10. Spokane, Washington
- Average 1-bedroom rent (2022): $947
With its many lakes and stable weather, Spokane makes a perfect option for folks who are looking for a stress-free life after retirement. Furthermore, its low cost of living may be a major quality for retired couples who live on just Social Security checks.
Having an impressive cost-of-living index of 92.3, Spokane turns out to be the cheapest city on this ranking to live in if you compare it with the national average. Although the city’s pitiful livability score of 67 leaves much to be desired, it has a $947 monthly rent which makes it the second least expensive city to rent an apartment.
11. Olympia, Washington
- Average 1-bedroom rent (2022): $1,436
The capital city of Washington is a wonderful place because it’s basically in the middle of everything. Want the mountains? They are not far away to the north and east, while the ocean sits to the west. Many folks consider relocating from another West Coast city to Olympia mainly because it holds lower costs of living.
This might sound tempting to those retired couples who live on solely Social Security checks. Now let’s see some numbers.
Olympia’s cost-of-living index is 106.1, which places it towards the bottom of this list. Also, it has a livability score of 74 — the greatest of any city highlighted here — and a $1,436 average monthly rent.
30 Responses
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.
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.
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)
You can get a cellphone with unlimited minutes for under $100 a month
I will “NEVER” live in California, Oregon, Washington !!!
As an x OR and WA we are glad you would never want to live here. We feel them same about you
So don’t. Natives don’t want more crowding.
Thank you for making that life changing decision.
Good.
And we Washington residents thank you
Me either,
Very good decision indeed! I totally second that!
Thank you very much for the information
Good morning!
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.
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.
I agree with you100%
I am so sorry. I saw this often when I lived in Pennsylvania.
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.
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.
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
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.
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’.
I liked the article. Do you have any information on midwestern and southern states.
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 !!
I thought that Alaska as beautiful as it is ? was very expensive?! When did that change. Isn’t high crime also?
Isn’t there large numbers of crime and homeless? When did that change?
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).
Absolutely impossible with an income of $1500 monthly from Social Security!
We love it. USA