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.
