Ocala and 19 Other Florida Cities Where Your Social Security Check Goes the Furthest

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Throughout the years, Florida has held its spot as a top location for retirees. It’s no wonder Florida is so appealing (hey, it’s actually officially dubbed the Sunshine State). Not only does it boast beautiful weather most of the year, but it’s also got incredible beaches and a booming community of senior citizens. On the financial side of things, Florida shines because it has no personal income tax. It also has a low sales tax rate. 

But thanks largely to several factors including inflation and a housing inventory shortage, Florida is becoming increasingly expensive for retirees. So, if you’re thinking about living there and are living on a fixed income that is centered, at least in part, on Social Security benefits, it’s key to know how far that monthly check will go. 

In a new study, GOBankingRates found the 20 Florida cities where a Social Security check goes the furthest based on the average monthly benefit for retired workers in 2024 ($1,925.46).

20. Tampa

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,336
• Monthly grocery cost: $436
• Monthly healthcare cost: $671
• Monthly utilities cost: $346
• Monthly transportation cost: $447
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $3,236
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 60% 
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $1,310 

19. Temple Terrace 

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,339
• Monthly grocery cost: $428
• Monthly healthcare cost: $671
• Monthly utilities cost: $346
• Monthly transportation cost: $448
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $3,232
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 60% 
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $1,307

18. Four Corners 

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,336
• Monthly grocery cost: $425
• Monthly healthcare cost: $680
• Monthly utilities cost: $376
• Monthly transportation cost: $448
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $3,224 
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 60% 
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $1,299

17. Bradenton

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,337
• Monthly grocery cost: $430
• Monthly healthcare cost: $666
• Monthly utilities cost: $339
• Monthly transportation cost: $399
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $3,172
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 61% 
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $1,246 

16. Sanford

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,254 
• Monthly grocery cost: $414 
• Monthly healthcare cost: $697  
• Monthly utilities cost: $356
• Monthly transportation cost: $440 
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $3,162
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 61%
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $1,236

15. St. Petersburg 

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,228  
• Monthly grocery cost: $435
• Monthly healthcare cost: $694
• Monthly utilities cost: $374
• Monthly transportation cost: $392  
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $3,123
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 62%  
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $1,198 

14. Fort Myers 

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,166 
• Monthly grocery cost: $428  
• Monthly healthcare cost: $797
• Monthly utilities cost: $350  
• Monthly transportation cost: $353
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $3,095
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 62%
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $1,169 

13. Clearwater 

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,194 
• Monthly grocery cost: $436 
• Monthly healthcare cost: $694
• Monthly utilities cost: $377
• Monthly transportation cost: $394
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $3,094
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 62% 
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $1,168 

12. Casselberry 

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,176  
• Monthly grocery cost: $419  
• Monthly healthcare cost: $697
• Monthly utilities cost: $352
• Monthly transportation cost: $424  
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $3,068
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 63%
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $1,143

11. Kissimmee

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,165 
• Monthly grocery cost: $412
• Monthly healthcare cost: $685  
• Monthly utilities cost: $374  
• Monthly transportation cost: $432
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $3,068 
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 63%  
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $1,142

10. Melbourne 

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,254 
• Monthly grocery cost: $415
• Monthly healthcare cost: $668 
• Monthly utilities cost: $349 
• Monthly transportation cost: $333  
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $3,019
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 64%  
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $1,093

9. Palm Bay 

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,198  
• Monthly grocery cost: $411
• Monthly healthcare cost: $668
• Monthly utilities cost: $351  
• Monthly transportation cost: $356
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $2,983
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 65%  
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $1,058 

8. Jacksonville

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,119 
• Monthly grocery cost: $411
• Monthly healthcare cost: $670
• Monthly utilities cost: $369  
• Monthly transportation cost: $405 
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $2,974 
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 65%  
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $1,049 

7. Tallahassee

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,085 
• Monthly grocery cost: $401  
• Monthly healthcare cost: $694  
• Monthly utilities cost: $385  
• Monthly transportation cost: $351  
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $2,917 
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 66%  
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $991

6. Pensacola 

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,119 
• Monthly grocery cost: $400
• Monthly healthcare cost: $656
• Monthly utilities cost: $378  
• Monthly transportation cost: $358
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $2,912 
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 66% 
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $987 

5. Daytona Beach 

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,114  
• Monthly grocery cost: $406 
• Monthly healthcare cost: $687
• Monthly utilities cost: $348
• Monthly transportation cost: $351  
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $2,906 
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 66%   
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $981

4. Lakeland 

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,070  
• Monthly grocery cost: $426 
• Monthly healthcare cost: $675
• Monthly utilities cost: $352 
• Monthly transportation cost: $338
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $2,860 
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 67% 
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $935 

3. Panama City 

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $1,020 
• Monthly grocery cost: $400 
• Monthly healthcare cost: $663 
• Monthly utilities cost: $380
• Monthly transportation cost: $359
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $2,822 
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 68% 
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $896 

2. Gainesville

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $978  
• Monthly grocery cost: $411
• Monthly healthcare cost: $720  
• Monthly utilities cost: $378
• Monthly transportation cost: $325 
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $2,812
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 68%  
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $887

1. Ocala 

• 2024 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom: $966 
• Monthly grocery cost: $407 
• Monthly healthcare cost: $653 
• Monthly utilities cost: $374  
• Monthly transportation cost: $328
• Total monthly necessary expenditures cost: $2,727
• Percentage of monthly expenditures covered by a Social Security check: 71%
• Monthly expenditures not covered by a Social Security check: $801

Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the best cities in Florida where a Social Security check goes the furthest based on the average monthly benefit for retired workers, $1,925.46, sourced from the Social Security Administration’s November 2024 data. GOBankingRates first isolated all cities in Florida with a 2024 1-bedroom average monthly rent below $1,925 as sourced from Apartment List’s November 2024 data. GOBankingRates then used Sperling’s Best to find the cost of living index for each listed city, looking at grocery and healthcare index scores. Next, GOBankingRates used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey to find the annual expenditure amount for grocery, utilities, transportation and healthcare costs for people aged 65 and older in order to find how much a retiree would spend on necessities in each city on a monthly basis. GOBankingRates then added monthly housing, grocery, utilities, transportation and healthcare costs together to find where a retiree can stretch their Social Security check the furthest. GOBankingRates found for each city: the total monthly expenditures cost, what percent a Social Security check would cover those expenses, and the remaining cost of necessities once the Social Security check was used. All data was collected and is up to date as of Dec. 17, 2024.

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