9 Best Places To Live With Osteoarthritis (+ 3 Climates)

If you’re suffering from OA – you probably saw that weather changes worsen your pain. 

And that’s 100% true – weather affects arthritis. 

So what exactly can you do about it? Taking a holiday might help.

But where exactly? Which are the best places to live with osteoarthritis? 

 

 

 

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3 Aspects To Look For

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Before you choose the place to move out to (temporary or permanently) – I advise you to check out 3 main points.

So here’s what a good place for OA should have:

1. Little Humidity – this is something essential:

• rainy weather increases flare-ups
• low barometric pressure increases the pain

So try to avoid a city that’s close to the ocean/sea.

These places are usually more humid – so there are high chances that your pain worsens.

2. Hot Weather – it’s probably the best weather for OA:

• heat decreases stiffness
• production of joint fluid increases
• you should be able to move much better

Surprisingly – the hotter weather, the better for someone with arthritis.

3. Constant Temperatures – that’s even more important than hot weather itself.

If your body gets used to a certain temperature all the time – chances of flare-ups decrease.

So choosing a climate with similar weather all year long would be really helpful.

 

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A. Best 5 Places In The US

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1. Arizona

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This state is surely the perfect place for arthritis – whether it’s RA or OA.

1. Why I Recommend It – It has a few major advantages:

1. Weather is very hot all year long.
2. Temperatures are pretty constant.
3. Generally, barometric pressure is high (with few fluctuations).
4. Air is fresh and dry.

2. The Negative Side – Arizona’s climate has only one problem:

1. There’s a rain season in July
2. However, it’s pretty short (a few weeks)

Now – temperatures don’t drop too much in this period. But the pressure does.

So that’s the only thing that could trigger a flare-up in your pain.

3. Conclusion – Overall, Arizona’s weather is the best for OA (at least in the US).

The rainy season is very short. And other than that, the weather is very hot all year long.

So your joint pain could stay lower for 98% of the time. I think it’s worth it.

 

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#2 – Las Vegas

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This city can be a prefect place to live with arthritis – due to its dry climate.

However, this place isn’t right for everyone – so you can choose any city from Nevada instead. The weather is really similar.

1. Why I Recommend It – It has similar features with Arizona:

1. Desert climate all year long (with constant temperatures).
2. Rain and storms are very rare.
3. Barometric pressure is high and constant.

Compared to Arizona, Nevada’s weather doesn’t have a main rain season.

That might seem great. However – when it rains in Nevada, it usually lasts longer than in Arizona.

2. The Negative Side – That has more to do with the city itself:

1. Life is very expensive.
2. Not very quiet.

For these reasons – Las Vegas isn’t really the right place for seniors.

3. Conclusion – Nevada has a great climate for arthritis.

If you’re young and enjoy the nightlife – Las Vegas can be the perfect place in the world.

But if you want a more quiet place, any smaller city would be fine.

 

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#3. Albuquerque, New Mexico

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The climate from New Mexico is quite similar to the one from Arizona.

However, some of the main cities are in the mountains – so they have a lower pressure (which is bad form arthritis).

But Albuquerque seems to be the exception.

1. Why I Recommend It – It’s probably the best place from New Mexico:

1. Warm and very dry weather.
2. Surrounded by mountains – so there’s very little rain or snow.
3. Humidity is low all year long.
4. Temperatures aren’t as high as in Arizona.

Basically – Albuquerque’s major advantage is the warm climate, not the hot one.

If you can’t stand high heat, it might be a much better choice than Arizona.

2. The Negative Side – There’s only one thing I don’t like:

1. Falls and winters are colder.
2. Even though there’s little snow, temperatures do decrease.

So during this time, you might not like it as much as in the summer.

3. Conclusion – Either way, Albuquerque remains a top recommendation for osteoarthritis.

If you’re looking for a place in the south – I recommend it over any other city from New Mexico.

 

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#4 – San Diego

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California’s weather is also really suitable for OA.

However, life in this state can be pretty expensive and noisy. That’s why I prefer San Diego instead of L.A. or San Francisco.

1. Why I Recommend It – It’s the best OA city from California, in my view:

1. Temperatures are very constant all year long.
2. There’s less humidity than in other CA cities.
3. Many clinics and hospitals nearby.
4. Warm weather most of the time.

Now – San Diego’s temperatures are way lower compared to Arizona. 

But this city has a very constant weather – which can benefit your OA.

2. The Negative Side – San Diego is still a Californian city:

1. Life in general is more expensive than in other states.
2. Can be noisy sometimes.

But these are just minor downsides – so you should add the city on your list.

3. Conclusion – among all Californian cities, San Diego is probably the best one for arthritis.

Despite being close to the ocean, it has a low humidity and few precipitations. 

So it’s the kind of weather that it perfect for OA.

 

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#5 – Northern Florida

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Florida has a mediterranean climate – which means the weather is very mild.

But as it’s close to the ocean, there’s also lots of humidity.

However – the norther part is better, from this point of view.

1. Why I Recommend It – It’s a comfortable place for OA:

1. Weather is very gentle in the north.
2. Constant temperatures all year long.
3. Winter and fall are very mild, with high temperatures.
4. Many clinics and acupuncture practitioners.

The climate from Florida isn’t as hot as in Nevada or Arizona. Plus, as it’s close to the ocean – there’s less dryness. 

That’s the main reason why I recommend the northern part of the state – the humidity is much lower and the air is drier.

2. The Negative Side – There are also some less pleasant things:

1. Life is also expensive here.
2. Risk of hurricanes in certain seasons.
3. Lots of tourists – so it’s not very quiet.

However, the north is more quiet compared to the south. So choose a place that is far from the ocean and you should be fine.

3. Conclusion – Northern Florida is still a pretty good place to live with OA.

It has a nice weather all year long, many clinics and hospitals and sunny days.

If you afford living in a more expensive state, this region is really worth it.

 

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B. Best 6 Places Outside The US

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#1 – Darwin, Australia

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Australia’s hottest big city is surely a great place for OA.

1. Why I Recommend It – It’s the best choice among nearby regions:

1. Weather is really hot all very long (similar to Arizona).
2. Very little humidity in the hot season.
3. Cheaper than other cities from Australia.
4. Temperatures are constant. 

Though I never visited Darwin personally, I think it’s worth seeing at least once in a lifetime.

2. The Negative Side – There’s also a less pleasant part:

1. There is a rainy season (especially in January).
2. Temperatures don’t change a lot, but humidity does.
3. Life is Australia is pretty pricey.

3. Conclusion – Darwin remains the best Australian city for OA, in my view.

But despite the hot weather – there are also a few rainy months.

If you’re willing to deal with that, this city is a great choice.

 

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#2 – Northern Greece

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If you’re in Europe, Greece is an excellent place to live with arthritis.

However – choose the northern part, as the south all surrounded by sea. So humidity is much higher.

1. Why I Recommend It – It has several strong points:

1. Mediterranean climate with very little rain.
2. It’s really hot in the summer.
3. The northern part has little humidity.
4. Life is pretty cheap.
5. Fresh air and mediterranean diet can also help OA.

However, avoid cities that are in the mountains. The pressure is lower there, so that might cause a flare-up.

2. The Negative Side – Here’s what I don’t like about Greece:

1. Lots of tourists – so it’s not very quiet.
2. Not so many hospitals and clinics as in the US.
3. Weather isn’t that hot in the winter.

Basically – weather gets colder in winter in Greece. There’s rarely snow – but still, humidity increases.

3. Conclusions – Besides being a vacation destination, Greece is also a great place for OA.

Especially the northern part – which is far from the sea.

If you like the idea of living here, your arthritis will surely benefit from that.

 

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#3 – Mexico

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Some regions of this country have a proper weather for arthritis.

However – you need to be very careful. Meixoc’s climate can be totally different, depending on the area.

Out of all cities – Guldalajara is probably the best city for OA from this country.

1. Why I Recommend It – Guadalajara has a few advantages over other cities:

1. Climate is generally dry.
2. Temperatures are constant all year long.
3. Humidity rates are pretty low.

Out of American cities, it’s one of the best places for OA (in terms of weather).

2. The Negative Side – The country itself has several downsides:

1. Life in general isn’t very safe.
2. There aren’t as many specialized clinics.
3. Rain is common in certain months (even in Mexico).

So it’s surely not the perfect place – despite having some good points as well.

3. Conclusion – Mexico is a pretty good place for OA.

It has a nice climate all year long, but there are chances of rain in several months.

So if you happen to live in Mexico, moving out to Guadalajara could improve your OA.

 

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#4 – Sevilla, Spain

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The weather from Spain is similar to the one from Greece. 

And out of all the cities – Sevilla seems the best for OA because of its southern location.

1. Why I Recommend It – The climate is suitable for arthritis in general:

1. Warm weather all year long.
2. Summers are really hot and winters are mild (with little rain).
3. Very little humidity.
4. Very healthy eating habits (that’s anywhere in Spain).

Now – many Spanish cities are close to the sea. That’s a bad thing – because they usually have more humidity.

Well, Sevilla in inside the country – closer to the mountains. 

2. The Negative Side – There are just minor things that I didn’t like:

1. Quite a few specialized clinics (compare to the US).
2. A bit too hot in the summer.
3. It may be hard to adapt if you live outside Europe before.

However, there’s no major downside about Sevilla.

3. Conclusion – In my opinion, it’s one of the best cities in Europe for OA (if not the best).

The very dry climate can decrease joint pain alone – on the long term.

So if you plant to visit Spain, make sure you get to Sevilla. At least for a few days.

 

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C. Best 3 Climates Worldwide

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If you don’t want to move far away – that’s the best solution.

You should find a region with one of these 3 climates pretty close. And that should solve the problem.

#1. Desert Climate – it’s my top recommendation for OA:

• the lowest humidity of all climate types
• very little rain throughout the year
• really high temperatures

Places with desert climate: Arizona, Nevada, Utah, central Africa, some parts of Australia.

#2. Continental Climate – it’s really suitable for arthritis:

• temperatures are quite constant
• humidity rates are pretty low

However – continental climate usually has cold winter, which might be a problem.

Places with continental climate: Most states of central US, biggest part of Europe.

#3. Mediterranean Climate – can also help OA:

• climate is usually mild in the winter
• summers are very hot
• little humidity (but choose a place far from the sea)

Places with mediterranean climate: Florida, California, southern Europe, northern Africa.

 

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So What’s The Best Place To Live With OA?

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Short answer: Any that has a really hot weather, little humidity and constant temperatures.

Also, it shouldn’t be too close to water or high in the mountains.

So – what could be that place?

1. US – Arizona or Nevada
2. Europe – Southern Spain
3. Australia – Darwin
4. South America – Chile
5. North America – Mexico

Now – there are some other options besides these. 

But their climate is really suitable for osteoarthritis – so you can take them as a model when analyzing a certain place.

Now I would like to hear from you:

• Where do you live? Is it helpful for your arthritis?
• What’s the place you would move in – for the sake of your OA?
• Which would you choose from this list?
• Do you have any other suggestions?

Let me know your answer, questions or suggestions in the comments below.