Retirement Reality Check: Where Your Golden Years Cost the Most (and Least)

America’s 11 most retirement-heavy states just got analyzed, and the cost differences are wild. One in five residents in these places are 65+, but retiring there? Completely different price tags.

The Expensive Outliers:

• Hawaii is absolutely brutal — $6,782/month for a single retiree (COL index: 182.3, highest in the nation)
• Maine and Vermont both hit $3,400+/month, driven mainly by housing
• Florida’s surprisingly reasonable at $2,910/month despite being a retirement magnet

The Budget-Friendly Spots:

• West Virginia leads the pack at just $2,264/month for singles — nearly 40% cheaper than Hawaii
• New Mexico and Wyoming both keep you under $2,535/month
• Montana balances lower housing/utility costs against higher healthcare

The Catch: These figures are after Social Security kicks in, so actual gaps depend on your benefits. The data shows cost-of-living indices range from 88.6 (West Virginia) to 182.3 (Hawaii). What looks cheap in groceries might get eaten up by utilities or healthcare elsewhere.

Bottom Line: If you’re watching your retirement budget, moving 2-3 states over could save you $40k-60k annually. Flip side: you’re trading beaches for mountains, or vice versa.