Make money work for you!

  • Home
  • Personal Finance
  • Budgeting
  • Shopping
  • Taxes

10 Worst States to Live on Just a Social Security Check

December 20, 2022 · Personal Finance
stimulus check
Photo by Lucky-photographer from shutterstock.com

2. California

  • Cost-of-living index: 142.2
  • Average one-bedroom rent (January 2022): $1,652

California is a captivating place full of travel destinations due to its natural beauty, coastlines, theme parks, and vibrant towns not seen anywhere else on Earth. Truth be told, the Golden State is perhaps the most renowned state in America, and many people visit this place for its lifestyle, landscape, as well as other activities.

Financially speaking, the average household income for seniors is significantly above average, yet plenty of seniors are unable to handle the heavy burden: 1 in 10 residents age 65 and older are living in poverty. But not just that: excluding the Social Security benefits, retirement income is fully taxable.

With above-average costs in almost every cost-of-living category and a housing index above 200, California has earned its reputation as a high-cost retirement place. If you’re planning to retire on Social Security checks alone, the California dream will likely remain just that.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

52 comments on “10 Worst States to Live on Just a Social Security Check”

  1. Ed Dale says:
    January 7, 2026 at 9:39 am

    I left Taxachusetts 50 years ago. Moved to Alaska!!!! Best thing I ever did. No personal State income tax!!! No State sales tax. Yes it gets cold and dark in winter. But summers are beautiful. Warmth and all the sunlight. It’s home!!!!!! HOME is where you make it. Playing golf at midnight is awesome!!! Each year eligible citizens get a Permanent Fund Dividend check from the State from the oil revenues received from oil revenue taxes. But the best part is the beauty of it all. Hunting, fishing, scenery, the people. It’s just different from the Lower 48!!!!!

    Reply
  2. LINDA STEPHENS says:
    February 3, 2025 at 1:41 am

    That isn’t a picture of Washington. That is Washington, DC. Duh???

    Reply
  3. Betty says:
    February 2, 2025 at 2:33 pm

    You forgot Texas. Even the winter Texans commented on how higher prices are, then at home.

    Reply
  4. Shelly Weger says:
    January 7, 2025 at 2:46 am

    Take me off the Lists!

    Reply
  5. Robert Morris says:
    January 6, 2025 at 9:00 pm

    By the way, Washington D.C. is not in the state of Washington. The Washington Monument shown in the picture is in Washington D.C.

    Reply
Se încarcă comentarii...

Nu mai există comentarii de afișat.

Search

Latest Posts

  • An active retiree in his late 60s working part-time at a sunlit plant nursery greenhouse, watering green seedlings. The Part-Time Jobs With a 401(k) Match That Most Retirees Don't Know Exist
  • A woman sits on a moving box in her urban apartment, looking at a laptop showing scenic mountain relocation programs. These US Towns Will Pay You to Move There
  • An editorial illustration of a mailbox with a Social Security check inside, having a 32% slice snipped off by scissors labeled Medicare. Medicare Part B Ate 32% of Last Year's COLA. Will It Happen Again in 2027?
  • A smiling retired woman with silver hair holding car keys while leaning against a silver compact car in a sunny suburban driveway. 10 Retirement Part-Time Job That Comes With a Company Car
  • An editorial illustration of a giant red 4.7% symbol casting a dark storm cloud shadow labeled inflation over a house. How the 2027 COLA Could Reach 4.7% - And Why That's a Warning Sign
  • A retired man in a knit sweater sits at a wooden kitchen table in soft morning light, reviewing a financial paper statement. The Hidden Inflation Categories Hitting Seniors Harder Than Headline CPI
  • An older man looking thoughtfully at his printed Social Security statement at his kitchen table in the morning light. 5 Warning Signs Your Social Security Benefit Estimate Is Wrong
  • Risograph illustration of a person relaxing on a medical cross bench under a large clock, symbolizing part-time hours with health benefits. The Part-Time Jobs That Come With Unexpected Health Insurance
  • An older woman in a cream sweater happily working on a laptop at a rustic wooden dining table in a sunlit home. The Best Platforms for Finding Remote Work After Retirement
  • Watercolor illustration showing a collage of retirement activities: hiking, theater binoculars, and movie tickets. Entertainment Discounts for Retirees: Movies, Museums, and More

Newsletter

Get money-saving tips and personal finance advice delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

amazon product, online shopping websites

7 Ways to Spot Fake Amazon Products

7. The Third-Party Retailer Asks You to Contact Them Before Completing Your Payment Instead of…

Read More →
Amazon

Here’s How to Get Your Refund From Amazon’s $2.5B FTC Settlement

Millions of Amazon Prime members may be eligible to receive a refund as part of…

Read More →
A retired man sits at a kitchen table surrounded by financial statements and a calculator, looking concerned as he reviews his budget.

8 Signs You’re Spending Too Much In Retirement Without Realizing It

Learn the 8 hidden warning signs that you are spending too much in retirement and…

Read More →
A hand holding an opened chocolate bar with large empty spaces in the tray on a kitchen counter next to a grocery bag.

8 Everyday Products That Quietly Shrank Without Most Americans Noticing

Discover the 8 everyday consumer products that recently shrank in size and learn practical shopping…

Read More →
pay

Never Pay for These 14 Things With Your Credit Card

Other people’s expenses You might be extremely giving, but this doesn’t mean that you should…

Read More →
household bills buffett

Think You’re Too Frugal? You ARE If You’re Doing These 8 Things

A man meticulously mends a large hole in an old sock, questioning the balance between…

Read More →

Social Security Alert: Up to $5,181 Hitting Accounts This Week

Final Thoughts As millions of Americans prepare to receive their next Social Security payment, the…

Read More →
An editorial collage featuring a brass compass, financial documents, a family photo, and a metal key, representing a financial roadmap.

8 Financial Details Loved Ones Need to Know

Discover the eight critical financial details and documents you must organize and share with loved…

Read More →
Social Security

Can You Live on Social Security Alone in 2025?

As millions of Americans near or enter retirement, one crucial question continues to dominate the…

Read More →
The Money Place

Make money work for you!

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@ineditagency.com

Trust & Legal

  • Subscribe
  • Unsubscribe
  • Newsletter
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Do not sell my personal information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Request to Know
  • Request to Delete
  • CA Private Policy

Categories

  • Budgeting
  • Personal Finance
  • Shopping
  • Taxes

© 2026 The Money Place. All rights reserved.