Stretching Social Security payments
The average Social Security benefit for retired workers was $1,294 per month at the end of 2013. A couple who each brought in this amount would have $31,056 in annual Social Security benefits. How far that amount goes largely depends on where you live. U.S. News Money analyzed Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics data to determine that a couple age 65 and older could cover their basic expenses, including typical costs for housing, food, utilities, transportation and health care, with their Social Security income in these cities:
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Senior citizen renters pay a median of $686 monthly to live in Albuquerque. Homeowners age 65 and older pay a median of $1,078 per month if they have a mortgage and just $368 monthly if they have paid off the mortgage. There are six senior centers where people age 50 and older can become members for just $13 a year.
Austin, Texas
The low housing costs in Texas are drawing people to the state. A home in Austin costs retirees a median of $1,395 monthly with a mortgage and $545 if they own their home debt-free. The median rent for retirees age 65 and older is $887 monthly. Texas doesn’t have a state income tax, but it’s important to carefully consider the property tax you might face on any home purchase.
Buffalo, New York
If you can tolerate the cold and snowy winters, you’ll be rewarded with a very low cost of living. Senior citizens age 65 and older pay just $466 monthly in housing costs if they have paid off their mortgages, $1,009 monthly if they are still paying off their home and $611 in monthly rent. The City of Buffalo also provides a senior discount card that entitles retirees to a percentage off their purchases when they shop at local businesses.
Columbia, South Carolina
South Carolina residents age 60 and older who are no longer working are eligible for free tuition at the University of South Carolina. Seniors can also get discount tickets to the Riverbanks Zoo and Columbia Museum of Art. Housing remains affordable, costing retirees $1,074 monthly with a mortgage, $367 with a paid-off house or $801 in monthly rent.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
This small city is known for its outsized art scene, which includes the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts and the art competition ArtPrize. Retirees age 65 and older pay just $684 monthly in rent. Older homeowners pay $1,080 monthly with a mortgage and $427 per month if their house is paid off.
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville offers balmy winters similar to other parts of Florida, but at much more affordable prices. Retirees age 65 and older pay a median rent of just $861 per month. Older homeowners pay a median of $1,247 per month if they have a mortgage, which drops significantly to $405 once they pay off the house. An added bonus: There’s no state income tax in Florida.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh has several professional sports teams, noteworthy museums, major colleges and the UPMC-University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which is ranked 13th in the country in geriatrics. But housing prices remain affordable, costing senior citizens a median of $1,023 monthly with a mortgage, $434 when they have paid off their house or $614 per month in rent. Plus, residents age 65 or over ride free on the bus, T or Monongahela Incline.
Spokane, Washington
The Spokane River flows through downtown Spokane and can be enjoyed at Riverfront Park, one of the city’s numerous recreation areas for hiking and biking. Washington state does not have an individual income tax, and housing in retirement is affordable, costing just $419 monthly with a paid-off house and $1,139 monthly with a mortgage. The median rent for people age 65 and older is $733 monthly.
St. Louis
Home costs for seniors are $1,115 monthly with a mortgage and $434 per month with a paid-off house, while renters pay a median of $664 monthly in rent. There are also affordable local services to transport retirees to doctor appointments and the grocery store and help with minor home repairs and chores. The Barnes- Jewish Hospital/Washington University is nationally ranked in geriatrics.
Tucson, Arizona
Retirees can take in the enormous cactuses at Saguaro National Park, where U.S. citizens age 62 or older can get a lifetime pass to this and other national parks for just $10. Yet this sunny city remains affordable. Monthly rent for people 65 and older is a median of $771. Older homeowners pay $1,095 monthly with a mortgage, but that drops significantly to $366 for people who have paid off their homes. Plus, the state of Arizona doesn’t tax Social Security income.
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10 Best Places to Retire on Social Security Alone originally appeared on usnews.com
