Cost of living by state
What it costs to retire in all 50 states.
Start with the same $5,000/month retirement-life example and see how each state changes it before your own housing, health care, family, and travel choices.
Retiree cost estimate
The monthly figure is the same $5,000 national example translated through the state price index already used on each state guide.
About $4,350/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,350
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Mountain towns
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Sales tax
- Storm risk
About $4,350/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,350
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Warm winters
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Water access
About $4,400/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,400
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Storm risk
About $4,400/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,400
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Sales tax
- Storm risk
City guides in Oklahoma
About $4,400/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,400
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Sales tax
- Water access
City guides in Louisiana
About $4,425/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,425
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
Trade-offs
- Property tax
- Warm winters
About $4,450/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,450
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Warm winters
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Sales tax
- Storm risk
About $4,450/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,450
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Warm winters
About $4,475/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,475
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Water access
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Rural access
About $4,500/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,500
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Sales tax
City guides in Kansas
About $4,500/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,500
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Warm winters
City guides in Nebraska
About $4,500/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,500
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Rural access
City guides in Kentucky
About $4,550/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,550
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Sales tax
- Storm risk
City guides in Missouri
About $4,600/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,600
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
Trade-offs
- Sales tax
- Storm risk
City guides in Tennessee
About $4,600/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,600
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- Town guides
- Mountain towns
Trade-offs
- State tax
- SS taxed
- Rural access
City guides in New Mexico
About $4,625/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,625
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
Trade-offs
- Care access
About $4,650/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,650
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Warm winters
City guides in Ohio
About $4,675/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,675
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Warm winters
City guides in Indiana
About $4,675/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,675
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Water access
City guides in South Carolina
About $4,700/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,700
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Warm winters
City guides in Wisconsin
About $4,725/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,725
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Water access
City guides in North Carolina
About $4,725/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,725
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- Mountain towns
Trade-offs
- State tax
- SS taxed
- Warm winters
About $4,775/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,775
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Warm winters
City guides in Idaho
About $4,800/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,800
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Warm winters
City guides in Michigan
About $4,825/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,825
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Water access
About $4,850/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,850
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Warm winters
About $4,850/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,850
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
Trade-offs
- Property tax
- Sales tax
- Storm risk
City guides in Texas
About $4,875/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,875
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Warm winters
City guides in Pennsylvania
About $4,900/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,900
per month
Why it could work
- Low cost
- Lake life
Trade-offs
- State tax
- SS taxed
- Property tax
About $4,925/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,925
per month
Why it could work
- Water access
Trade-offs
- State tax
- SS taxed
- Sales tax
About $4,950/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$4,950
per month
Why it could work
- Town guides
- Outdoor life
Trade-offs
- State tax
- SS taxed
City guides in Utah
About $5,000/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,000
per month
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Water access
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Water access
About $5,000/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,000
per month
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
- Lake life
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Property tax
- Sales tax
City guides in Illinois
About $5,000/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,000
per month
Why it could work
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- Sales tax
About $5,025/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,025
per month
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Sales tax
- Water access
City guides in Arizona
About $5,050/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,050
per month
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
- Water access
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Water access
City guides in Virginia
About $5,125/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,125
per month
Why it could work
No signal
Trade-offs
- State tax
- SS taxed
- Property tax
About $5,125/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,125
per month
Why it could work
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
- Outdoor life
Trade-offs
- Warm winters
About $5,150/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,150
per month
Why it could work
- Town guides
- Mountain towns
Trade-offs
- State tax
- SS taxed
- Warm winters
City guides in Colorado
About $5,175/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,175
per month
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
- Warm winters
Trade-offs
- State tax
About $5,175/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,175
per month
Why it could work
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- Storm risk
City guides in Florida
About $5,175/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,175
per month
Why it could work
No signal
Trade-offs
- State tax
- SS taxed
- Property tax
About $5,200/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,200
per month
Why it could work
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
- Mountain towns
Trade-offs
- Property tax
- Warm winters
About $5,250/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,250
per month
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
- Water access
Trade-offs
- State tax
- Water access
City guides in Maryland
About $5,300/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,300
per month
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
- Water access
Trade-offs
- Higher prices
- State tax
- Property tax
City guides in Massachusetts
About $5,350/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,350
per month
Why it could work
- No income tax
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- Higher prices
- Sales tax
- Warm winters
City guides in Washington
About $5,400/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,400
per month
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
- Mountain towns
Trade-offs
- Higher prices
- State tax
- Property tax
City guides in New York
About $5,450/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,450
per month
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Water access
Trade-offs
- Higher prices
- State tax
- Property tax
About $5,500/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,500
per month
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
Trade-offs
- Higher prices
- State tax
City guides in Hawaii
About $5,525/mo on the same retiree-cost example.
Example cost
$5,525
per month
Why it could work
- SS untaxed
- Town guides
- Water access
Trade-offs
- Higher prices
- State tax
- Sales tax
City guides in California