A place to gather my thoughts on our plans before I forget them…

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While we have highlighted Arizona in a previous post as a fantastic retirement destination, Nevada offers its own unique advantages and shares many similarities. In this article, we explore the key differences and similarities between retiring in Nevada and Arizona.

Nevada is an attractive option for retirement thanks to its absence of state income tax, while Arizona stands out for its favorable tax treatment of Social Security benefits and generally lower cost of living in many regions. Nevada offers a lively, entertainment-centered lifestyle, especially in Las Vegas, whereas Arizona boasts abundant outdoor recreational opportunities and a lower overall tax burden. The ideal choice depends on personal priorities, including financial objectives, desired lifestyle, and climate preferences.

Reasons to Choose Nevada

Climate: Nevada has sunny weather, but summers are extremely hot. 

Tax benefits: Nevada has no state income tax, which is a major financial advantage. Has a state sales tax rate ranging from 4.6% to 8.2%

Lifestyle: The state, especially Las Vegas, offers a vibrant entertainment scene with casinos, shows, and dining. 

Affordability: Some reports indicate that Nevada is becoming more affordable for retirees, although the cost of living varies by city. While there are numerous 55+ communities emerging in Nevada, they are fewer compared to Arizona. These communities tend to feature newer homes with higher prices, and the homeowner association (HOA) fees are generally elevated due to their resort-style amenities.

Why Arizona is the better choice

Climate: The state has a warm climate, especially in the winter, but summers are scorching. 

Tax benefits: Arizona does not tax Social Security payments and has no gift or estate tax. It has a low, flat state income tax rate(2.5%). Has a state sales tax rate of 5.6%

Cost of living: Some areas of Arizona may have a lower cost of living than Nevada. 

Lifestyle: Arizona offers more outdoor recreation opportunities, such as hiking and other sports. 

Other things to consider

  • Arizona and Nevada are similar in area, being the sixth and seventh largest states in the US respectively. However, Arizona has a population of over 7 million, compared to Nevada’s around 3 million. This means there’s a far greater choice of active adult communities in Arizona.
  • Nevada is renowned for its vibrant entertainment scene, particularly live shows, thanks to the world-famous Las Vegas. Both Nevada and Arizona boast a wealth of cultural attractions and offer a wide range of outdoor activities that can be enjoyed almost year-round. When it comes to live entertainment, Nevada clearly leads with Las Vegas as a major draw. Even if you live elsewhere in Nevada, the option to drive to Las Vegas for a weekend getaway is a significant advantage. Keep in mind, however, that some Northern Arizona locations, like Bullhead City, are actually closer to Las Vegas than many parts of Northern Nevada.
  • Nevada has much more to offer beyond Las Vegas. The Lake Mead and Hoover Dam areas are renowned for outdoor recreation, with Lake Mead being the largest national recreation area in the United States. Lake Tahoe and nearby Reno provide a wealth of outdoor adventures as well as vibrant entertainment and cultural experiences. Additionally, Nevada boasts excellent golf courses, wineries, and a variety of local events to enjoy.
  • In Arizona, Phoenix and its surrounding metropolitan area offer a vibrant mix of cultural attractions and easy access to the great outdoors. Phoenix boasts several major sports teams, a lively restaurant and bar scene, museums, galleries, and all the amenities you’d expect from the most populous state capital in the United States. Tucson, the state’s second-largest city, is nestled among mountains and offers abundant outdoor activities alongside urban attractions. Arizona is also a premier destination for golfers, featuring more than 300 courses across the state.
  • Nevada ranks 36th in Healthcare while Arizona is ranked 13th according to US News and World Report
Oh one more thing – The summers in both states are horrible – if you can avoid them, get out of town 😀

內華達州 vs. 亞利桑那州:哪個更適合退休

雖然我們先前曾介紹過亞利桑那州作為絕佳的退休地點,但內華達州同樣擁有其獨特的優勢,並在許多方面與亞利桑那州相似。本文將探討在 內華達州(Nevada)亞利桑那州(Arizona) 退休生活的主要差異與共通點,幫助你評估哪一州更適合你的生活方式與預算。

內華達州因免州所得稅而成為極具吸引力的退休選項;而亞利桑那州則以對社會安全金(Social Security)友善的稅務政策多數地區較低的生活成本而脫穎而出。內華達州提供充滿活力、以娛樂為中心的生活方式,特別是拉斯維加斯地區的多彩夜生活與便利設施。而亞利桑那州則以豐富的戶外休閒活動整體稅負較低的優勢見長。最終的理想選擇,取決於個人的財務目標生活方式偏好氣候需求——無論是追求熱鬧都市生活,或是嚮往陽光下的悠閒戶外時光,這兩個州都為退休生活提供了極佳的可能性。

考慮選擇內華達州(Nevada)的理由

🌞 氣候(Climate):
內華達州全年陽光充足,氣候乾燥,不過夏季氣溫極高,特別是在南部地區如拉斯維加斯,酷熱程度需有心理準備。

💰 稅務優惠(Tax Benefits):
內華達州無州所得稅,這對退休人士來說是極大的財務優勢。其州銷售稅稅率介於 4.6% 至 8.2% 之間,依城市與郡別略有不同。

🎲 生活方式(Lifestyle):
內華達州(尤其是拉斯維加斯)提供充滿活力的娛樂生活——包括世界級的賭場、表演、美食與購物體驗。對喜歡都會活動與夜生活的人來說,這裡相當吸引人。

🏡 經濟實惠度(Affordability):
根據部分報告,內華達州的退休生活正逐漸變得更為實惠,但生活成本仍因城市而異。雖然當地的 55 歲以上社區(55+ communities) 越來越多,但數量仍少於亞利桑那州。這些社區通常擁有較新的房屋與較高的售價,而 HOA 管理費 也普遍較高,主要是因為其提供度假村等級的設施與服務。

選擇亞利桑那州(Arizona)作為退休地的理由

🌤️ 氣候(Climate):
亞利桑那州全年氣候溫暖,特別是冬季氣候宜人,是避寒的理想地點。不過,夏季炎熱難耐,部分地區氣溫可超過華氏 110 度(約攝氏 43 度)。

💰 稅務優惠(Tax Benefits):
亞利桑那州對退休族群相當友善:

  • 社會安全金(Social Security)免州所得稅
  • 無贈與稅與遺產稅
  • 採用2.5% 的低額固定州所得稅率
  • 州銷售稅稅率為 5.6%,整體稅負相對輕。

🏡 生活成本(Cost of Living):
亞利桑那州部分地區(如 Tucson、Green Valley)生活成本低於內華達州,住房選擇更多樣且價格相對合理。

🏞️ 生活方式(Lifestyle):
亞利桑那州提供豐富的戶外休閒活動,如健行、登山、高爾夫與騎行等,非常適合喜愛自然與積極生活方式的退休人士。

總體而言,亞利桑那州以友善的稅制、溫暖的冬季氣候、合理的生活成本與豐富的戶外活動,成為許多人心目中最理想的退休州之一。

其他值得考量的因素

📏 州域與人口
亞利桑那州與內華達州在面積上相近,分別為全美第六與第七大州。然而,亞利桑那州的人口超過 700 萬人,而內華達州僅約 300 萬人。這意味著亞利桑那州擁有更多選擇,特別是在 活躍長者社區(Active Adult Communities) 方面,選擇多元且成熟度更高。


🎭 娛樂與文化生活
內華達州以其生氣蓬勃的娛樂產業聞名全球,尤其是 拉斯維加斯(Las Vegas) 的世界級表演、音樂秀與餐飲體驗。
雖然亞利桑那與內華達兩州都擁有豐富的文化景點與全年幾乎可享受的戶外活動,但若談到現場娛樂,內華達無疑遙遙領先。
即便居住在內華達州的其他城市,仍能輕鬆開車前往拉斯維加斯度過一個週末假期,這是相當吸引人的優勢。
值得注意的是,亞利桑那州北部的一些城市(如 Bullhead City),實際上距離拉斯維加斯比內華達州北部許多地區還要近。


🏞️ 內華達州的自然與休閒資源
內華達州不僅僅只有拉斯維加斯——米德湖(Lake Mead)胡佛水壩(Hoover Dam) 區域以戶外活動聞名,其中米德湖更是全美最大的國家休閒區。
太浩湖(Lake Tahoe)雷諾(Reno) 周邊提供了豐富的戶外探險活動,同時也擁有活躍的娛樂與文化氛圍。
此外,內華達州還以高品質的高爾夫球場、葡萄酒莊以及多樣的地方節慶活動而著稱,生活選擇多樣。


🌆 亞利桑那州的都市與生活品質
鳳凰城(Phoenix) 及其都會區結合了多元文化、都市便利與自然探索的理想平衡。
作為全美人口最多的州府,鳳凰城擁有多支職業運動隊伍、豐富的餐飲與夜生活、博物館、美術館,以及各類都市設施。
圖森(Tucson) 則坐落於群山之間,融合自然景觀與都市活力,是熱愛戶外活動者的天堂。
亞利桑那州更是高爾夫愛好者的夢想之地——全州共有超過 300 個高爾夫球場,氣候宜人、選擇多樣。


🏥 醫療品質比較
根據《美國新聞與世界報導(U.S. News & World Report)》的排名:

  • 亞利桑那州的醫療品質全美第 13 名
  • 內華達州則排名第 36 名

這顯示亞利桑那在醫療資源的可及性與品質上更具優勢,對退休族群而言是一項重要考量。


綜合來看

亞利桑那州:人口更多、醫療資源佳、社區選擇多、戶外活動豐富。

內華達州:稅務優惠明顯、娛樂與文化活動豐富、自然景觀多樣。

還有一件事要提醒——這兩個州的夏天都熱得驚人!😅 如果有機會避開,一定要離開城裡去涼快一下!🌴☀️


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