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13 Best West Coast Cities for Couples To Live on JUST a Social Security Check

social security mistakes
Photo by Dmytro Zinkevych from Shutterstock

7. Portland, Oregon

  • Average 1-bedroom rent (2022): $1,344

Caring for the environment is crucial nowadays. If you’re used to protecting and enhancing the natural environment by recycling, reducing waste, and not using plastic bags, there’s a good chance you may love seeing green spaces in the city you live in.

Well, Portland has more than 297 city parks, being one of the most eco-friendly cities in the whole country. Being environmentally conscious is a big deal there, that’s why grocery stores in Portland will never offer you plastic bags.

Now, let’s see if a retired couple who lives on only Social Security checks should relocate here.

Portland’s cost of living is 30.8% above the national average. It has a $1,344 average rent, making it one of only five places on the ranking where a one-bedroom apartment costs less than $1,400. However, its very high crime rate leads to a drab livability score of 65.

30 Responses

  1. I need help to lower my phone internet bill I have AT&T land line. my last bill was $134. my income is 526 dollers A month. do think I need help? plus water and electric.

    1. Yes, I’d get Wi-Fi from my local cable company and get a consumer cellular phone for about $30 month. Your local library has classes on how to use cell phones.

    2. Dear Joe, dump AT&T and go with Consumer Cellular… I’ve been using it for several years and it’s at a great price! (Just over $30 per month)

  2. This must be a joke! It says couples! What happened if your spouse is deceased and you’re living on your own. There’s no way you can afford a one bedroom place and pay for all the rest of your bills, plus buy groceries and medical and that includes medication for the month on your social security alone. If you can I’m very happy that you are able to.

    1. Deb,

      Yes, some people get a very nice social security check. If the shoe fits. The add is for those who CAN.
      For instance, I know a retired attorney who gets a whooping 5k monthly from Social Security and a nurse who gets 3,500.00 now they can it depends on how much money you made in your lifetime.

    2. Makes perfect sense what you are saying! The alternative plan if you are living by yourself would be to go and live among the homeless? They are pretty easy on them in California.

    3. Yes, I do exactly that. I pay all my bills at the beginning of the month. I am 70 years old and single. I live in a Senior Independant Living facility and have a Medicare Advantage Plan. Both of these facts contribute greatly to my caliber of living.

  3. This is funny received 800.00 a month in my SS check because I have to pay taxes up front and I can not afford even to live in USA I’m in Mexico because I don’t have money to pay all the bills

  4. As the cost-of-living continues to go up those of us on fixed income, continue to struggle. The same income that satisfied me a short, six years ago now barely supports me. I’ve gone from shopping at regular grocery stores to shopping at discount grocery stores. From shopping at target and Walmart to shopping at secondhand stores. Not necessarily because I wanted to because economy has forced me to. It’s also becoming more difficult to live alone financially at least.

  5. Sadly, I have decided to leave the country of my birth (US), because of the high cost of living. I will be moving to Colombia where I am by their standards a ‘Millionair’.

  6. You mentioned couples.
    How about “something” for singles !! What can you give us in a 1 bedroom apt
    for under $1000.00 a month ? Those prices you listed are still too high for a low-income senior !!

  7. I thought that Alaska as beautiful as it is ? was very expensive?! When did that change. Isn’t high crime also?

  8. I live in southeastern PA. My monthly social security is $1,928 (my only income as a single woman). My monthly rent for a decent-sized one-bedroom apt. is $810. My cable (which includes TV and computer) is $225/month. During the summer, my electric bill goes from around $50/month to $200/month because I live on 2 floors and need to keep window air-conditioners running on both floors. Today, the temperature in my 3rd floor bedroom was almost 90 degrees until I turned on the air-conditioner up there. My phone bill is around $60/month (for an android phone I bought 4 yrs. ago). I drive a 23-year-old car that I paid $5,000 cash for around 13 years ago. Only get $23/month EBT (food stamps).

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