16 Cities Where Couples on Social Security Need Less Than $1,000 Per Month

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Nearly three-quarters of households with Americans ages 62 and older rely on Social Security for at least half of their income, according to The Senior Citizen League’s Senior Survey 2025 report. That makes budgeting challenging, but living in a city with a low cost of living can ease the burden.

To find out in which cities a couple on Social Security can live on less than $1,000 per month in additional income, GOBankingRates used the most recent data from the Social Security Administration to calculate an average combined benefit of $2,970, based on the U.S. average retirement benefit plus the average spousal benefit. We compared that figure to cost-of-living data, including rent for a one-bedroom apartment outside of the city center, from Numbeo. Livability Scores from AreaVibes provide additional context.

Here are 16 cities — America’s largest — where couples receiving Social Security can live on less than $1,000 per month after Social Security.

Anchorage, Alaska

• Total population: 289,600
• Livability: 77
• Monthly cost of living: $3,905
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $935

Dallas, Texas

• Total population: 1,326,093
• Livability: 81
• Monthly cost of living: $3,885
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $915

Fresno, California

• Total population: 550,091
• Livability: 63
• Monthly cost of living: $3,877
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $907

Tampa, Florida

• Total population: 414,575
• Livability: 80
• Monthly cost of living: $3,859
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $889

Nashville, Tennessee

• Total population: 704,965
• Livability: 78
• Monthly cost of living: $3,831
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $861

New Orleans, Louisiana

• Total population: 362,701
• Livability: 75
• Monthly cost of living: $3,795
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $825

Orlando, Florida

• Total population: 334,871
• Livability: 81
• Monthly cost of living: $3,741
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $771

Reno, Nevada

• Total population: 281,684
• Livability: 81
• Monthly cost of living: $3,731
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $761

Charlotte, North Carolina

• Total population: 943,474
• Livability: 80
• Monthly cost of living: $3,696
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $726

Minneapolis

• Total population: 428,572
• Livability: 78
• Monthly cost of living: $3,652
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $682

Raleigh, North Carolina

• Total population: 499,637
• Livability: 84
• Monthly cost of living: $3,620
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $650

Austin, Texas

• Total population: 993,771
• Livability: 83
• Monthly cost of living: $3,542
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $572

Las Vegas, Nevada

• Total population: 678,924
• Livability: 82
• Monthly cost of living: $3,533
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $563

Indianapolis

• Total population: 890,315
• Livability: 76
• Monthly cost of living: $3,522
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $552

Houston, Texas

• Total population: 2,387,910
• Livability: 74
• Monthly cost of living: $3,489
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $519

Baltimore, Maryland

• Total population: 568,271
• Livability: 77
• Monthly cost of living: $3,473
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $503

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