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Planning / Retirement

Here’s the Cost To Retire Comfortably With Social Security in Every State

10 min Read
Jordan Rosenfeld Written by Jordan Rosenfeld
Justice Petersen Edited by Justice Petersen
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Moyo Studio / iStock/Getty Images

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What stands between most people and retirement is having enough money to afford it. While many people love the idea of an early retirement, say, in their 40s or 50s, that goal isn’t very likely in most states. However, retiring in your early 60s depends on where you live. Of course, to truly live a comfortable retirement takes more than desire — it also takes a large chunk of cash.

GOBankingRates determined the cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security benefits included by analyzing data from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center and Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for Retired Households. The average full Social Security benefits for one person were sourced from the Social Security Administrations Monthly Snapshot for January 2025.

Find out how much you’ll need to retire, assuming a life expectancy of 80 — depending on the state you call home.

Alabama

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $23,001
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $460,029
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $345,022
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $230,015

Alaska

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $62,966
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,259,328
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $944,496
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $629,664

Arizona

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $52,791
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,055,817
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $791,863
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $527,909

Arkansas

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $20,012
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $400,235
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $300,176
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $200,118

California

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $107,626
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $2,152,523
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $1,614,392
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $1,076,262

Colorado

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $67,254
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,345,072
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $1,008,804
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $672,536

Connecticut

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $57,938
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,158,753
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $869,065
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $579,377

Delaware

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $46,901
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $938,025
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $703,519
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $469,012

Florida

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $49,628
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $992,564
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $744,423
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $496,282

Georgia

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $38,514
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $770,287
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $577,715
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $385,143

Hawaii

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $138,571
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $2,771,427
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $2,078,570
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $1,385,714

Idaho

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $54,421
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,088,426
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $816,320
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $544,213

Illinois

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $32,245
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $644,906
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $483,680
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $322,453

Indiana

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $26,538
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $530,765
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $398,074
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $265,383

Iowa

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $23,883
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $477,653
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $358,240
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $238,827

Kansas

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $24,043
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $480,862
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $360,647
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $240,431

Kentucky

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $23,920
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $478,395
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $358,796
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $239,197

Louisiana

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $19,991
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $399,830
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $299,872
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $199,915

Maine

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $51,121
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,022,421
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $766,816
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $511,211

Maryland

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $54,500
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,090,002
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $817,502
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $545,001

Massachusetts

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $89,135
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,782,707
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $1,337,031
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $891,354

Michigan

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $26,289
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $525,785
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $394,339
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $262,892

Minnesota

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $40,830
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $816,604
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $612,453
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $408,302

Mississippi

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $18,032
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $360,642
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $270,481
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $180,321

Missouri

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $26,176
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $523,525
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $392,644
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $261,763

Montana

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $55,426
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,108,513
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $831,385
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $554,256

Nebraska

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $29,302
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $586,037
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $439,528
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $293,018

Nevada

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $56,170
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,123,405
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $842,554
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $561,703

New Hampshire

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $63,270
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,265,406
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $949,055
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $632,703

New Jersey

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $70,848
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,416,955
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $1,062,717
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $708,478

New Mexico

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $34,137
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $682,733
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $512,049
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $341,366

New York

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $58,129
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,162,574
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $871,930
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $581,287

North Carolina

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $39,367
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $787,336
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $590,502
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $393,668

North Dakota

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $31,244
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $624,873
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $468,654
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $312,436

Ohio

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $25,629
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $512,581
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $384,436
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $256,291

Oklahoma

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $21,670
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $433,405
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $325,053
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $216,702

Oregon

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $64,050
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,281,004
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $960,753
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $640,502

Pennsylvania

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $31,092
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $621,832
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $466,374
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $310,916

Rhode Island

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $62,321
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,246,413
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $934,810
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $623,206

South Carolina

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $34,096
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $681,911
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $511,433
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $340,956

South Dakota

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $34,458
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $689,169
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $516,877
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $344,584

Tennessee

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $33,984
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $679,672
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $509,754
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $339,836

Texas

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $34,494
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $689,883
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $517,412
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $344,942

Utah

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $63,132
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,262,649
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $946,986
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $631,324

Vermont

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $50,508
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,010,161
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $757,621
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $505,081

Virginia

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $48,650
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $973,003
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $729,752
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $486,502

Washington

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $79,462
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $1,589,239
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $1,191,929
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $794,619

West Virginia

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $17,225
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $344,491
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $258,368
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $172,245

Wisconsin

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $36,995
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $739,890
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $554,918
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $369,945

Wyoming

  • Annual cost of a comfortable retirement with Social Security: $41,302
  • Retirement savings needed at 60 (with SS): $826,032
  • Retirement savings needed at 65 (with SS): $619,524
  • Retirement savings needed at 70 (with SS): $413,016

John Csiszar and Heather Taylor contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology: GOBankingRates found the cost-of-living indexes for each state across various categories, including groceries, healthcare, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous, all sourced from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center. Using the average expenditure costs for retired households, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for Retired Households, the average expenditure costs were calculated. The average full Social Security benefits for one person were sourced from the Social Security Administrations Monthly Snapshot for January 2025. The cost of living after Social Security benefits was then calculated. 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. The cost of retirement was calculated for different retirement ages. The states were sorted to show the highest to lowest cost of retirement. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Feb. 21, 2025.

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