1. Mississippi. The Magnolia State may be a viable choice as you plan your retirement and look for a place to settle down. It has mild winters and costs less than the national average to live here.
Average Retirement Expenses by Category. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an American household headed by someone aged 65 and older spent an average of $48,791 per year, or $4,065.95 per month, between 2016 and 2020.
As one of the 10 Cheapest States Where You'll Want to Retire, the Heart of Dixie boasts many great spots for affordable living. And Huntsville, in northern Alabama, is one of the best. It offers all the low-cost, low-tax advantages as the rest of the state, but adds more generous incomes among retirement-age residents.
About 40% of older Americans rely exclusively on Social Security for retirement income, according to recent research from the National Institute on Retirement Security.
Oklahoma has been deemed the most affordable state in the nation for seniors, in a new ranking that looked at both the costs and accessibility of care and services.
Most experts say your retirement income should be about 80% of your final pre-retirement annual income. 1 That means if you make $100,000 annually at retirement, you need at least $80,000 per year to have a comfortable lifestyle after leaving the workforce.
Social Security offers a monthly benefit check to many kinds of recipients. As of March 2022, the average check is $1,536.94, according to the Social Security Administration – but that amount can differ drastically depending on the type of recipient.
Other popular retirement states
For example, Bankrate.com put Georgia as the best state to retire in its 2021 study, followed by Florida, Tennessee, Missouri, and Massachusetts. Why Georgia? Bankrate.com said the state's low cost of living and lighter-than-normal tax burdens place it 3rd in affordability.
Currently, Georgia is the cheapest blue state to live in.
West Virginia is the cheapest state to buy a home. A typical home in West Virginia costs $129,103, nearly $30,000 less than Mississippi's and less than half of the national average. A homebuyer can expect to get 1,792 square feet of living space for that price.
If you're looking for a cheap place to retire near the beach, consider Daytona Beach. Homeowners age 60 and older pay a median of $1,282 per month with a mortgage, and the median rent is $1,076 per month. Daytona Beach is a popular retirement spot, and almost a third of the population (32%) is age 60 or older.
South Dakota. South Dakota ranks as the best state for retirement in the United States. The average cost of living in South Dakota is 4% below the national average, including healthcare costs. South Dakota has one of the highest numbers of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses per capita.
How can I retire with no money? Secure a Pension. A pension is a company-sponsored retirement plan that provides a guaranteed monthly income. Pension plans are often given to teachers, police and fire workers, federal and state employees, and military personnel.
Panama: A Home Away from Home
You can retire comfortably on $1,300 per month, and it's one of the best countries for quality of life. What's more, English is widely spoken, and you can use your US money anywhere across the country. The country also offers first-rate hospitals, and many of its doctors are US trained.
As of October 2021 (the most recently available month), the average Social Security check benefit for retired workers was $1,562.66 per month.