The Difference Between a Comfortable Retirement and Your Social Security Check in Every State
Social Security, while an essential benefit for most retirees, does not usually cover all the expenses incurred during retirement — especially if one wants to get by comfortably.
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To help you understand exactly how much more income you’ll need on top of your Social Security benefit, GOBankingRates compiled the difference between the average Social Security check and what you need to live comfortably in every state. The data also covers the amount of money you need as savings to live comfortably for 20 years in retirement.
West Virginia
Household median income: $55,217
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,000.38
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,821.93
Total cost of living monthly: $2,822.31
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $5,644.63
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $954.48
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $3,776.79
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $906,430.44
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Mississippi
Household median income: $52,985
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1070.47
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1779.79
Total cost of living monthly: $2,850.27
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $5,700.53
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $982.44
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $3,832.70
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $919,848.20
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Arkansas
Household median income: $56,335
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,239.16
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,693.42
Total cost of living monthly: $2,932.58
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $5,865.17
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,064.76
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $3,997.34
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $959,361.80
Louisiana
Household median income: $57,852
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,209.398
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,728.69
Total cost of living monthly: $2,938.08
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $5,876.17
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,070.25
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $4,008.34
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $962,000.98
Oklahoma
Household median income: $61,364
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,241.35
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1763.14
Total cost of living monthly: $3,004.49
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $6,008.99
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,136.67
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $4,141.16
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $993,877.92
Kentucky
Household median income: $60,183
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,236.64
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,847.63
Total cost of living monthly: $3,084.26
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $6,168.53
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,216.43
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $4,300.70
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,032,166.75
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Alabama
Household median income: $59,609
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,357.46
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,742.33
Total cost of living monthly: $3,099.79
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $6,199.58
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,231.96
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $4,331.75
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,039,618.71
Iowa
Household median income: $70,571
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,343.244
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,796.05
Total cost of living monthly: $3,139.29
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $6,278.59
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,271.46
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $4,410.76
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,058,581.77
Kansas
Household median income: $69,747
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,373.909
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,771.59
Total cost of living monthly: $3,145.50
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $6,291.01
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,277.67
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $4.423.18
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,061,561.90
Missouri
Household median income: $65,920
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,486.80
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,721.60
Total cost of living monthly: $3,208.40
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $6,416.80
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,340.57
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $4,548.97
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,091,751.54
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Ohio
Household median income: $66,990
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,394.47
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,822.71
Total cost of living monthly: $3,217.19
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $6,434.37
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,349.36
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $4,566.54
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,095,969.55
Indiana
Household median income: $67,173
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,458.57
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,785.87
Total cost of living monthly: $3,244.44
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $6,488.87
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,376.61
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $4,621.04
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,109,049.95
Michigan
Household median income: $68,505
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,466.12
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,788.45
Total cost of living monthly: $3,254.56
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $6,509.13
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,386.73
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $4,641.30
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,113,910.73
Nebraska
Household median income: $71,722
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,579.51
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,830.50
Total cost of living monthly: $3,410.003
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $6,820.01
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,542.17
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $4,952.18
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,188,522.203
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North Dakota
Household median income: $73,959
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,576.35
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,843.53
Total cost of living monthly: $3,419.87
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $6,839.75
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,552.04
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $4,971.91
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,193,260.47
Pennsylvania
Household median income: $73,170
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,611.39
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,833.82
Total cost of living monthly: $3,445.21
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $6,890.42
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,577.38
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $5,022.59
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,205,421.43
Illinois
Household median income: $78,433
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,611.91
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,842.12
Total cost of living monthly: $3,454.03
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $6,908.06
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,586.20
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $5,040.23
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,209,655.43
New Mexico
Household median income: $58,722
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,813.81
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,781.27
Total cost of living monthly: $3,595.08
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $7,190.16
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,727.25
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $5,322.33
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,277,358.85
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South Carolina
Household median income: $63,623
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,785.53
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,845.19
Total cost of living monthly: $3,630.65
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $7,261.29
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,762.82
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $5,393.46
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,294,430.93
Tennessee
Household median income: $64,035
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,934.01
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,708.95
Total cost of living monthly: $3,642.96
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $7,285.92
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,775.13
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $5,418.09
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,300,342.44
Texas
Household median income: $73,035
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,833.06
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,811.38
Total cost of living monthly: $3,644.44
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $7,288.89
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,776.61
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $5,421.05
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,301,053.08
South Dakota
Household median income: $69,457
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,829.54
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,829.31
Total cost of living monthly: $3,658.56
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $7,317.12
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,790.73
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $5,449.29
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,307,829.88
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Wisconsin
Household median income: $72,458
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,832.61
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,887.52
Total cost of living monthly: $3,720.13
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $7,440.27
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,852.30
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $5,572.44
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,337,385.23
Georgia
Household median income: $71,355
Mortgage monthly average cost: $1,999.70
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,826.71
Total cost of living monthly: $3,826.38
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $7,652.75
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $1,958.55
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $5,784.92
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,388,381.01
Wyoming
Household median income: $72,495
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,065.53
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,813.35
Total cost of living monthly: $3,878.88
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $7,757.76
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $2,011.05
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $5,889.93
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,413,582.63
North Carolina
Household median income: $66,186
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,008.43
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,878.994
Total cost of living monthly: $3,887.43
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $7,774.85
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $2,019.60
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $5,907.02
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,417,684.86
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Minnesota
Household median income: $84,313
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,054.70
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,885.45
Total cost of living monthly: $3,940.15
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $7,880.30
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $2,072.32
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $6,012.47
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,442,993.47
Delaware
Household median income: $79,325
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,305.98
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,898.87
Total cost of living monthly: $4,204.85
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $8,409.70
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $2,337.02
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $6,541.87
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,570,047.50
Virginia
Household median income: $87,249
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,384.63
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,859.60
Total cost of living monthly: $4,244.24
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $8,488.47
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $2,376.41
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $6,620.64
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,588,953.58
Vermont
Household median income: $74,014
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,368.16
Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,013.94
Total cost of living monthly: $4,382.10
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $8,764.21
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $2,514.27
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $6,896.38
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,655,130.72
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Florida
Household median income: $69,917
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,491.77
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,918.16
Total cost of living monthly: $4,409.94
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $8,819.87
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $2,542.11
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $`6,952.04
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,668,489.51
Maine
Household median income: $68,251
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,387.91
Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,057.06
Total cost of living monthly: $4,444.97
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $8,889.94
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $2,577.14
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $7,022.11
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,685,305.51
Arizona
Household median income: $72,581
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,654.82
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,867.83
Total cost of living monthly: $4,522.65
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $9,045,30
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $2,654.82
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $7,177.47
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,722,593.83
Maryland
Household median income: $98,461
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,583.26
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,954.92
Total cost of living monthly: $4,538.18
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $9,076.37
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $2,670.35
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $7,208.54
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,730,048,97
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Idaho
Household median income: $70,214
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,737.27
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,836.97
Total cost of living monthly: $4,574.24
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $9,148.48
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $2,706.41
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $7,280.65
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,747,355.62
New York
Household median income: $81,386
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,664.59
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,975.62
Total cost of living monthly: $4,640.20
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $9,280.41
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $2,772.37
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $7,412.58
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,779,018.91
Nevada
Household median income: $71,646
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,722.62
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,921.73
Total cost of living monthly: $4,644.34
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $9,288.68
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $2,776.51
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $7,420.85
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,781,005.08
Connecticut
Household median income: $90,213
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,585.56
Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,085.65
Total cost of living monthly: $4,671.22
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $9,342.43
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $2,803.39
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $7,474.60
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,793,904.73
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Montana
Household median income: $66,341
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,792.60
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,898.09
Total cost of living monthly: $4,690.69
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $9,381.372
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $2,822.86
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $7,513.54
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,803,250.19
Alaska
Household median income: $86,370
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,246.46
Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,569.10
Total cost of living monthly: $4,816.45
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $9,632.91
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $2,948.62
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $7,765.08
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,863,618.29
Rhode Island
Household median income: $81,370
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,837.21
Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,066.16
Total cost of living monthly: $4,903.37
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $9,806.73
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $3,035.53
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $7,938.90
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,905,336.17
Utah
Household median income: $86,833
Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,176.03
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,779.64
Total cost of living monthly: $4,955.67
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $9,911.34
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $3,087.84
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $8,043.51
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,930,442.87
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New Hampshire
Household median income: $90,845
Mortgage monthly average cost: $2,985.93
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,972.76
Total cost of living monthly: $4,958.69
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $9,917.37
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $3,090.86
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $8,049.54
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,931,890.62
Oregon
Household median income: $76,632
Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,053.61
Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,035.49
Total cost of living monthly: $5,089.09
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $10,178.19
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $3,221.27
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $8,310.36
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $1,994.486.43
New Jersey
Household median income: $87,598
Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,369.27
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,848.79
Total cost of living monthly: $5,218.06
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $10,436.11
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $3,350.23
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $8,528.28
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $2,046,749.37
Colorado
Household median income: $,87,598
Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,369.27
Expenditure monthly average cost: $1,848.79
Total cost of living monthly: $5,218.06
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $10,436.11
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $3,350.23
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $8,568.28
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $2,056,387.09
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Washington
Household median income: $90,325
Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,662.50
Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,105.85
Total cost of living monthly: $5,768.35
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $11,536.70
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $3,900.52
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $9,668.87
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $2,320,528.65
Massachusetts
Household median income: $96,505
Mortgage monthly average cost: $3,886.61
Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,278.33
Total cost of living monthly: $6,164.94
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $12,329.87
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $4,297.11
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $10,462.04
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $2,510,890.65
California
Household median income: $91,905
Mortgage monthly average cost: $4,805.21
Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,264.14
Total cost of living monthly: $7,069.35
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $14,138.70
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $5,201.52
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $12,270.87
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $2,945,009.32
Hawaii
Household median income: $94,814
Mortgage monthly average cost: $5,890.91
Expenditure monthly average cost: $2,561.99
Total cost of living monthly: $8,452.91
Comfortable cost of living monthly: $16,905.81
Total cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $6,585.07
Comfortable cost of living after SS benefits monthly: $15,037.98
Comfortable retirement savings needed to retire at 65 and live to 85: $3,609,113.92
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the cost of living in each U.S. state to find the difference in costs for a comfortable retirement and your Social Security benefits. First, GOBankingRates found data for each U.S. state from the U.S. Census American Community Survey for the total population, total households, population ages 65 and over and household median income. For each state the cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Missouri Economic and Research Information Center and using the national average expenditure costs for residents aged 65 and over, as sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for residents aged 65 and over, the average expenditure costs for each state can be calculated. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index from June 2024, and by assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage cost can be calculated. The average mortgage and expenditure costs can be used to calculate the total cost of living for each state. Using the 50/30/20 rule that states that needs should not exceed 50% of the household income, the total cost of living was doubled to find the comfortable cost of living for each state. Using the average Social Security benefits, as sourced from the Social Security Administration, the average Social Security Benefits can be calculated. The comfortable cost of living and the Social Security benefits can be used to calculated the difference between the comfortable cost of living and Social Security benefits. All data was collected on and is up to date as of July 22, 2024.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Difference Between a Comfortable Retirement and Your Social Security Check in Every State
