Most people think they'll end up retiring to Florida or Arizona or another nice-weather hot spot -- but those states can be real money sucks.
Bankrate took a look at all 50 states and came up with the best, worst, and most affordable states to retire -- and the results may surprise you.
According to Bankrate figures, your retirement cash will go furthest in:
- Michigan
- Tennessee
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Kentucky
There's a little bit of crossover with what the site calls the "best" states to retire in, which also factors in culture, weather, crime rate and the chance of natural disasters. By those measures, you should consider:
- Georgia
- Michigan
- Ohio
- Missouri
And the worst? If you're approaching retirement age, Bankrate suggests you steer clear of states with a high cost of living, higher crime rates or unfavorable weather for older Americans, such as:
- Alaska
- Maine
- California
- New Mexico
- Montana