Retirees don’t mind living in expensive states. Should they?

Published 4 Min Read

Nicholas Felix – stock.adobe.com

Retirement can look a lot different depending on the state you live in. The same amount of money can last over 50 years in some states and less than 20 in others. Yet, data shows that retirees don’t appear to put much weight into a state’s cost of living when deciding where to spend their retirement years.

New research from GOBankingRates analyzed how long a retiree could live on Social Security benefits as well as $1.5 million in retirement savings in each U.S. state. The findings highlight a stark gap in expenses for retirees — one that older Americans often ignore when deciding where to live in retirement.

• Annual cost of living after Social Security: $27,803
• Years $1.5M will last: 54
• Share of population 65+: 21.20%

• Annual cost of living after Social Security: $28,945
• Years $1.5M will last: 52
• Share of population 65+: 17.20%

Elijah Nicholson-Messmer
Former Data Reporter

Elijah returned to Financial Planning in 2025 after working as a summer intern with FP in 2023. He earned an undergraduate degree from Berea College in Berea, Kentucky, and a master's degree in data … Read full bio


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