Here Are the 15 Best States To Retire for Women

The gender pay gap in the working world has been well documented, but the gap doesn’t end there. On average, women also have smaller retirement savings than men as well as smaller Social Security checks.

A 2023 GOBankingRates survey found that women are 10% more likely than men to have no retirement savings or investments. More than half (56%) of women surveyed had less than $10,000 in retirement savings vs. 48% of men.

Because of these and other inequalities, finding the right retirement destination is especially important for women. A recent analysis from Insider Monkey ranked the best states for women to retire based on criteria such as average Social Security checks, income gaps, cost of living, life expectancy and tax friendliness.

Insider Monkey calculated cost-of-living scores based on an average of 100, with scores above 100 being higher than average and scores below 100 being lower than average.

Here are the 15 best states to retire for women, according to that survey.

• Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1,609.50
• Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s: 75.4
• Cost of Living: 114.1  

• Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1,662.60
• Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s: 83.5
• Cost of Living: 113.9

• Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1,476.30
• Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s: 89.2
• Cost of Living: 114.7

• Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1,503.10
• Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s: 80.3
• Cost of Living: 92.1

• Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1,546.50
• Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s: 85.8
• Cost of Living: 146.5

• Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1,535.70
• Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s: 82.1
• Cost of Living: 95.6

• Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1,510.90
• Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s: 99.6
• Cost of Living: 110.7

• Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1,482.20
• Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s: 87.7
• Cost of Living: 90.9

• Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1,533.10
• Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s: 85.3
• Cost of Living: 87.1

• Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1,563.50
• Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s: 82.5
• Cost of Living: 90.6

• Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1,449.00
• Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s: 84.2
• Cost of Living: 100.7

• Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits:  $1,505.90
• Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s: 87
• Cost of Living: 105.1

• Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1,548.70
• Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s: 91
• Cost of Living: 94.1

• Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1,574.60
• Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s: 85.8
• Cost of Living: 116

• Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1,608.40
• Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s: 95.5
• Cost of Living: 101.1