11 Midwestern Towns That Are Getting Too Expensive for Retirees

Trying to plan for retirement can be expensive, and you might be hoping to relocate to a cheaper area where your dollar goes further. Many midwesterners don't think they have the same worries as those on a coast.

However, not every city in the Midwest is equally affordable. An expensive Midwestern city like the cities we list here could cost you more in retirement than simply staying put. 

Keep reading to learn more about which cities to avoid if you want your retirement savings to last as long as possible.

In terms of affordability, Ann Arbor is a true outlier in the Midwest. Its high median rent of $1,956 is much more comparable to rent in expensive coastal Maine than most towns in Michigan, Ohio, or Nebraska. 

If you decide to settle in Michigan, Ann Arbor’s parks, botanical gardens, and museums make it a good day-trip destination. 

If you value your budget, though, a Detroit suburb like Ypsilanti — home to its own series of quirky museums, like the Michigan Firehouse Museum — might make more sense than Ann Arbor.

Bismarck is North Dakota’s capital city, but it isn’t the most populous city in the state (a distinction that goes to the much larger Fargo). 

In spite of being a smaller urban center, Bismarck has heftier housing prices than most nearby cities, Fargo included. The median rent is $1,150

Chicago is a fascinating, storied city with a seemingly endless calendar of community events. Unfortunately, as a major population hub, Chicago also has a higher cost of living than most other Midwestern cities. 

More Chicago residents rent than own with a median rent of $2,251. High utility prices, transportation costs, and grocery bills maintain Chicago’s status as one of the most expensive cities in the world.

This cozy Minneapolis suburb is home to around 4,000 people, most of whom own their homes. The current median rent is $1,206. It can be a great commute to the city where you can enjoy most big city activities. 

Detroit’s housing market still hasn’t recovered from the last economic crash, which could make it an affordable place to buy and fix up a home.

But for renters, it’s a different story: Detroit’s median rent is $1,202, low for the country but high for the region. Plus, expenses like utilities and groceries are higher in Detroit than in the rest of the nation.

With around 126,000 people, Fargo is easily the biggest city in North Dakota. Its zoo, stadium, and museums make the city a lovely place to stay over the weekend or to visit with the grandkids in tow. 

However, as a more densely populated city in a comparatively sparse state, its housing prices are above average for the region as a whole. 

The city’s median rent is just under $1,027, which, while better than in Bismarck, is on the high end for rent in the Midwest.

Iowa City is one of just three U.S. cities to be designated a UNESCO City of Literature. 

However, if you value a balanced budget along with a love of learning, you might be happier visiting Iowa City for its libraries, bookshops, and arts events instead of buying a house there. 

Both the median rent ($1,321) and median home value ($279,401) in Iowa City are lower than the national median, but they’re both above average for the Midwest region.

The cost of living in Manhattan, Kansas is nowhere near the cost of living in Manhattan (New York City). In fact, compared to practically any city on the East Coast, Kansas’s Manhattan is almost unbelievably cheap. 

But with a median rent of $1,125, the cost of housing in Manhattan is much pricier than in the rest of Kansas (not to mention the rest of the Midwest).

You’ll enjoy the perks of living near the city without the downsides of high rent if you live in a nearby city like Emporia instead.

Omaha, Nebraska’s biggest city, is located between the state capital of Lincoln and Iowa’s state capital, Des Moines. 

As with most Midwestern cities on our list, its cost of living is high for the region but low for the United States at large: Median rent is around $1,191.

You’ll have more money to spend on fun activities like watching the wildcats at Omaha’s magnificent Henry Dooly Zoo and Aquarium if you live in a cheaper suburb like Papillon instead.

Rapid City is one of the closest cities to Mt. Rushmore. It’s also near nine other national parks, state parks, and national monuments, which makes the city appealing for outdoorsy future retirees. 

But the city also has a relatively high median rent of nearly $1,184. To spend more of your money exploring the great outdoors, try a cheaper South Dakota locale like Deadwood or Sturgis.

Willoughby Hills, a small suburb of Cleveland, is a riverside community with plenty of parks. 

The city has a fairly even number of homeowners and renters, though renters pay less than the national median ($1,135 a month).

While these 11 cities might not be the most affordable locations for budget-minded seniors, they’re more of the exception than the rule of Midwestern housing. 

For every overly expensive city in the Midwest, there are dozens of cheaper options with a high quality of life and low cost of living that can ensure you do better financially and your retirement is everything you’ve always hoped it would be.