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

Planning to enter retirement in the next four years under President Trump’s economy? Depending on where you reside and your relationship status, you may need thousands to supplement your Social Security benefits — or you might need much less.

GOBankingRates was able to determine the difference between the average retiree’s Social Security benefits and cost of living in each state by finding each state’s cost-of-living index and calculating average expenditure costs using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for retired residents. From here, the total cost of living was calculated using the average mortgage and expenditure costs. Each state’s remaining costs were calculated using the average Social Security benefits ($1,925.66 for one person and $2,856.26 for a married couple filing jointly) and total cost of living.

Not surprisingly, more money is needed to supplement Social Security in states with high cost of living. States such as Hawaii and California require the most while less expensive West Virginia and Mississippi need the least. 

Take a look at the amount you’d need to supplement Social Security benefits in every state. Also see states that won’t tax Social Security benefits.

• Population age 65+ (%): 17.5%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,771
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $14,140
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $2,973

• Population age 65+ (%): 13.3%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,612
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $35,666
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $24,498

• Population age 65+ (%): 18.6%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,905
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $30,837
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $19,670

• Population age 65+ (%): 17.3%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,718
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $12,393
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $1,226

• Population age 65+ (%): 15.3%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,305
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $61,293
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $50,126

• Population age 65+ (%): 15.2%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,883
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $39,132
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $27,965

• Population age 65+ (%): 18.1%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,140
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $33,342
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $22,174

• Population age 65+ (%): 20%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,938
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $27,497
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $16,330

• Population age 65+ (%): 21.1%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,924
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $29,145
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $17,978

• Population age 65+ (%): 14.6%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,870
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $22,717
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $11,550

• Population age 65+ (%): 19.9%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,681
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $79,208
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $68,041

• Population age 65+ (%): 16.6%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,876
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $31,636
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $20,469

• Population age 65+ (%): 16.6%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,903
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $19,060
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $7,892

• Population age 65+ (%): 16.4%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,835
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $16,095
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $4,928

• Population age 65+ (%): 17.8%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,827
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $14,498
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $3,331

• Population age 65+ (%): 16.6%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,799
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $14,698
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $3,531

• Population age 65+ (%): 17%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,881
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $14,455
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $3,288

• Population age 65+ (%): 16.3%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,773
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $12,342
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $1,175

• Population age 65+ (%): 21.9%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,077
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $29,847
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $18,680

• Population age 65+ (%): 16.3%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,995
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $31,630
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $20,463

• Population age 65+ (%): 17.5%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,326
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $50,762
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $39,595

• Population age 65+ (%): 18.2%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,818
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $15,742
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $4,575

• Population age 65+ (%): 16.8%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,923
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $24,002
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $12,835

• Population age 65+ (%): 16.8%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,803
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $11,200
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $33

• Population age 65+ (%): 17.5%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,776
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $15,799
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $4,632

• Population age 65+ (%): 19.7%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,929
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $32,424
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $21,257

• Population age 65+ (%): 16.4%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,850
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $17,521
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $6,354

• Population age 65+ (%): 16.6%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,916
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $32,575
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $21,408

• Population age 65+ (%): 19.5%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,016
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $36,700
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $25,533

• Population age 65+ (%): 16.8%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,005
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $40,725
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $29,557

• Population age 65+ (%): 18.8%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,815
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $20,360
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $9,193

• Population age 65+ (%): 17.4%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,014
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $33,933
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $22,766

• Population age 65+ (%): 16.9%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,898
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $23,232
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $12,065

• Population age 65+ (%): 16.2%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,871
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $18,559
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $7,392

• Population age 65+ (%): 17.9%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,846
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $15,503
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $4,335

• Population age 65+ (%): 16.1%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,805
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $13,221
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $2,054

• Population age 65+ (%): 18.6%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,033
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $36,975
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $25,807

• Population age 65+ (%): 19.1%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,879
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person):  $18,489
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $7,322

• Population age 65+ (%): 18.3%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,088
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $36,111
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $24,944

• Population age 65+ (%): 18.5%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,847
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $20,282
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $9,114

• Population age 65+ (%): 17.6%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,831
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $20,494
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $9,326

• Population age 65+ (%): 16.8%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,728
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $20,231
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $9,064

• Population age 65+ (%): 13.2%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,844
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $20,542
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $9,375

• Population age 65+ (%): 11.6%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,841
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $36,753
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $25,586

• Population age 65+ (%): 20.8%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,048
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $29,259
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $18,092

• Population age 65+ (%): 16.3%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,918
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $28,470
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $17,303

• Population age 65+ (%): 16.3%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $2,124
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $45,513
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $34,346

• Population age 65+ (%): 20.7%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,841
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $10,894
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): ($273)

• Population age 65+ (%): 18.0%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,909
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $21,636
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $10,468

• Population age 65+ (%): 18.0%
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,869
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (one person): $24,438
• Cost of living after Social Security benefits (married couple): $13,271

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed each state to find the difference between the average Social Security benefits and the average cost of living in each state. First, the cost-of-living indexes were found from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center for each state and using the average costs for retired residents, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for retired residents, the average expenditure costs were calculated. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index and by assuming a 10% down payment and using the 30-year fixed rate mortgage average, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Research, the average mortgage cost was calculated. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the total cost of living was calculated. Using the average Social Security Benefits and the total cost of living, the remaining costs were calculated for each state. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Feb. 13, 2025.