There’s a stark difference between what it means for couples to retire with and without Social Security benefits, regardless of whether you live in a high cost-of-living state or not.
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GOBankingRates reviewed each state’s population ages 65 and over, the cost-of-living index from Q1 of 2025 and the national average costs for retirees. After calculating the average mortgage cost and combining it with the expenditure cost, we found the cost of living for necessities. A 20% buffer was added to this cost to find the cost of a comfortable retirement, ranked from lowest cost to highest.
Social Security benefits for a married couple are $2,961 per month, $35,532 per year.
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West Virginia is the most affordable state for a comfortable retirement. A couple with Social Security will spend $2,032 annually to fund their retirement.
It costs less than $5,000 annually for a couple to retire comfortably in the top five states. In ranking order, they are West Virginia ($2,032), Mississippi ($2,917), Arkansas ($4,264), Louisiana ($4,626) and Oklahoma ($4,976).
Retirees need six figures to comfortably retire in Hawaii without Social Security. The total annual cost, without benefits, is $109,863.
There are 14 states where couples can retire with Social Security for less than $10,000 annually: West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Nebraska.
Ranked from states with the lowest to highest retirement costs, here’s how much a comfortable retirement costs in 2025.
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Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $37,562
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $2,032
Annual cost of necessities: $31,302
Average monthly mortgage: $882
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DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $38,448
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $2,917
Annual cost of necessities: $32,040
Average monthly mortgage: $972
dlewis33 / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $39,795
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $4,264
Annual cost of necessities: $33,162
Average monthly mortgage: $1,117
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Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $40,156
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $4,626
Annual cost of necessities: $33,464
Average monthly mortgage: $1,087
Davel5957 / Getty Images
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $40,506
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $4,976
Annual cost of necessities: $33,755
Average monthly mortgage: $1,116
jfrielmoore / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $41,127
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $5,597
Annual cost of necessities: $34,273
Average monthly mortgage: $1,145
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Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $41,773
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $6,242
Annual cost of necessities: $34,811
Average monthly mortgage: $1,187
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $42,228
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $6,697
Annual cost of necessities: $35,190
Average monthly mortgage: $1,211
Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $43,571
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $8,040
Annual cost of necessities: $36,309
Average monthly mortgage: $1,242
Art Wager / iStock.com
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $43,714
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $8,183
Annual cost of necessities: $36,428
Average monthly mortgage: $1,347
ehrlif / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $44,025
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $8,494
Annual cost of necessities: $36,687
Average monthly mortgage: $1,325
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Geoff Eccles / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $44,078
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $8,547
Annual cost of necessities: $36,732
Average monthly mortgage: $1,304
PapaBear / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $44,125
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $8,594
Annual cost of necessities: $36,771
Average monthly mortgage: $1,260
Ultima_Gaina / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $45,473
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $9,943
Annual cost of necessities: $37,894
Average monthly mortgage: $1,415
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Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $47,201
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $11,670
Annual cost of necessities: $39,334
Average monthly mortgage: $1,472
Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $47,287
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $11,757
Annual cost of necessities: $39,406
Average monthly mortgage: $1,468
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Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $47,726
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $12,195
Annual cost of necessities: $39,772
Average monthly mortgage: $1,495
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $47,753
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $12,222
Annual cost of necessities: $39,794
Average monthly mortgage: $1,562
RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / iStock.com
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $47,978
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $12,447
Annual cost of necessities: $39,982
Average monthly mortgage: $1,557
SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $48,043
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $12,513
Annual cost of necessities: $40,036
Average monthly mortgage: $1,708
Judd Brotman / Getty Images
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $48,946
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $13,416
Annual cost of necessities: $40,789
Average monthly mortgage: $1,612
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DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $49,813
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $14,283
Annual cost of necessities: $41,511
Average monthly mortgage: $1,637
Nate Hovee / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $50,374
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $14,843
Annual cost of necessities: $41,978
Average monthly mortgage: $1,721
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $50,654
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $15,124
Annual cost of necessities: $42,212
Average monthly mortgage: $1,711
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Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $51,278
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $15,747
Annual cost of necessities: $42,732
Average monthly mortgage: $1,725
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Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $52,293
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $16,762
Annual cost of necessities: $43,578
Average monthly mortgage: $1,884
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Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $52,436
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $16,905
Annual cost of necessities: $43,696
Average monthly mortgage: $1,829
felixmizioznikov / Getty Images
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $55,206
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $19,676
Annual cost of necessities: $46,005
Average monthly mortgage: $2,054
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $56,566
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $21,036
Annual cost of necessities: $47,138
Average monthly mortgage: $2,065
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $57,115
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $21,584
Annual cost of necessities: $47,596
Average monthly mortgage: $2,126
miroslav_1 / iStock.com
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $58,052
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $22,521
Annual cost of necessities: $48,377
Average monthly mortgage: $2,221
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Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $58,987
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $23,456
Annual cost of necessities: $49,156
Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,106
kyletperry / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $59,716
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $24,186
Annual cost of necessities: $49,763
Average monthly mortgage: $2,122
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Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $59,742
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $24,212
Annual cost of necessities: $49,785
Average monthly mortgage: $2,399
constantgardener / Getty Images
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $60,120
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $24,590
Annual cost of necessities: $50,100
Average monthly mortgage: $2,377
knowlesgallery / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $60,359
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $24,828
Annual cost of necessities: $50,299
Average monthly mortgage: $2,408
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Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $61,073
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $25,543
Annual cost of necessities: $50,894
Average monthly mortgage: $2,298
Ron and Patty Thomas / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $63,868
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $28,337
Annual cost of necessities: $53,223
Average monthly mortgage: $2,378
Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $63,881
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $28,350
Annual cost of necessities: $53,234
Average monthly mortgage: $2,495
wanderluster / Getty Images
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $63,955
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $28,424
Annual cost of necessities: $53,296
Average monthly mortgage: $2,043
benedek / Getty Images
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $64,455
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $28,925
Annual cost of necessities: $53,713
Average monthly mortgage: $2,779
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DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $65,223
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $29,692
Annual cost of necessities: $54,352
Average monthly mortgage: $2,588
benedek / Getty Images
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $66,829
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $31,299
Average monthly mortgage: $2,615
Annual cost of necessities: $55,691
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $66,945
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $31,415
Annual cost of necessities: $55,788
Average monthly mortgage: $2,706
Jonathan Ross / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $67,833
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $32,303
Annual cost of necessities: $56,528
Average monthly mortgage: $2,869
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $70,697
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $35,167
Annual cost of necessities: $58,914
Average monthly mortgage: $3,004
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Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $74,631
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $39,100
Annual cost of necessities: $62,192
Average monthly mortgage: $3,168
peterspiro / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $83,407
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $47,876
Annual cost of necessities: $69,506
Average monthly mortgage: $3,479
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $90,110
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $54,579
Annual cost of necessities: $75,091
Average monthly mortgage: $4,069
Art Wager / Getty Images
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (without Social Security): $109,863
Comfortable retirement cost for two annually (with Social Security): $74,333
Annual cost of necessities: $91,553
Average monthly mortgage: $4,943
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Methodology: To find the comfortable cost of retirement in each state, GOBankingRates analyzed each state to find total population, population ages 65 and over and total households — all sourced from the U.S. Census 2023 American Community Survey. The cost-of-living indexes from Q1 2025 were sourced from Missouri Economic and Research Information Center and the national average expenditures for retirees were sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for retired consumer units; the average expenditure cost was then calculated for each location. The average home value was sourced from the July 2025 Zillow Home Value Index, and the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 6.58% was sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data on Aug. 27. The average mortgage cost was then calculated. Using the average mortgage and expenditure cost, the necessities cost was calculated. To find the cost of a comfortable retirement, a 20% buffer was added to the necessities cost of living in each state. The states were sorted to show the lowest to highest cost of a comfortable retirement. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Aug. 27, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much a Comfortable Retirement Will Cost You in Each State in 2025