YAME

View Original

How Much Money You’ll Need To Supplement Your Social Security in Every State

Heather Taylor | Fri, December 13, 2024 at 8:00 AM EST - 11 min read

eric1513 / Getty Images

Most retirees understand Social Security isn’t recommended as their sole form of income in their golden years. It’s important to start saving early for retirement in accounts like a Roth IRA and 401(k) plan.

If you didn’t get a chance to save early and consistently for retirement, you’ll want to know how much money after Social Security benefits you’ll need to cover monthly expenses. The answer depends on your location.


Find Out: How Long You Could Last on Nothing but Social Security in 50 Major Cities
Read More: 4 Low-Risk Ways To Build Your Retirement Savings in 2025

To find out how much money you’ll need to supplement your Social Security income, GOBankingRates analyzed all 50 states by finding the average cost of living indexes across multiple expenditures and multiplying them by the national average expenditure costs for ages 65 and over for each expenditure category.

This revealed the monthly total cost of expenditures with overall rent cost added in to provide the average total cost of living in each state. Social Security’s Monthly Statistical Supplement for January 2024 was sourced to use the average Social Security benefit amounts for retired workers — $1,860.23 — and to calculate the total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits.

In alphabetical order, here’s how much money you’ll need in each U.S. state to supplement your Social Security monthly.

Michael Warren / Getty Images

Alabama

  • Rent average cost: $980

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,423.62

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,403.62

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,543.39


Read More: I’m a Retired Boomer — 7 Reasons I Wish I Used a Financial Advisor To Plan For Retirement
Check Out: 6 Money Moves You Must Make If You Want To Be Like the Wealthy
Earning passive income doesn't need to be difficult. You can start this week.

Rocky Grimes / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Alaska

  • Rent average cost: $1,701

  • Expenditure average cost: $3,744.20

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $5,445.20

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $3,584.97


Discover More: 3 Things Retirees Should Sell To Build Their Retirement Savings


Kruck20 / iStock.com

Arizona

  • Rent average cost: $1,373

  • Expenditure average cost: $3,062.33

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,435.33

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,575.10

dlewis33 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Arkansas

  • Rent average cost: $915

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,426.81

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,341.81

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,481.58

adamkaz / Getty Images/iStockphoto

California

  • Rent average cost: $1,827

  • Expenditure average cost: $4,118.48

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $5,945.48

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $4,085.25

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Colorado

  • Rent average cost: $1,433

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,980.23

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,413.23

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,553


Discover More: I’m a Retired Boomer — Here Are 3 Debts You Should Definitely Pay Off Before Retirement

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Connecticut

  • Rent average cost: $1,310

  • Expenditure average cost: $3,244

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,554

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,693.77

pabradyphoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Delaware

  • Rent average cost: $1,210

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,849.56

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,059.56

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,199.33

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto

District of Columbia (DC)

  • Rent average cost: $2,105

  • Expenditure average cost: $4,345.11

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $6,450.11

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $4,589.88

Kruck20 / iStock.com

Florida

  • Rent average cost: $1,302

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,869.64

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,171.64

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,311.41


Explore More: I’m a Retirement Planner — 7 Ways I Am Guiding Clients Now That Trump Won

ferrantraite / iStk.comoc

Georgia

  • Rent average cost: $1,234

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,547.72

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,781.72

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,921.49

sorincolac / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Hawaii

  • Rent average cost: $1,692

  • Expenditure average cost: $5,480.44

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $7,172.44

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $5,312.21

Jennifer_Sharp / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Idaho

  • Rent average cost: $808

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,775.76

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,583.76

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,723.53

Pgiam / Getty Images

Illinois

  • Rent average cost: $1,180

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,579.29

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,759.29

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,899.06


Read Next: America’s 50 Most Expensive Retirement Towns

Ron and Patty Thomas / Getty Images

Indiana

  • Rent average cost: $895

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,581.81

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,476.81

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,616.58

pabradyphoto / Getty Images

Iowa

  • Rent average cost: $772

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,551.33

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,323.33

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,463.10

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Kansas

  • Rent average cost: $837

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,473.69

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,310.69

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,450.46

Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Kentucky

  • Rent average cost: $816

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,476.05

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,292.05

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,431.82


Discover More: I’m a Gen X Retiree — 6 Things I’m Doing Financially Until I Can Receive Social Security

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

Louisiana

  • Rent average cost: $887

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,561.95

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,448.95

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,588.72

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Maine

  • Rent average cost: $1,950

  • Expenditure average cost: $3,108.90

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $5,058.90

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $3,198.67

Kruck20 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Maryland

  • Rent average cost: $1,479

  • Expenditure average cost: $3,342.66

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,821.66

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,961.43

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

Massachusetts

  • Rent average cost: $1,503

  • Expenditure average cost: $4,311.47

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $5,814.47

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $3,954.24


Check Out: 8 States To Move to If You Don’t Want To Pay Taxes on Social Security

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Michigan

  • Rent average cost: $882

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,560.77

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,442.77

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,582.54

jimkruger / Getty Images

Minnesota

  • Rent average cost: $1,126

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,686.90

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,812.90

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,952.67

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Mississippi

  • Rent average cost: $813

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,435.16

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,248.16

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,387.93

TriggerPhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Missouri

  • Rent average cost: $903

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,490.46

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,393.46

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,533.23


Be Aware: These Are America’s 50 Fastest-Growing Retirement Hot Spots

Lightguard / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Montana

  • Rent average cost: $833

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,893.13

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,726.13

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,865.90

benkrut / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Nebraska

  • Rent average cost: $944

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,554.12

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,498.12

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,637.89

4kodiak / Getty Images

Nevada

  • Rent average cost: $1,154

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,936.06

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,090.06

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,229.83

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

New Hampshire

  • Rent average cost: $1,143

  • Expenditure average cost: $3,195.50

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,338.50

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,478.27


Find Out: Cutting Expenses for Retirement? Here’s the No. 1 Thing To Get Rid of First

Ultima_Gaina / Getty Images/iStockphoto

New Jersey

  • Rent average cost: $1,596

  • Expenditure average cost: $3,254.96

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,850.96

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,990.73

New Mexico

  • Rent average cost: $866

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,655.55

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,521.55

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,661.32

New York

  • Rent average cost: $1,722

  • Expenditure average cost: $3,681.99

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $5,403.99

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $3,543.76

North Carolina

  • Rent average cost: $1,124

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,738.89

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,862.89

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,002.66

North Dakota

  • Rent average cost: $883

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,725.03

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,608.03

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,747.80

Ohio

  • Rent average cost: $839

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,653.57

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,492.57

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,632.34

Oklahoma

  • Rent average cost: $794

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,426.45

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,220.45

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,360.22

Oregon

  • Rent average cost: $1,216

  • Expenditure average cost: $3,325.84

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,541.84

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,681.61

Pennsylvania

  • Rent average cost: $1,052

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,680.03

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,732.03

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,871.80

Rhode Island

  • Rent average cost: $1,071

  • Expenditure average cost: $3,089.68

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,160.68

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,300.45

South Carolina

  • Rent average cost: $1,120

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,661.28

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,781.28

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,921.05

South Dakota

  • Rent average cost: $698

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,635.25

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,333.25

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,473.02

Tennessee

  • Rent average cost: $1,011

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,513.01

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,524.01

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,663.78

Texas

  • Rent average cost: $1,137

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,603.25

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,740.25

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,880.02

Utah

  • Rent average cost: $1,112

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,895.32

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,007.32

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,147.09

Vermont

  • Rent average cost: $1,950

  • Expenditure average cost: $3,333.05

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $5,283.05

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $3,422.82

Virginia

  • Rent average cost: $1,540

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,912.22

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,452.22

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,591.99

Washington

  • Rent average cost: $1,486

  • Expenditure average cost: $3,369.88

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,855.88

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,995.65

West Virginia

  • Rent average cost: $672

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,451.83

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,123.83

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,263.60

Wisconsin

  • Rent average cost: $949

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,767.61

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,716.61

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,856.38

Wyoming

  • Rent average cost: $790

  • Expenditure average cost: $2,592.46

  • Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,382.46

  • Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,522.23

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed every state to find how much money you’ll need to supplement your Social Security Income. GOBankingRates started by finding the [1] average cost of living indexes across multiple expenditures as sourced from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center and multiplied them by the [2] national average expenditure costs for ages 65 and over for each expenditure category to find the monthly total cost of expenditures.

Adding the expenditure cost to the [3] overall rent cost, as sourced from ApartmentList, gives the average total cost of living in each state. Using the [4] average Social Security Benefits amounts for retired workers as sourced from the Social Security’s Monthly Statistical Supplement for January 2024, the total monthly cost of living after Social Security Benefits can be calculated.

The remaining amount is how much you will need to supplement your Social Security in every state. The [5] median household income was sourced from the U.S. Census’s American Community Survey and the leftover savings after cost of living costs was calculated for supplemental information. The states were sorted to show the lowest to highest leftover cost after Social Security Benefits pay for cost of living costs. All data was collected and is up to date as of Jun. 12, 2024.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much Money You’ll Need To Supplement Your Social Security in Every State.