Just ran the numbers on something that's been on my mind lately - figured out how long will 500k last in retirement depending on where you actually live. Spoiler: the difference between states is absolutely wild.

So I looked into this because everyone talks about needing a million bucks to retire comfortably, but that seems way too vague. Turns out if you're in Mississippi, that half-million stretches to just over 10 years based on typical spending for people 65+. But if you're thinking Hawaii? You're looking at less than 5 years. That's a massive gap.

The research breaks down actual expenses - groceries, housing, utilities, healthcare, all that stuff - and maps it to each state's cost of living. Basically, how long will 500k last in retirement comes down to where you plant yourself. The cheapest states cluster in the South and Midwest (Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama), while the priciest are on the coasts and mountain areas (Hawaii, Massachusetts, California, DC).

What surprised me most is how much housing and healthcare swing things. Florida's interesting because it's a retirement hotspot but costs more than you'd expect - your 500k lasts about 8.5 years there. Meanwhile, some less obvious places like North Carolina or South Dakota give you solid value if you're willing to relocate.

Obviously this doesn't account for Social Security, pensions, or other income streams, which would obviously extend things. But if you're wondering how long will 500k last in retirement and trying to pick a state, this gives you a pretty clear picture. The data's from 2023, so costs have probably shifted a bit, but the relative rankings between states should still hold up pretty well.