16 Cities Where Couples on Social Security Need Less Than $500 in Additional Income per Month

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Commitment to Our Readers

GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.

20 Years
Helping You Live Richer

Reviewed
by Experts

Trusted by
Millions of Readers

Budgeting for retirement is as much about your expenses as it is your income, and where you live plays a huge role. You might be surprised — and relieved — to know you’ve got plenty of choices even if your savings are modest.

To find out in which cities a couple on Social Security can live on less than $500 per month in additional income (in other words, income that’s not from Social Security), GOBankingRates used the most recent data from the Social Security Administration (SSA) to determine average benefits for a married couple. We calculated this figure conservatively, assuming one spouse receives benefits based on their own work record and the other receives spousal benefits, and came out with a combined average of $2,970 per month. We compared that figure to cost-of-living data from Numbeo for America’s largest cities, per Census data. Livability Scores from AreaVibes provide additional context.

Here are 16 cities where couples receiving Social Security can live on less than $500 of extra money per month. In two cases, you won’t even need that much — Social Security covers average expenses with money to spare.

Columbus, Ohio

• Total population: 931,551
• Livability: 81
• Monthly cost of living: $3,454
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $484

Fort Worth, Texas

• Total population: 1,014,376
• Livability: 80
• Monthly cost of living: $3,373
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $403

Omaha, Nebraska

• Total population: 489,263
• Livability: 83
• Monthly cost of living: $3,319
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $349

Jacksonville, Florida

• Total population: 1,009,831
• Livability: 84
• Monthly cost of living: $3,307
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $337

Detroit, Michigan

• Total population: 645,702
• Livability: 73
• Monthly cost of living: $3,287
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $317

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• Total population: 563,512
• Livability: 79
• Monthly cost of living: $3,280
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $310

Memphis, Tennessee

• Total population: 610,936
• Livability: 70
• Monthly cost of living: $3,263
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $293

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• Total population: 713,014
• Livability: 81
• Monthly cost of living: $3,184
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $214

Tucson, Arizona

• Total population: 554,011
• Livability: 73
• Monthly cost of living: $3,146
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $176

San Antonio, Texas

• Total population: 1,526,621
• Livability: 80
• Monthly cost of living: $3,132
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $162

Kansas City, Missouri

• Total population: 516,045
• Livability: 78
• Monthly cost of living: $3,104
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $134

Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Total population: 560,333
• Livability: 72
• Monthly cost of living: $3,068
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $98

Tulsa, Oklahoma

• Total population: 413,652
• Livability: 75
• Monthly cost of living: $3,042
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $72

Louisville, Kentucky

• Total population: 640,793
• Livability: 66
• Monthly cost of living: $3,021
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $51

Wichita, Kansas

• Total population: 400,993
• Livability: 68
• Monthly cost of living: $2,969
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: -$1

El Paso, Texas

• Total population: 681,724
• Livability: 81
• Monthly cost of living: $2,814
• Monthly cost of living after Social Security: -$156

Share This Article: