Credit: Lake Eola Park/Facebook

Financial consultancy site WalletHub ranked the country’s best and worst places to retire, and Orlando came out on top. 

Orlando was ranked the No. 1 best place to retire by WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Places to Retire (2026),” which takes into account factors like affordability, things to do, quality of life and quality of healthcare. The two next-best scoring cities are Scottsdale and Minneapolis.

While Orlando’s cost of living isn’t particularly low, the study states, “It is the ninth-cheapest city for homemaker services and the 20th-cheapest for adult day health care.”

The City Beautiful also ranked third-best for recreational activities overall, with the study noting specifically the area’s high number of music venues, art galleries, places to go fishing and adult volunteer opportunities. 

“It also has the seventh-best hospitals for geriatrics, allowing elderly residents to receive quality care.”

The study also highlights affordability and financial security, noting a 2025 Retirement Confidence Survey from the Employee Benefit Research Institute that says, “67% of workers reported feeling at least somewhat confident that they will have enough money to retire comfortably, but only 24% said they were ‘very confident.'”

“Retirement isn’t all about the money, though. Retirees want to live in a place where they enjoy safety and access to good healthcare, especially in light of significant inflation and economic uncertainty. The ideal city will also have lots of ways to spend leisure time, along with good weather.”

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Chloe Greenberg is the Digital Content Editor for Orlando Weekly.