Best beach city in which to retire? S.F.

Many retirees dream of living near the beach once they have said goodbye to the work grind. Who doesn’t want to spend their leisure years catching some rays and digging their toes into the sand? Cue the Jimmy Buffet music. And if you can bow out of the paycheck slog before traditional retirement age, so much the better.

That’s why Kiplinger recently ranked great places for early retirement in each state, taking into account living costs, median incomes and poverty rates for residents ages 45 to 64, as well as the labor markets (in case you end up needing a side hustle after all). Most importantly for those of us who find their bliss amid the pounding surf, the list showcases cities with a beach within a 30-minute drive so you can swim in the ocean, grab a tan and get in touch with your inner beach bum.

Still, it may surprise you which Bay Area city walked away with the honor of best in state. Santa Cruz? Half Moon Bay? Nope.

The winner is San Francisco. Of course, many of us have left our hearts in the city by the bay. Everywhere you look, it’s Instagram-worthy, from the Golden Gate Bridge to the black sand beach and the Mission-style burritos. Did we mention the world famous symphony, theater and ballet? Don’t forget the bounty of foodie and corkhead delights.

Of course, Kiplinger admits that it’s also one of the most expensive cities in the country, second only to Manhattan in terms

of living costs. After all, this is the home of $75 cups of coffee, one million dollar tear-downs and $20 cheeseburgers.

The retired cost of living here is 83.3 percent above

the national average, according to the report. If you don’t have a techie income or IPO windfall to rely on, affordability may be a pipe dream.

But the rankers maintain that the quality of life is worth the insanely high cost of housing and note that the health care costs are more reasonable in Baghdad by the Bay than

in some major metros.

Among the city’s many beautiful places to bask in the glory of the Pacific, Kiplinger singles out Baker Beach, China Beach and Fort Funston Beach for kudos. Don’t forget your sunscreen.