How Far Your 2026 Social Security Check Really Goes in Every State

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According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the average Social Security check is $2,071 as of January — but that could be a lot or a little, depending on where you spend it.

Your local living costs will determine how far you can stretch your benefit. Here’s how far your monthly Social Security payment really goes in your state.

A Dollar Buys More in Some Places Than in Others

The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) uses the following criteria to calculate average state living costs:

• Groceries
• Housing
• Utilities
• Transportation
• Health care 
• Miscellaneous expenses

The center’s researchers combine average dollar amounts from all categories and convert them into a score representing each state’s living costs, with 100 as the baseline for the national average.

Many affordable states in the South and Midwest have scores under 100. For example, Missouri scores 89, meaning its average living costs are 11% below the national average. Expensive states, such as Hawaii, can cost nearly 80% more than average.

What $2,071 Actually Buys in Your State

GOBankingRates used the MERIC data to determine the real purchasing power of the average 2026 Social Security check by applying each state’s index score to the $2,071 monthly benefit amount.

Here’s what that amount is worth in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

• Alabama: $2,350.74
• Alaska: $1,634.57
• Arizona: $1,877.61
• Arkansas: $2,298.56
• California: $1,447.24
• Colorado: $2,008.73
• Connecticut: $1,816.67
• Delaware: $2,008.73
• District of Columbia: $1,502.90
• Florida: $2,042.41
• Georgia: $2,246.20
• Hawaii: $1,126.16
• Idaho: $2,085.60
• Illinois: $2,180.00
• Indiana: $2,283.35
• Iowa: $2,306.24
• Kansas: $2,342.76
• Kentucky: $2,263.39
• Louisiana: $2,229.28
• Maine: $1,816.67
• Maryland: $1,764.05
• Massachusetts: $1,394.61
• Michigan: $2,253.54
• Minnesota: $2,212.61
• Mississippi: $2,408.14
• Missouri: $2,329.58
• Montana: $2,139.46
• Nebraska: $2,255.99
• Nevada: $2,077.23
• New Hampshire: $1,874.21
• New Jersey: $1,796.18
• New Mexico: $2,210.25
• New York: $1,646.26
• North Carolina: $2,115.42
• North Dakota: $2,273.33
• Ohio: $2,189.22
• Oklahoma: $2,445.10
• Oregon: $1,835.99
• Pennsylvania: $2,132.85
• Rhode Island: $1,870.82
• South Carolina: $2,234.09
• South Dakota: $2,255.99
• Tennessee: $2,298.56
• Texas: $2,273.33
• Utah: $2,081.41
• Vermont: $1,824.67
• Virginia: $2,026.42
• Washington: $1,834.37
• West Virginia: $2,353.41
• Wisconsin: $2,102.54
• Wyoming: $2,189.22

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