FIRE Number for Boston, United States

A studio in Dorchester, Revere, or Quincy, outside the core but on the Red or Orange Line, anchors a frugal but genuinely livable stretch of retirement. The MBTA LinkPass at $90 removes any need for a car, and the ConnectorCare-subsidized health plan keeps the stubborn US insurance line manageable as long as taxable income stays under the returned ACA subsidy cutoff. Meals are mostly cooked at home, with the odd cheap plate in Chinatown or a neighborhood spot. Winter heating is a real line in the utilities, but the Freedom Trail, the Charles River Esplanade, and free museum hours make the entertainment budget stretch. Housing takes the majority of the budget — Boston's floor simply does not fall further.

A one-bedroom or small two-bedroom in Back Bay, Beacon Hill, or Cambridge puts daily life in the heart of one of America's most walkable cities. Dining out is a regular habit across the North End and South End, healthcare is a proper unsubsidized plan with access to Mass General and Brigham networks, and the T plus the occasional Zipcar or rideshare covers getting around without owning a car. Theater, a museum membership, and Red Sox games fit comfortably, as do weekend drives to Cape Cod or the Berkshires. At $6,000 a month, Boston feels genuinely comfortable, with the country's best concentration of hospitals a short ride away.

A historic Beacon Hill townhouse floor or a waterfront Seaport residence, with housekeeping a couple of days a week and part-time assistant support, defines life at the top of Boston. Dining is daily at the city's best tables, healthcare pairs a top-tier plan with concierge access at Mass General or Dana-Farber, and a private car service handles the New England seasons. Box seats at Fenway, patron-level support of the MFA and the BSO, and summers on Cape Cod or Nantucket are all within reach. First-class travel and an art or philanthropy budget round out a life where the bill is never the question. Boston's medical depth makes this arguably the best place in the country to age with means.