Nearly three-quarters of households with Americans ages 62 and older rely on Social Security for at least half of their income, according to The Senior Citizen League’s Senior Survey 2025 report. That makes budgeting challenging, but living in a city with a low cost of living can ease the burden.
To find out in which cities a couple on Social Security can live on less than $1,000 per month in additional income, GOBankingRates used the most recent data from the Social Security Administration to calculate an average combined benefit of $2,970, based on the U.S. average retirement benefit plus the average spousal benefit. We compared that figure to cost-of-living data, including rent for a one-bedroom apartment outside of the city center, from Numbeo. Livability Scores from AreaVibes provide additional context.
Here are 16 cities — America’s largest — where couples receiving Social Security can live on less than $1,000 per month after Social Security.
Anchorage, Alaska
- Total population: 289,600
- Livability: 77
- Monthly cost of living: $3,905
- Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $935
Dallas, Texas
- Total population: 1,326,093
- Livability: 81
- Monthly cost of living: $3,885
- Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $915
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Fresno, California
- Total population: 550,091
- Livability: 63
- Monthly cost of living: $3,877
- Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $907
Tampa, Florida
- Total population: 414,575
- Livability: 80
- Monthly cost of living: $3,859
- Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $889
Nashville, Tennessee
- Total population: 704,965
- Livability: 78
- Monthly cost of living: $3,831
- Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $861
New Orleans, Louisiana
- Total population: 362,701
- Livability: 75
- Monthly cost of living: $3,795
- Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $825
Orlando, Florida
- Total population: 334,871
- Livability: 81
- Monthly cost of living: $3,741
- Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $771
Reno, Nevada
- Total population: 281,684
- Livability: 81
- Monthly cost of living: $3,731
- Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $761
Charlotte, North Carolina
- Total population: 943,474
- Livability: 80
- Monthly cost of living: $3,696
- Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $726
Minneapolis
- Total population: 428,572
- Livability: 78
- Monthly cost of living: $3,652
- Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $682
Raleigh, North Carolina
- Total population: 499,637
- Livability: 84
- Monthly cost of living: $3,620
- Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $650
Austin, Texas
- Total population: 993,771
- Livability: 83
- Monthly cost of living: $3,542
- Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $572
Las Vegas, Nevada
- Total population: 678,924
- Livability: 82
- Monthly cost of living: $3,533
- Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $563
Indianapolis
- Total population: 890,315
- Livability: 76
- Monthly cost of living: $3,522
- Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $552
Houston, Texas
- Total population: 2,387,910
- Livability: 74
- Monthly cost of living: $3,489
- Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $519
Baltimore, Maryland
- Total population: 568,271
- Livability: 77
- Monthly cost of living: $3,473
- Monthly cost of living after Social Security: $503
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 16 Cities Where Couples on Social Security Need Less Than $1,000 Per Month
