25 Places in Florida Where You Can Retire Only on Social Security

While Social Security is supposed to be a “safety net” to supplement retirement savings, for some it is all the income they have to live on. Depending on where you live, however, it may not go very far.

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In many parts of the country, the average monthly Social Security benefit (as of January 2024) of $1,862.03 is just not enough — but Florida provides some options, especially for couples, who collectively can make between $2,773.85 and $3,724.06 (depending on if both spouses are working) from Social Security. It turns out the Sunshine State is a decent place to survive on only a Social Security check for some couples, particularly these fifteen towns.

To figure out where you can live on your Social Security checks in Florida, GOBankingRates determined the average monthly benefit for retired workers, sourced from the Social Security Administration, and the average January 2024 rent in Florida from the Zillow Observed Rental Index.

GOBankingRates then researched Sperling’s Best to find the cost-of-living index for each listed city, looking at grocery and healthcare index scores. GOBankingRates also used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey to find the total monthly expenditures for couples aged 65 and older, adding these costs together.

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25. Titusville

• Average monthly rent: $1,766

• Total monthly cost of living: $3,561

In Titusville, the median household income is $56,700 per year. The average home value is $283,864.

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24. Lakeland

• Average monthly rent: $1,766

• Total monthly cost of living: $3,561

In Lakeland, the median household income is $58,290 per year. The average home value is $317,852.

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23. Callaway

• Average monthly rent: $1,702

• Total monthly cost of living: $3,541

In Callaway, population 13,455, the median household income is $61,743. Total expenditures before rent are $1,838.

Pictured: Sun City

22. Wildwood

• Average monthly rent: $1,735

• Total monthly cost of living: $3,527

In Wildwood, the median household income is a decent $68,121 per year. The average home value is $311,411.

Pictured: Tavares

21. Crystal River

• Average monthly rent: $1,719

• Total monthly cost of living: $3,521

In Crystal River, the median household income is $46,795 per year. The average home value is $286,824.

20. Homosassa

• Average monthly rent: $1,716

• Total monthly cost of living: $3,515

In Homosassa, which has a tiny population of 2,016, total expenditures between rent and other expenses is just over $3,500.

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19. Gainesville

• Average monthly rent: $1,577

• Total monthly cost of living: $3,514

In Gainesville, retired couples will pay around $3,500 in total monthly expenditures, leaving them around $225 left over.

18. Dunnellon

• Average monthly rent: $1,676

• Total monthly cost of living:  $3,491

In Dunnellon, retired couples will pay slightly less than $3,500 in total monthly expenditures, leaving them around $230 left over.

Pictured: Doral

17. Jacksonville

• Average monthly rent: $1,600

• Total monthly cost of living: $3,476

In Jacksonville, with a population just under one million, retired couples pay $1,876 in monthly expenditures, before rent.

16. Lake Placid

• Average monthly rent:  $1,624

• Total monthly cost of living:  $3,458

In Lake Placid, population 2,349, retired couples will have about $265 left over after expenses.

Pictured: Lakeland

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15. Oak Ridge

• Average monthly rent: $1,496

• Total monthly cost of living: $3,451

In Oak Ridge, the median household income is $27,296 per year. The average home value is $286,179.

Pictured: Miami

14. Crawfordville

• Average monthly rent: $1,971

• Total monthly cost of living: $3,446

In Crawfordville, population 5,268, the median household income is the highest on this list, $92,813 per year.