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Here’s How Much It Costs To Retire Comfortably Without Social Security in Your State

June 15, 2025

9 min Read

Written by T. Woods

Edited by Chris Cluff

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Given the uncertainty that has surrounded the future solvency of the American Social Security system for years, it’s worth considering the possibility that the Social Security Administration will be capable of far less as time goes on. In fact, the reserve fund that helps pay out Social Security benefits at the current rate is expected to be depleted by 2035. With that in mind, it may behoove future retirees to plan for a retirement without Social Security.

GOBankingRates recently completed a study that compiled the cost of retirement across all 50 states — assuming a life expectancy of 80. A comfortable retirement was defined as one in which you have double the funds needed to meet the cost of living. Want to know how much you’ll need to put aside to enjoy your golden years in comfort, without a Social Security safety net? GOBankingRates has your answers below.

Alabama

Annual cost of living comfortably: $70,492
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,409,839
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $704,919
% of population 65+: 17.5%

Alaska

Annual cost of living comfortably: $110,457
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $2,209,137
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,104,569
% of population 65+: 13.3%

Arizona

Annual cost of living comfortably: $100,281
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $2,005,627
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,002,814
% of population 65+: 18.6%

Today’s Top Offers

Arkansas

Annual cost of living comfortably: $67,502
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,350,045
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $675,022
% of population 65+: 17.3%

California

Annual cost of living comfortably: $155,117
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $3,102,333
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,551,166
% of population 65+: 15.3%

Colorado

Annual cost of living comfortably: $114,744
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $2,294,882
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,147,441
% of population 65+: 15.2%

Connecticut

Annual cost of living comfortably: $105,428
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $2,108,563
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,054,281
% of population 65+: 18.1%

Delaware

Annual cost of living comfortably: $94,392
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,887,834
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $943,917
% of population 65+: 20.0%

Florida

Annual cost of living comfortably: $97,119
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,942,374
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $971,187
% of population 65+: 21.1%

Georgia

Annual cost of living comfortably: $86,005
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,720,096
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $860,048
% of population 65+: 14.6%

Hawaii

Annual cost of living comfortably: $186,062
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $3,721,237
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,860,618
% of population 65+: 19.9%

Idaho

Annual cost of living comfortably: $101,912
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $2,038,236
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,019,118
% of population 65+: 16.6%

Today’s Top Offers

Illinois

Annual cost of living comfortably: $79,736
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,594,716
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $797,358
% of population 65+: 16.6%

Indiana

Annual cost of living comfortably: $74,029
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,480,575
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $740,288
% of population 65+: 16.4%

Iowa

Annual cost of living comfortably: $71,373
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,427,463
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $713,731
% of population 65+: 17.8%

Kansas

Annual cost of living comfortably: $71,534
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,430,672
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $715,336
% of population 65+: 16.6%

Kentucky

Annual cost of living comfortably: $71,410
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,428,204
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $714,102
% of population 65+: 17.0%

Louisiana

Annual cost of living comfortably: $67,482
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,349,639
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $674,820
% of population 65+: 16.3%

Maine

Annual cost of living comfortably: $98,612
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,972,231
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $986,115
% of population 65+: 21.9%

Maryland

Annual cost of living comfortably: $101,991
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $2,039,812
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,019,906
% of population 65+: 16.3%

Massachusetts

Annual cost of living comfortably: $136,626
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $2,732,517
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,366,259
% of population 65+: 17.5%

Today’s Top Offers

Michigan

Annual cost of living comfortably: $73,780
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,475,595
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $737,797
% of population 65+: 18.2%

Minnesota

Annual cost of living comfortably: $88,321
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,766,414
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $883,207
% of population 65+: 16.8%

Mississippi

Annual cost of living comfortably: $65,523
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,310,451
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $655,226
% of population 65+: 16.8%

Missouri

Annual cost of living comfortably: $73,667
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,473,335
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $736,668
% of population 65+: 17.5%

Montana

Annual cost of living comfortably: $102,916
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): 2,058,322
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,029,161
% of population 65+: 19.7%

Nebraska

Annual cost of living comfortably: $76,792
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,535,846
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $767,923
% of population 65+: 16.4%

Nevada

Annual cost of living comfortably: $103,661
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $2,073,215
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,036,607
% of population 65+: 16.6%

New Hampshire

Annual cost of living comfortably: $110,761
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $2,215,216
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,107,608
% of population 65+: 19.5%

New Jersey

Annual cost of living comfortably: $118,338
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $2,366,765
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,183,383
% of population 65+: 16.8%

New Mexico

Annual cost of living comfortably: $81,627
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,632,542
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $816,271
% of population 65+: 18.8%

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New York

Annual cost of living comfortably: $105,619
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $2,112,384
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,056,192
% of population 65+: 17.4%

North Carolina

Annual cost of living comfortably: $86,857
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,737,146
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $868,573
% of population 65+: 16.9%

North Dakota

Annual cost of living comfortably: $78,734
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,574,682
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $787,341
% of population 65+: 16.2%

Ohio

Annual cost of living comfortably: $73,120
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,462,391
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $731,195
% of population 65+: 17.9%

Oklahoma

Annual cost of living comfortably: $69,161
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,383,214
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $691,607
% of population 65+: 16.1%

Oregon

Annual cost of living comfortably: $111,541
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $2,230,814
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,115,407
% of population 65+: 18.6%

Pennsylvania

Annual cost of living comfortably: $78,582
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,571,642
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $785,821
% of population 65+: 19.1%

Rhode Island

Annual cost of living comfortably: $109,811
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $2,196,222
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,098,111
% of population 65+: 18.3%

South Carolina

Annual cost of living comfortably: $81,586
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,631,721
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $815,860
% of population 65+: 18.5%

South Dakota

Annual cost of living comfortably: $81,949
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,638,979
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $819,489
% of population 65+: 17.6%

Today’s Top Offers

Tennessee

Annual cost of living comfortably: $81,474
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,629,482
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $814,741
% of population 65+: 16.8%

Texas

Annual cost of living comfortably: $81,985
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,639,693
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $819,846
% of population 65+: 13.2%

Utah

Annual cost of living comfortably: $110,623
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $2,212,458
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,106,229
% of population 65+: 11.6%

Vermont

Annual cost of living comfortably: $97,999
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,959,971
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $979,986
% of population 65+: 20.8%

Virginia

Annual cost of living comfortably: $96,141
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,922,813
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $961,406
% of population 65+: 16.3%

Washington

Annual cost of living comfortably: $126,952
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $2,539,048
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $1,269,524
% of population 65+: 16.3%

West Virginia

Annual cost of living comfortably: $64,715
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,294,300
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $647,150
% of population 65+: 20.7%

Wisconsin

Annual cost of living comfortably: $84,485
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,689,700
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $844,850
% of population 65+: 18.0%

Wyoming

Annual cost of living comfortably: $88,792
Savings needed to retire at 60 (with no Social Security): $1,775,841
Savings needed to retire at 70 (with no Social Security): $887,921
% of population 65+: 18.0%

Methodology: GOBankingRates found the cost of living using data from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for Retired Households and Federal Reserve Economic Data. The average full Social Security Benefits for one person were sourced from the Social Security Administrations Monthly Snapshot for January 2025. Using the 50/30/20 rule that states that needs should not exceed 50% of the household income, the total cost of living was doubled to find the income needed to live comfortably. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Feb. 21, 2025.

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