Dollar for Dollar, Kalamazoo Is One of the Best Places To Retire

A $1 million nest egg would cover more than 28 years in retirement in Kalamazoo, making it into the top 10 places to retire in the United States.

It can't be the climate. Kalamazoo is the northernmost city to make the top 10 on the SmartAsset.com study of the cost of living in retirement. The financial planning company analyzed data on average expenditures for seniors, cost of living and investment returns.

Numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the average annual expenditures of seniors. Then cost of living was subtracted, with that sum provided by the Council for Community and Economic Research. The totals were adjusted based on the costs of five expense categories: housing, food, healthcare, utilities, transportation and other in each city. Using this data, SmartAsset calculated the average cost of living for retirees in the largest U.S. cities.

Kalamazoo, MI

• State Rank: 1
• National Rank: 7
• Housing Expenses: $5,340
• Food Expenses: $4,865
• Healthcare Expenses: $5,918
• Utilities Expenses: $3,540
• Transportation Expenses: $7,844
• Other Expenses: $18,745

Top Cities to Retire in Michigan

1. Kalamazoo
2. Benton Harbor
3. Detroit
4. Grand Rapids

Nationwide Top 10 Best Places to Retire for your Money | Years in Retirement

1. Harlingen, TX | 31.68
2. McAllen, TX | 31.29
3. Memphis, TN | 29.78
4. Richmond, IN | 29.75
5. Knoxville, TN | 28.89
6. Muskogee, OK | 28.87
7. Kalamazoo, MI | 28.60
8. Wichita Falls, TX | 28.59
9. Conway, AR | 28.42
10. Jonesboro, AR | 28015