What the Average Social Security Check Gets You in America’s Largest Cities

September 30, 2025

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Most Americans know they’ll need more than Social Security benefits to fund their retirement years. A robust savings coupled with Social Security provides retirees with added financial security, especially if you live in a city where there’s a high cost of living. For those with leaner savings or considering a move somewhere cheaper, a new original study from GOBankingRates reveals there are two major cities where a typical Social Security check is enough money to cover annual necessities for a couple.

Using data from the U.S. Census 2024 American Community Survey and Social Security Administration, GOBankingRates analyzed the nation’s 50 most populous cities and sourced the average monthly Social Security income (for August 2025) for one retired person and two people filing jointly.

Each city’s average single-family home value and monthly mortgage costs were factored in, and the total cost of necessities was calculated using average mortgage and expenditure costs. Using the cost of necessities and the average Social Security income, the cost of necessities after Social Security was calculated and ranked from the most to least populous city.

Key Findings

Detroit and Memphis are the two largest cities where the average Social Security check completely covers annual necessity costs for two. In Detroit, a couple would have an extra $6,048; in Memphis, a couple would have $4,005.
Social Security goes far in Baltimore. Annual cost of necessities in the Maryland city is $35,683, which means a couple would pay just $124 after Social Security.
Social Security for two means paying less than $5,000 more for annual necessity costs in 12 large cities. From most to least total costs, these cities are Columbus, Ohio ($4,409); Louisville, Kentucky ($4,096); Kansas City, Missouri ($3,891); San Antonio ($3,521); Indianapolis ($2,209); Milwaukee ($1,856); El Paso, Texas ($1,539); Tulsa, Oklahoma ($1,491); Oklahoma City ($1,214); Baltimore ($124); Memphis (-$4,005) and Detroit (-$6,048).

Here’s what the average Social Security check affords in America’s largest cities, ranked in order of most populous cities.

Today’s Top Offers

1. New York City

Population: 8,478,072
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $89,101
Total cost for necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $53,542
Average home value: $846,342
Average monthly mortgage: $4,740

2. Los Angeles

Population: 3,878,718
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $94,294
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $58,736
Average home value: $1,025,128
Average monthly mortgage: $5,741

3. Chicago

Population: 2,721,326
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $44,980
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $9,422
Average home value: $316,835
Average monthly mortgage: $1,774

4. Houston

Population: 2,387,910
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $41,585
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $6,026
Average home value: $273,592
Average monthly mortgage: $1,532

5. Phoenix

Population: 1,673,122
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $51,545
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $15,986
Average home value: $422,826
Average monthly mortgage: $2,368

6. Philadelphia

Population: 1,573,916
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $40,888
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $5,329
Average home value: $228,156
Average monthly mortgage: $1,278

7. San Antonio

Population: 1,526,621
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $39,080
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $3,521
Average home value: $255,410
Average monthly mortgage: $1,430

8. San Diego

Population: 1,404,461
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $100,740
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $65,181
Average home value: $1,140,127
Average monthly mortgage: $6,385

Today’s Top Offers

9. Dallas

Population: 1,326,093
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $45,446
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $9,887
Average home value: $325,525
Average monthly mortgage: $1,823

10. Fort Worth, Texas

Population: 1,014,376
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $43,785
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $8,226
Average home value: $302,082
Average monthly mortgage: $1,692

11. Jacksonville, Florida

Population: 1,009,831
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $43,244
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $7,685
Average home value: $299,855
Average monthly mortgage: $1,679

12. San Jose, California

Population: 997,395
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $129,750
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $94,191
Average home value: $1,529,160
Average monthly mortgage: $8,563

13. Austin, Texas

Population: 993,771
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $59,640
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $24,081
Average home value: $540,210
Average monthly mortgage: $3,025

14. Charlotte, North Carolina

Population: 943,474
Average home value: $410,500
Average monthly mortgage: $2,299
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $49,971
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $14,412

15. Columbus, Ohio

Population: 931,551
Average home value: $271,653
Average monthly mortgage: $1,521
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $39,967
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $4,409

16. Indianapolis

Population: 890,315
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $37,768
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $2,209
Average home value: $237,877
Average monthly mortgage: $1,332

Today’s Top Offers

17. San Francisco

Population: 827,526
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $122,924
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $87,365
Average home value: $1,410,552
Average monthly mortgage: $7,899

18. Seattle

Population: 780,992
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $86,594
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $51,035
Average home value: $941,803
Average monthly mortgage: $5,274

19. Denver

Population: 729,019
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $62,423
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $26,864
Average home value: $589,059
Average monthly mortgage: $3,299

20. Oklahoma City

Population: 713,014
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $36,773
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $1,214
Average home value: $208,348
Average monthly mortgage: $1,167

21. Nashville, Tennessee

Population: 704,965
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $53,681
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $18,122
Average home value: $457,356
Average monthly mortgage: $2,561

22. Washington, D.C.

Population: 702,250
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $76,282
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $40,723
Average home value: $749,377
Average monthly mortgage: $4,197

23. El Paso, Texas

Population: 681,724
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $37,098
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $1,539
Average home value: $231,634
Average monthly mortgage: $1,297

24. Las Vegas

Population: 678,924
Average home value: $459,185
Average monthly mortgage: $2,571
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $54,842
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $19,284

25. Boston

Population: 673,822
Average home value: $839,566
Average monthly mortgage: $4,702
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $81,866
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $46,307

26. Detroit

Population: 645,702
Average home value: $78,624
Average monthly mortgage: $440
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $29,511
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): ($6,048)

Today’s Top Offers

27. Louisville, Kentucky

Population: 640,793
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $39,655
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $4,096
Average home value: $261,726
Average monthly mortgage: $1,466

28. Portland, Oregon

Population: 636,958
Average home value: $560,229
Average monthly mortgage: $3,137
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $60,912
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $25,353

29. Memphis, Tennessee

Population: 610,936
Average home value: $143,738
Average monthly mortgage: $805
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $31,554
Total cost necessities annually (with Social Security for two): ($4,005)

30. Baltimore

Population: 568,271
Average home value: $187,275
Average monthly mortgage: $1,049
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $35,683
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $124

31. Milwaukee

Population: 563,512
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $37,415
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $1,856
Average home value: $224,046
Average monthly mortgage: $1,255

32. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Population: 560,333
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $43,780
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $8,221
Average home value: $346,106
Average monthly mortgage: $1,938

33. Tucson, Arizona

Population: 554,011
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $44,127
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $8,568
Average home value: $339,478
Average monthly mortgage: $1,901

34. Fresno, California

Population: 550,091
Average home value: $400,093
Average monthly mortgage: $2,241
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $49,915
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $14,356

35. Sacramento, California

Population: 535,787
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $57,706
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $22,147
Average home value: $491,883
Average monthly mortgage: $2,755

36. Atlanta

Population: 520,066
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $54,226
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $18,668
Average home value: $450,085
Average monthly mortgage: $2,521

Today’s Top Offers

37. Mesa, Arizona

Population: 517,142
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $52,988
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $17,429
Average home value: $448,204
Average monthly mortgage: $2,510

38. Kansas City, Missouri

Population: 516,045
Total annual cost of necessities annually without Social Security: $39,450
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $3,891
Average home value: $254,114
Average monthly mortgage: $1,423

39. Raleigh, North Carolina

Population: 499,637
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $52,257
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $16,698
Average home value: $449,566
Average monthly mortgage: $2,518

40. Colorado Springs, Colorado

Population: 493,540
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $52,345
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $16,786
Average home value: $463,169
Average monthly mortgage: $2,594

41. Omaha, Nebraska

Population: 489,263
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $43,104
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $7,545
Average home value: $294,739
Average monthly mortgage: $1,651

42. Miami

Population: 487,006
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $69,595
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $34,036
Average home value: $657,084
Average monthly mortgage: $3,680

43. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Population: 454,808
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $52,260
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $16,701
Average home value: $427,529
Average monthly mortgage: $2,394

44. Long Beach, California

Population: 450,917
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $86,611
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $51,053
Average home value: $919,269
Average monthly mortgage: $5,148

45. Oakland, California

Population: 443,575
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $79,742
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $44,183
Average home value: $797,148
Average monthly mortgage: $4,464

46. Minneapolis

Population: 428,572
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $45,938
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $10,379
Average home value: $357,994
Average monthly mortgage: $2,005

Today’s Top Offers

47. Bakersfield, California

Population: 417,461
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $49,939
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $14,380
Average home value: $401,355
Average monthly mortgage: $2,248

48. Tampa, Florida

Population: 414,575
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $49,905
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $14,346
Average home value: $391,158
Average monthly mortgage: $2,191

49. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Population: 413,652
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $37,050
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $1,491
Average home value: $220,176
Average monthly mortgage: $1,233

50. Arlington, Texas

Population: 403,657
Total annual cost of necessities without Social Security: $44,769
Total cost of necessities annually (with Social Security for two): $9,210
Average home value: $316,376
Average monthly mortgage: $1,772

Explore more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the 50 most populous cities according to the U.S. Census 2024 1-year American Community Survey. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and the national average expenditure costs for retired households were sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index and the average mortgage cost was calculated using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the total cost of living for necessities was calculated for each city. The average monthly Social Security income was sourced from the Social Security Administration for August 2025 for one retired person and for two people filing jointly. Using the cost of living for necessities and the average Social Security income, the cost of living for necessities after Social Security was calculated for each city. The cities were sorted to show the largest populous cities first. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Sept. 15, 2025.

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