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.
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.