Retired in USA

Your golden years are your best years! Make them shine!

  • Home
  • Personal Finance
  • Retirement Life
  • Saving & Spending

10 Best Places in the Midwest To Live on JUST a Social Security Check

June 23, 2022 · Saving & Spending
Midwest cities
Photo by f11photo from Shutterstock

According to the Social Security Administration, the average monthly payment is $1,618.29. Sometimes, a monthly Social Security Check isn’t enough for most retirees who don’t have other incomes – unless they decide to relocate to one of the most financially friendly cities in the inexpensive Midwest.

GOBankingRates used Sperling’s Best Places cost-of-living data to identify those cities where day-to-day life is low-priced and the rent for the average one-bedroom apartment has a reasonable price. Ultimately, the study analyzed AreaVibes data to identify low-cost, low-rent places with comparable strong livability scores, which are determined based on quality-of-life criteria such as amenities and crime.

If your only source of income comes from Social Security checks, your money will go the furthest in the Midwest. That’s why we’ve rounded up 10 cities where you can live on just your monthly retirement payment.

Keep reading to find out about them!

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

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email
Tags: Social Security

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.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

18 comments on “10 Best Places in the Midwest To Live on JUST a Social Security Check”

  1. STEVE says:
    January 12, 2025 at 4:55 pm

    There are quite a number of folks in the upper Midwest that enjoy the seasons that provide the variety and beauty it is famous for. Even winter has beauty. If you want, like so many choose, you can leave the cold behind for a few weeks or months, and find a sweeter spot to live. As for tornadoes, it seems other parts of the U.S. have been more affected than N.D. or MN. So, I think that concern is limited. As for heart attacks, you were very likely a candidate before shovelling snow, it was only brought about sooner. As humans, we can find ways to adapt, and we must use the resources available to us for that purpose.

    Reply
  2. Mary says:
    July 31, 2023 at 6:12 pm

    Not a grumpy old folk however cold and bad weather and dinky old run down apartments may not be what most retirees want ! U just keep on living and don’t judge happy Seniors!

    Reply
  3. Makinzy says:
    July 31, 2023 at 4:52 pm

    no thanks – came from the mid-west – – way toooo cold, and too much crime. some of the very cities mentioned are the very cities that appear on cop shows regularly and it’s due to the criminal activity. we’ve migrated to south Texas – – yes, it’s hot this year, but sure beats the cold winters up north. cost of almost everything – rent, groceries, gas – are much more reasonable down here and crimes are not so “random” – mostly between family members or groups. as for immigration – heck they head north asap. they don’t want to hang around down here. we’re lov’in it down here and best of all, feel safe.

    Reply
  4. Shannon Brown says:
    July 19, 2023 at 11:18 am

    Whole-Lee-Smokes**!!
    A majority of the people in THIS comment section are giving rise to the stereotype “grumpy old folks”
    L Ö L

    **not gonna break
    Commandment III

    Reply
  5. Elizabeth says:
    June 17, 2023 at 11:17 am

    Apartments are cheaper in Detroit, Michigan

    Reply
  6. Mary Ellen Tousineau says:
    June 16, 2023 at 1:48 pm

    Too cold for too long, stuck inside. If you live alone that is the worst with the grey skies and snow.. People have heart attacks shoveling snow. What is the point of living if you live like that? I bet the suicide rate is high.

    Reply
  7. Joseph Campbell says:
    April 14, 2023 at 8:29 pm

    Sorry, notinterested in living in the Midwest. No thanks to super cold weather, flooding or tornadoes!

    Reply
  8. BKH says:
    April 14, 2023 at 6:06 pm

    Most of these look like they’re in tornado zones.

    Reply
  9. Kurt Kelley says:
    January 18, 2023 at 8:52 pm

    OK, but who wants to live in Kansas or North Dakota?? Fishing and canoeing in Williston, ND? What, for maybe 4 months of the year?

    Reply
  10. Marc F Povondra says:
    December 18, 2022 at 11:21 pm

    You do not mention anything about utilities. North Dakota gets very cold in the winter. What are the cost of utilities in this town during winter. Can a person on SSI still be able to live afford to there?

    Reply
Se încarcă comentarii...

Nu mai există comentarii de afișat.

Search

Latest Posts

  • An older man sitting at his kitchen table under morning light, carefully reviewing his Social Security check and paper statements. 8 Signs Your Social Security Payment Was Miscalculated
  • A mature multi-ethnic couple reviews retirement documents together at a sunlit dining table in their home. 7 Social Security Rules for Non-Citizen Retirees
  • An older man sitting at a wooden table organizes medical documents and application papers in his warm, sunlit home. 8 Signs You Qualify for Expedited Social Security Processing
  • An ink and watercolor illustration of a winding path with signs for Age 62, Age 67, and Age 70, symbolizing retirement decisions. 9 Social Security Mistakes That Are Hard to Reverse
  • 7 Signs You Should Appeal a Social Security Decision 7 Signs You Should Appeal a Social Security Decision
  • A reflective woman in her early 60s sits in her sunlit living room, holding a ceramic mug and looking out the window. 8 Social Security Rules Divorced Spouses Often Miss
  • An ink and watercolor illustration of a magnifying glass over a Social Security statement, revealing a growing staircase of tree rings. 9 Signs Your Social Security Statement Underestimates Your Benefit
  • An older American couple sits on a sunlit European balcony overlooking the sea, planning their retirement journey together. 7 Social Security Rules That Change If You Live Abroad
  • An older woman sits thoughtfully at her dining table with documents and a warm mug, reflecting in soft afternoon light. 8 Signs You Should File for Social Security Survivor Benefits
  • An ink and watercolor illustration of a happy senior couple reviewing papers together at a cozy dining table. 8 Programs Offering Free Tax Help to Seniors Regardless of Income Level

Newsletter

Get retirement tips and senior living advice delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

Retirement Income

Retirement Income Coming In? These 7 Reliable States WON’T Tax You

Have You Started Receiving Your Retirement Income? Know This: You’ve probably worked really hard your…

Read More →
An older couple stands in their suburban driveway, thoughtfully looking at their oversized family SUV.

The 12 Cars Retirees May Want to Avoid Before Downsizing

Discover the 12 worst cars for retirees to hold onto and learn how downsizing your…

Read More →
Things Seniors Should Always Get from Costco

8 Kirkland Products That No Longer Feel Like a Costco Bargain

Why Kirkland Prices Are Rising — And What Smart Shoppers Can Do About It For…

Read More →
An active senior woman wearing a stylish smartwatch in a sunny garden.

Best Wearable Health Devices for Seniors: Beyond the Apple Watch

Explore the best wearable health devices and medical alert smartwatches for seniors in 2026, featuring…

Read More →
Costco Perk

5 Incredible Costco Perks for Seniors Without Discounts

A smiling senior man unpacks fresh produce and olive oil, enjoying the many grocery perks…

Read More →
finances

Finances in Retirement: 7 Honest Things Nobody Tells You

A man in a blue shirt relaxes on his porch, reflecting on the peace of…

Read More →
things

Any Retiree Can Sell These Awesome 10 Things From Their Home

After decades of working and saving, it’s now time to finally retire and be more…

Read More →
budget

8 Budget Cuts to Help You Pay Off Retirement Debt

There comes a point in our lives when saving money is our priority. Especially if…

Read More →
safe deposit box

6 Things You’ll Regret Keeping in a Safe Deposit Box

Bank safe deposits are perceived as a relic by some. Nowadays, it’s so simple to…

Read More →
Retired in USA

Your golden years are your best years! Make them shine!

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@ineditagency.com

Trust & Legal

  • Contact
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertiser Disclosure
  • FAQ
  • Subscribe
  • Unsubscribe
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclaimer
  • Do not sell my personal information
  • Request to Know
  • Request to Delete
  • CA Privacy Policy

Categories

  • Enjoying Retirement
  • Personal Finance
  • Saving & Spending

© 2026 Retired in USA. All rights reserved.