The 20 Warmest Places to Live With A Low Cost of Living In The U.S.
Are you tired of freezing during the cold winter months? Some of us live in areas that enjoy four distinct seasons. Although there are benefits, some of us would love to escape the cold months and fly south to a warmer climate.
If you fall into that category, but you’re also on the budget-conscious side, we have the perfect solution. Check out our list of the 20 best warm places to live with a low cost of living in the United States.
20. Phoenix, Arizona
Builder Online provides us with our first five warm and affordable places to live. Phoenix is a warm place to live with 85% of the year filled with sunny weather. If you love clear skies and hot weather in the summer, it’s the ideal location. The median cost of a new home is around $170,000, making it an affordable place to live.
In addition to all of this, Phoenix is a larger city that provides residents with all the amenities of a larger metropolitan area. There are tons of entertainment venues along with excellent restaurants.
19. Yuma, Arizona
Yuma has a hot climate in the summer but the winters are pleasant and mild. It’s one of the sunniest places to be in the entire United States. Around 90% of the year is filled with bright sunshine. The annual low temperature is just under 62 degrees F with highs averaging 88.4 degrees.
The median home price is $136,600, making it an exceptionally affordable place to live. Yuma is a great place for retirees who cannot tolerate the cold weather in wintertime. It’s also a popular destination for snowbirds who spend half the year in other parts of the United States, then fly southwest for the winter.
18. El Paso, Texas
El Paso is another warm city in the United States. The cost of living is average in the city and its outlying areas. El Paso residents enjoy about 300 days of sunshine in a year. You can purchase a new home for as low as $136,200. It’s an affordable place to live with plenty of outdoor recreational options including mountain hiking, biking, or camping.
17. Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles has a mild climate with about 213 days of sun in an average year. The climate is warm in the summers. the median home price is a low $132,7000. Whether you’re looking for a warm place to retire or you just want to escape from extreme cold, Lake Charles is an excellent option. If you enjoy a city with southern charm and a touch of Cajun culture, consider moving to Lake Charles.
16. Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell is known for its UFO landings and the infamous Area 51. It’s also a great place to settle if you enjoy lots of sunshine and a warm climate. The annual high temperature is 75.5 degrees F with an average low of 46.3 degrees. The median price of a new home is $127,000 which makes it an affordable place to live. If you enjoy seeing some of the most beautiful desert sunsets and sunrises in the world, then you might want to consider moving to Roswell.
15. Port Charlotte, Florida
MoneyWise lists the next five cities as the best warm places to live with an affordable cost of living. It kicks off the rest of the list with Port Charlotte, Florida. Port Charlotte is an amazing place to live with low taxes and a median housing price of $166,600. The climate is warm and humid and the environment is relaxed and kicked back. If you want to live on the waterfront this is an excellent place to live to realize your dreams.
14. Grand Prairie, Texas
Grand Prairie has a warm climate and it’s more suited to those who enjoy a small-town feeling. It’s a popular place for retirees to settle, but it’s also ideal for families with children. There are lots of entertainment venues, fitness centers, and parks.
While the winters can be cold and wet, the summer is hot with high humidity. Great Prairie does have a winter season that dips below many of the other cities on our list, but the summers make up for the few months of chilly temperatures.
13. Bella Vista, Arkansas
Bella Vista is a small town with a population under 30,000. The weather is lovely and warm. The town is surrounded by hardwood forests with several walking trails. There are many golf courses along with shooting ranges, tennis courts, swimming pools, and the town is home to seven lakes.
The median home price is a mere $102,000. Renters pay just $650 a month on average. Bella Vista is one of the most affordable places in the state of Georgia to live. It’s an excellent choice for retirees or for couples who are raising a family with kids.
12. Clemson, South Carolina
Clemson is a college town that offers an affordable place to live. It’s just two hours from Atlanta, so you can enjoy the relaxation of a smaller town but you’re not far from a large metropolitan area. The median home price is around $180,000, which is reasonable compared to the national average.
Clemson is a great place for young people who are pursuing an education at the local institution of higher learning. It’s also a great place to stay and build a life because of its comfortably warm climate and affordable cost of living.
11. Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is a lovely southern town that is ideal for pedestrian traffic. The climate is hot and humid in the summer. It’s wet and mild in the winter. The median cost of housing is $120,000. It’s an affordable place to live, but it’s also filled with tons of things to do.
There are plenty of amazing restaurants that range from southern style comfort foods with grab and go speed, to fine dining experiences that offer the taste of the culture and cuisine of Savannah. There are also other amenities including parks and entertainment venues.
10. Santa Fe, New Mexico
AARP continues our warmest and most affordable places in the USA. Santa Fe is a lovely and diverse city with a blending of Spanish, American, and Native American culture. It’s not far from the southern Rocky Mountain. The cost of living is average, but the median household income is higher. This makes it an affordable place to live in. there is plenty of sunshine in Santa Fe if you don’t mind hot summers.
9. Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces is an incredibly affordable place to live. The cost of living is below average. You can buy a new single-family home for $178,558 on average. The weather is mild in the winters but it can get hot in the summertime. Las Cruces is a larger city with a population of 97,618 residents.
8. Vero Beach, Florida
According to AZ Big Media, Vero Bech is a great place for retirement, or for anyone who loves warm climates. It’s also an affordable place to live. The average cost of a home in Vero Beach is just $222,800. There are so many amenities that it’s a little slice of heaven. It’s a resort-like city featuring a variety of professional theaters, art museums, 41 parks, and much more. On average, the high temperature is 90 degrees with a low of 52 degrees.
7. Los Angeles California
Los Angeles is a coastal metropolis that has a variety of wonderful neighborhoods to choose from. Although some parts of the city are expensive to live in, there are also several areas that are actually quite affordable to live in. It’s warm in Los Angeles with sunshine for 73% of the year.
There’s not a lot of rain and the ocean is nearby. It’s a culturally diverse area and there are always fun events taking place. You never know when you’re going to have a celebrity sighting in Los Angeles because it’s not far from Hollywood, the film capital of the world.
6. Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city that is rich in Cajun history and culture. It’s just a few hours out of New Orleans. The temperature averages a high of 92 degrees during the summertime and at its coldest, the average low only reach 43 degrees. The city is bustling with farmer’s markets, restaurants, and lots of entertainment options.
There are abundant swamps, rivers, and lakes around the area, which provide yet more outdoor fun and activities. Surprisingly, the cost of living is 8 percent below the national average. You can get a new home for an average cost of $157,000.
5. Santa Maria, California
Santa Maria averages a low of 40 degrees in the wintertime and a high of 73 degrees. It’s a small town with a rural vibe for those who prefer country living. The town has a suburban feeling with lots of farmland and hills surrounding it. Much of the ground is used for vineyards. There are several outdoor parks as well as performing arts venues so you can catch a concert now and then. The cost of living is surprisingly affordable in Santa Maria.
4. Napa Valley, California
MSN.com closes out our list with the top four places in the US that are affordable with warm climates. Napa Valley is an amazing place to live if you like warm weather. The average low temperatures are very temperate in the wintertime. In January the average temperature is about 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
By March, this rises to 64 degrees. It gets pretty toasty in the summer. It’s worth noting that Napa Valley is one of the most famous wine regions in the world. Some of the best wines are grown and produced here.
3. Dallas, Texas
Dallas is a warm place to live with an average high of 57 degrees in January. Summers can get sweltering hot with temperatures rising to an average of 96 during the hottest months. If you like warm weather then you will love Dallas. While there are some places in the city that are expensive to live in, this large metropolis is filled with neighborhoods and suburbs that are affordable to live in.
You also have the advantage of all of the amenities of a larger city with world-class museums, restaurants, cocktail bars, and tons of entertainment venues. There are also parks, sculpture gardens, and plenty of places to enjoy outdoor patio seating at select eateries.
2. Gulf Shores, Alabama
In Gulf Shores, you won’t need to worry about getting a chill. The average temperature in the month of January is 57 degrees Fahrenheit with temps around 85 degrees in the month of September. Gulf Shores is on the Gulf Coast of Alabama and it’s a popular vacation destination filled with lovely white beaches, seafood restaurants, and unique bars and cocktail lounges. There is always something to do in Gulf Shores. The cost of living in the city depends on where you settle. There are some good deals on property in the town.
1. Golden Isles, Georgia
In Golden Isles, the average temperature in the winter is 68 degrees F. The climate is mild and warm. If you’re a fan of island life then you will absolutely love Golden Isles. It’s a part of the barrier islands in the state of Georgia.
The town is filled with southern charm, complete with moss-draped oaks. It’s an affordable place to live and you’ll never run out of fun things to do. Golden Isles is more of a laid back community that is ideal for birdwatchers. There are plenty of marshlands and sandy driftwood beaches to explore in the area.
You can also read:
- The 20 Healthiest Places to Live in the U.S.
- The 20 Best Places for Teachers to Live in the U.S.
- The 20 Most Peaceful Places to Live in the U.S.
- The 20 Best Places for Writers to Live in the U.S
