20 Best Places in the South To Live on Only a Social Security Check

Life below the Mason-Dixon line is known for warm weather and low costs — and that second part is particularly important for anyone planning to retire on Social Security alone. According to the SSA, the average monthly benefit for an individual in Jan. 2025 was $1,976 and $3,089 for a couple.

That’s not a lot to work with — even in the South — but if that government check is all you have, you do have options.

To find the best places in the South for retired homeowners who rely on Social Security alone, GOBankingRates used cost-of-living data from Sperling’s BestPlaces and livability scores from AreaVibes — livability scores are calculated using factors like crime, schools and local amenities. These places have the highest livability scores and affordability for couples living on just Social Security.

Keep reading to learn about the places in the South where you should consider moving if Social Security benefits are your only income.

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,825
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,633
• Livability: 70

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,790
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,539
• Livability: 70

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,768
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,789
• Livability: 71

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,883
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,779
• Livability: 71

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,827
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,745
• Livability: 71

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,776
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,713
• Livability: 71

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,833
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,637
• Livability: 71

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,680
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,534
• Livability: 71

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,737
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,772
• Livability: 72

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,749
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,699
• Livability: 72

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,754
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,658
• Livability: 72

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,740
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,621
• Livability: 72

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,697
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,747
• Livability: 73

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,735
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,587
• Livability: 73

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,668
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,754
• Livability: 74

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,857
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,748
• Livability: 75

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,806
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,627
• Livability: 77

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,698
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,508
• Livability: 78

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $2,002
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,708
• Livability: 81

• Monthly cost of living with house paid off: $1,950
• Monthly cost of living with mortgage: $2,574
• Livability: 82

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities in the Southern United States to find the best places to live on Social Security benefits. GOBankingRates defined the Southern United States as Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. To qualify for this study, the city had to have a population of at least 10,000 and have all data available. For each location, GOBankingrates found total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, and household median income, all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and include the grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation, and miscellaneous indexes. Using the cost-of-living indexes and the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each location was calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes for each location to show the quality of life in each city. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for October 2024, and the average rental cost was sourced from Zillow Observed Rental Index for October 2024. Using the average home value, assuming a 10% down payment, and using the most recent national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated. Using the average mortgage, average rental cost and average expenditure costs, the average total monthly and annual cost of living for a homeowner and a renter was calculated for each location. The average monthly Social Security benefits for one person and a married couple were sourced from the Social Security Administration and the total cost of living after Social Security benefits for renters and homeowners was calculated. The places where the Social Security benefits for a couple can cover the cost of living were kept and ranked. The highest livability locations with a lower cost of living than Social Security benefits were kept and ranked to find the best places to live in the South on Social Security. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Dec. 2, 2024.