor-thin net gain after years of dominating the retirement map.

Soaring insurance premiums, rising home prices, relentless development, and hurricane worries are pushing longtime residents and would-be transplants to look elsewhere.

The good news for budget-minded retirees is that several nearby states offer much of what drew people to Florida.

Here are the cheaper states retirees are choosing instead of Florida, and the reasons each one is winning them over.

Tennessee

Tennessee has become the poster child of the move-away-from-Florida trend, and it’s easy to see why retirees love it.

Like Florida, Tennessee charges no state income tax. So Social Security, pensions, and retirement account withdrawals all go untaxed.

Retirees get to keep that same tax-free status they prized in Florida.

But the cost of living runs well below Florida’s, with a cost-of-living index among the lowest in the country and a median property tax bill that’s gentle on a fixed income.

The biggest draw is arguably insurance.

Trading a hurricane-exposed Florida coast for the hills of East Tennessee can slash homeowners’ premiums dramatically.

Add in the Appalachian scenery, four real but mild seasons, and a strong sense of community in towns around Knoxville and Chattanooga, and you’ve got Florida’s tax perks without the coastal price tag.

No wonder it tops so many relocation lists.

Georgia

Just up I-75 from Florida, Georgia offers retirees a lower cost of living.

Georgia does have a state income tax, but it’s generous to retirees, with large exemptions on retirement income for those 62 and older that shield much of a typical nest egg.

Property taxes and overall living costs sit below Florida’s, and housing in particular stretches a retirement dollar further, whether in the mountains around Blue Ridge or the historic charm of Savannah.

The climate is a familiar Southern warm, just a touch milder than peninsular Florida.

For Florida retirees who want to stay close to family back home or keep an easy drive to the beach, Georgia is a natural landing spot that eases the budget without a dramatic lifestyle change.

South Carolina

South Carolina has quietly become one of the stickiest retirement destinations in the country, with retirees moving in and putting down roots rather than bouncing back out.

The tax picture is a big reason.

South Carolina doesn’t tax Social Security and offers meaningful deductions on other retirement income, paired with low property taxes.

The overall cost of living runs around 6% below the national average, and housing in spots like Greenville stays affordable even as coastal Charleston draws the spotlight.

Retirees still get coastal living and warm weather, the very things that pulled them toward Florida, but at a more forgiving price point.

The combination of low costs, mild climate, and welcoming communities is exactly why so many former Floridians are choosing the Palmetto State and staying for the long haul.

Alabama

For retirees focused squarely on stretching every dollar, Alabama makes a powerful financial case that’s hard to ignore.

Alabama doesn’t tax Social Security, pensions, or most retirement income, and it consistently ranks among the cheapest states in the nation for overall living costs.

Property taxes are among the lowest anywhere in the country, which is a revelation for anyone who’s watched Florida housing costs climb.

The Gulf Coast around places like Fairhope even offers beach access and warm weather reminiscent of Florida, minus the premium pricing.

For a retiree living mainly on Social Security and a modest pension, Alabama’s rock-bottom costs mean those checks go remarkably far, which is the whole point of leaving pricier Florida behind.

Mississippi

Mississippi rarely makes the flashy retirement brochures. But for affordability, it’s tough to beat, and savvy retirees are taking notice.

The state doesn’t tax Social Security, pensions, or other qualified retirement income, and it boasts some of the lowest property taxes and home prices in the entire country.

For retirees whose biggest goal is owning a comfortable home outright without a crushing tax bill, Mississippi delivers.

The Gulf Coast region offers warm weather and waterfront living at a fraction of Florida’s cost.

There are trade-offs to research, including healthcare access in rural areas.

But for sheer dollar-stretching power, Mississippi gives budget-conscious retirees a Southern, warm-climate home that costs far less than the Sunshine State.

North Carolina

North Carolina rounds out the list by offering retirees something Florida can struggle to provide: variety, from mountains to coast, at a reasonable price.

The state taxes retirement income at a flat rate, which is a consideration to weigh.

But its overall cost of living and housing costs generally come in below Florida’s, especially once you factor in far lower homeowners’ insurance away from the coast.

Retirees can choose the mild mountain air of Asheville or the milder coastal areas without the full hurricane-premium sting of Florida living.