MoneyLion Finds Hawaii Retirees Need $64,504 a Year, Nearly $24,000 More Than West Virginia
Updated
Updated · BroBible · Oct 29
MoneyLion Finds Hawaii Retirees Need $64,504 a Year, Nearly $24,000 More Than West Virginia
3 articles · Updated · BroBible · Oct 29
Summary
$64,504 a year is the income a single retiree needs in Hawaii in 2026, versus $40,627 in West Virginia, according to a MoneyLion study using MIT Living Wage Calculator data.
That nearly $24,000 gap shows how sharply retirement costs vary by state; Massachusetts, California, New York and New Jersey joined Hawaii among the priciest places, while Arkansas and Kentucky ranked near West Virginia on the low end.
$24,852 a year—the average Social Security benefit in January 2026—falls well short even in the cheapest state, leaving a West Virginia retiree needing roughly $16,000 more for basic expenses.
MoneyLion said the estimates also exclude future inflation, rising healthcare costs, property taxes and insurance, suggesting actual retirement needs could be higher.
The findings echo earlier 2026 studies that also ranked Hawaii among the costliest states and West Virginia among the cheapest, underscoring how location can reshape both living costs and retirement planning.