Living costs and inflation rates vary considerably around the country, which means a Social Security check or other retirement assets go farther in some regions than in others.
To get a better understanding of how much it costs to live as a retiree in a particular part of the country, try using the Elder Economic Security Standard™ Index (Elder Index) developed by the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
The Elder Index measures the income that older adults need to meet their basic needs and age in place with dignity based on household size, location, housing tenure, and health status. It includes the costs of housing, healthcare, transportation, food, and miscellaneous expenses.