Where Can You Retire Just on Social Security

28 US Cities Where You Can Retire on $2,000 a Month

You can save a lot of money in these locations.

For most of us, Social Security benefits aren't enough to cover our living expenses. According to the Social Security Administration, the average monthly benefit for retired workers is $1,555 per month as of June 2021. That works out to $18,660 per year, which is well below the median income, even in lower-income areas.

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Meanwhile, the U.S. average for monthly expenditures is $2,183, according to our research. That gap between average expenses and Social Security benefits results in a $623 budget shortfall on average, per month.

Thus, retirees will have to take steps to ensure they can adequately cover their expenses in retirement. Typically, that means tapping a 401(k) or some other retirement account to make up the difference. But maybe you don't have a 401(k), or maybe you simply want to make your money stretch further in retirement.

Read: Jaw-Dropping Stats About the State of Retirement in America

Whatever the case may be, another way to maintain financial security in retirement is by living in a city where the costs are lower. Yes, that does mean you won't be living in Lower Manhattan or Beverly Hills. Still, there are plenty of cities that are not only affordable but also very much livable.

Livability is defined as having a high average score in the following categories: amenities, crime, cost of living, weather and education. Some of the cities on this list have very high scores overall. Let's take a look at each city and how the numbers break down.

US Average

Monthly expenditures: $2,183.00

2020 average one-bedroom rent: $1,277.00
% of population 65 and over: 16.5%
Annual grocery cost: $4,204
Monthly grocery cost: $350.33
Annual healthcare cost: $6,668
Monthly healthcare cost: $555.67

See: The Biggest Problems Facing Social Security

28. Pinellas Park, Florida

Monthly Expenditures: $1,919.34

27. Loveland, Colorado

Monthly Expenditures: $1,873.25

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $988
% of Population 65 and older: 18.6%
Livability: 77
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,191.39
Monthly Grocery Cost: $349.28
Annual Healthcare Cost: $6,427.95
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $535.66

See: 17 Tips To Live Comfortably Off Just a Social Security Check

26. Chattanooga, Tennessee

Monthly Expenditures: $1,870.07

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $967
% of Population 65 and older: 16.6%
Livability: 70
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,077.88
Monthly Grocery Cost: $339.82
Annual Healthcare Cost: $6,761.35
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $563.45

Learn: 10 Myths About Early Retirement

25. Tomball, Texas

Monthly Expenditures: $1,851.06

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $994
% of Population 65 and older: 19.2%
Livability: 84
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,128.33
Monthly Grocery Cost: $344.03
Annual Healthcare Cost: $6,161.23
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $513.44

Helpful: States Where Your Retirement Will Cost Less Than $45,000 a Year

24. Winter Haven, Florida

Monthly Expenditures: $1,838.30

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $943
% of Population 65 and older: 25.3%
Livability: 77
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,313.30
Monthly Grocery Cost: $359.44
Annual Healthcare Cost: $6,427.95
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $535.66

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23. St. George, Utah

Monthly Expenditures: $1,838.24

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $909
% of Population 65 and older: 22.7%
Livability: 75
Annual Grocery Cost: $3,939.15
Monthly Grocery Cost: $328.26
Annual Healthcare Cost: $7,208.11
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $600.68

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22. Daytona Beach, Florida

Monthly Expenditures: $1,830.42

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $944
% of Population 65 and older: 20.8%
Livability: 65
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,115.72
Monthly Grocery Cost: $342.98
Annual Healthcare Cost: $6,521.30
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $543.44

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21. University City, Missouri

Monthly Expenditures: $1,824.07

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $964
% of Population 65 and older: 17.8%
Livability: 75
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,220.82
Monthly Grocery Cost: $351.73
Annual Healthcare Cost: $6,101.22
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $508.44

Helpful: 17 Tips To Live Comfortably Off Just a Social Security Check

20. Kernersville, North Carolina

Monthly Expenditures: $1,800.90

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $887
% of Population 65 and older: 17.4%
Livability: 76
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,044.25
Monthly Grocery Cost: $337.02
Annual Healthcare Cost: $6,921.38
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $576.78

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19. Westerville, Ohio

Monthly Expenditures: $1,785.25

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $945
% of Population 65 and older: 19.4%
Livability: 95
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,304.90
Monthly Grocery Cost: $358.74
Annual Healthcare Cost: $5,774.49
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $481.21

See: 35 Countries Where Your Social Security Check Goes Furthest

18. Weatherford, Texas

Monthly Expenditures: $1,781.95

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $891
% of Population 65 and older: 17.9%
Livability: 91
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,061.06
Monthly Grocery Cost: $338.42
Annual Healthcare Cost: $6,627.99
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $552.33

See: 35 Countries Where Your Social Security Check Goes Furthest

16. Covington, Lousiana

Monthly Expenditures: $1,773.49

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $917
% of Population 65 and older: 18.6%
Livability: 81
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,153.55
Monthly Grocery Cost: $346.13
Annual Healthcare Cost: $6,127.89
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $510.66

15. Mayfield Heights, Ohio

Monthly Expenditures: $1,749.35

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $949
% of Population 65 and older: 23.9%
Livability: 89
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,107.31
Monthly Grocery Cost: $342.28
Annual Healthcare Cost: $5,494.43
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $457.87

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14. Sierra Vista, Arizona

Monthly Expenditures: $1,738.39

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $834
% of Population 65 and older: 19.2%
Livability: 74
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,010.62
Monthly Grocery Cost: $334.22
Annual Healthcare Cost: $6,848.04
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $570.67

13. Lebanon, Tennessee

Monthly Expenditures: $1,723.13

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $822
% of Population 65 and older: 16.6%
Livability: 77
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,220.82
Monthly Grocery Cost: $351.73
Annual Healthcare Cost: $6,587.98
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $549.00

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12. Independence, Missouri

Monthly Expenditures: $1,719.02

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $861
% of Population 65 and older: 17.8%
Livability: 74
Annual Grocery Cost: $3,993.80
Monthly Grocery Cost: $332.82
Annual Healthcare Cost: $6,301.26
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $525.11

11. Willoughby Hills, Ohio

Monthly Expenditures: $1,713.46

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $905
% of Population 65 and older: 20.7%
Livability: 77
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,128.33
Monthly Grocery Cost: $344.03
Annual Healthcare Cost: $5,574.45
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $464.54

See: 30 Greatest Threats to Your Retirement

10. Metairie, Lousiana

Monthly Expenditures: $1,695.90

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $882
% of Population 65 and older: 19.8%
Livability: 83
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,153.55
Monthly Grocery Cost: $346.13
Annual Healthcare Cost: $5,614.46
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $467.87

Read: 25 Ways To Maximize Your Retirement Benefits

9. Grand Junction, Colorado

Monthly Expenditures: $1,688.66

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $762
% of Population 65 and older: 18.2%
Livability: 66
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,275.47
Monthly Grocery Cost: $356.29
Annual Healthcare Cost: $6,848.04
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $570.67

8. Anderson, South Carolina

Monthly Expenditures: $1,685.03

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $718
% of Population 65 and older: 19.1%
Livability: 67
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,065.27
Monthly Grocery Cost: $338.77
Annual Healthcare Cost: $7,541.51
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $628.46

Discover: 12 People Who Retired Young (and How They Did It)

6. Parma, Ohio

Monthly Expenditures: $1,677.19

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $883
% of Population 65 and older: 19%
Livability: 87
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,035.84
Monthly Grocery Cost: $336.32
Annual Healthcare Cost: $5,494.43
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $457.87

5. Moline, Illinois

Monthly Expenditures: $1,668.74

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $746
% of Population 65 and older: 20.1%
Livability: 65
Annual Grocery Cost: $3,922.33
Monthly Grocery Cost: $326.86
Annual Healthcare Cost: $7,148.10
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $595.67

Read: 26 Smartest Ways To Invest Your Money Right Now

4. Belleville, Michigan

Monthly Expenditures: $1,612.65

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $807
% of Population 65 and older: 19.1
Livability: 78
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,052.66
Monthly Grocery Cost: $337.72
Annual Healthcare Cost: $5,621.12
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $468.43

3. New Bern, North Carolina

Monthly Expenditures: $1,608.36

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $637
% of Population 65 and older: 21.8%
Livability: 66
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,086.29
Monthly Grocery Cost: $340.52
Annual Healthcare Cost: $7,574.85
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $631.24

Find Out: Hidden Obstacles That Keep People From Retirement

2. Gallatin, Tennessee

Monthly Expenditures: $1,602.79

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $720
% of Population 65 and older: 16.9%
Livability: 81
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,233.43
Monthly Grocery Cost: $352.79
Annual Healthcare Cost: $6,361.27
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $530.11

1. Bismarck, North Dakota

Monthly Expenditures: $1,597.56

2020 Average 1 bedroom Rent: $776
% of Population 65 and older: 17
Livability: 79
Annual Grocery Cost: $4,250.24
Monthly Grocery Cost: $354.19
Annual Healthcare Cost: $5,614.46
Monthly Healthcare Cost: $467.87

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Photo Disclaimer: Please note photos are for representational purposes only, therefore some photos may be of nearby cities instead of the city listed.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates found the best cities to retire on a budget of $2,000 dollars or less. GOBankingRates used ApartmentList October 2021 data to find every city in the U.S. that has an (1) average 2021 monthly rent of $1,000 dollars or less for a 1 bedroom apartment. GOBankingRates then used Sperling's Best to find the cost of living index for every city on the list, looking at (2) grocery and (3) healthcare index scores. Next, GOBankingRates used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2020 Consumer Expenditure Survey to find the annual expenditure amount for both grocery ("food at home") and healthcare costs for people aged 65 and older in order to find how much a person 65 and over would spend on groceries and healthcare in each city on a monthly basis. GOBankingRates then added monthly housing, grocery and healthcare costs together to find where a person 65 and older could survive on $2,000 or less. In order for a city to be qualified for the study, it had to have a livabilty score of 65 or higher as sourced from AreaVibes and its population had to be 16.5% (the national average) or more over the age of 65 according to the Census Bureau's 2019 American Community Survey. All data was collected on and up to date as of Nov. 11, 2021.

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Where Can You Retire Just on Social Security

Source: https://www.gobankingrates.com/retirement/planning/us-cities-where-you-can-retire-on-2000-a-month/