When it comes to retiring, there are benefits to be found all over the country. But one state in particular takes the cake when it comes to living both comfortably and affordably.
That honor goes to West Virginia, which was rated the most affordable state to retire in comfortably, according to a study from GOBankingRates. In the Mountain State, the study found that a couple with Social Security benefits only needs to spend $2,032 each year to fund their retirement (that balloons to $37,562 without Social Security). Overall, the average monthly cost of a mortgage in West Virginia was $882.
The second-most affordable state to retire in was Mississippi, where the annual cost for a couple with Social Security benefits was $2,917. That was followed by Arkansas, with an annual cost for couples with Social Security coming in at $4,264.
GOBankingRates reported that there was “a stark difference between what it means for couples to retire with and without Social Security benefits, regardless of whether you live in a high-cost-of-living state or not.”
To come up with its list (based on information gathered through Sept. 4, 2025), GOBankingRates looked at populations ages 65 years and older in each state, examined the cost of living, and analyzed the national average costs for retirees.
The study found that in 14 states—West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Nebraska—couples would be able to retire with the help of Social Security benefits for under $10,000 each year.
The most expensive state to retire comfortably in was Hawaii, according to the study, where the annual cost with Social Security benefits came to $74,333 and the annual cost without benefits was a whopping $109,863. The next two most expensive states were California, with an annual cost for couples with Social Security benefits of $54,579, and Massachusetts, with an annual cost with Social Security benefits of $47,876.
In general, those considering traveling solo after their retirement should research where they want to go, pack light, and choose the right tour to suit their needs. It’s also never a bad idea to invest in travel insurance. Seniors can take advantage of not working and plan farther and longer trips like spotting rare wildlife in the Galápagos Islands, exploring the rain forests and beaches of Costa Rica, snorkeling or diving on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, or taking a river cruise along the Mekong River in Southeast Asia.
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