Sure, it sounds like a lot of money, but $1 million just won’tbuy what it used to. In fact, that cool million won’t even sustainyou for the duration of your retirement.

Unless your retirement is unusually short, that is. Andmost people hope that won’t be the case.

Statistically, it won’t—which means those bucks have to last fora long, long time. In fact, the average American retirement age,according to GoBankingRates.com, is 63, and retirees’ lifeexpectancy is 85—which means that the average American will spend22 years retired.

And with 10,000 people turning 65 every day here in the U.S.,that’s a lot of people who have to figure out how to get by for thelongest time possible on considerably less than a cool million.

Of course, how long that money lasts you depends in large parton where you retire. In some places across the country, you’ll belucky if it lasts you barely more than a decade—while other placeswill stretch it for you so that you can get by for more than doublethat.

It determined that there is a 14-year, five-month difference inthe length of time $1 million saved for retirement will last theshortest and the longest. In some states, the cost of living makesit tough to stretch a buck, while in others one—or more thanone—factor can contribute notable savings to a retiree’sbudget.

Among the considerations in toting up the average expenses forpeople age 65 and older, GoBankingRates took into account suchessentials as groceries, housing, utilities, transportation andhealth care to come up with average total expenditures from theBureau of Labor Statistics.

Next, those averages were multiplied by the cost of living indexin each state, from the Missouri Economic Research and InformationCenter, to find the average expenditure cost for each state.

Dividing a theoretical $1 million by the costs per state, itadds, reveals the number of years $1 million will last retirees inevery state.

Of course, there are other considerations than money todetermine where you might be best off once you retire, but read onto discover the 5 states where $1 million will last the longest andthe shortest amount of time. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

5 states where $1 million for retirement lasts longer

5. Tennessee: 25 years

A cool quarter century—that’s how long your million-dollarretirement will last here.

One advantage of the southern tier of states is a lower cost ofliving than in many other areas of the country, and Tennessee hasthat in spades.

The cost of housing in the state is just $12,221 per year. Butof course it offers other advantages, such as no state income taxand low property taxes.

And if you’re a fan of country music, what’s not to like?

4. Michigan: 25 years

Get ready for another state where you can get by for 25 years ona million.

Health care costs just $5,416 a year in Michigan, and at $3,323,utilities are fairly cheap, too.

The biggest advantage for retirees, however, is the fact thatannual housing costs average just $12,330. In total, the estimatedcost of living is $39,974 per year, so get ready for that silveranniversary.

3. Oklahoma: 25 years, 2 months

The annual cost of living in Oklahoma is actually under$40,000—one of only four states where that’s the case—and other lowcosts contribute to making that million last 25 years and twomonths.

Groceries will run you only $3,201, and transportation costscome in at $6,113.

But the biggest bargain is in housing; Oklahoma boasts the sixthcheapest housing costs in the country, at $11,616. Even if you onlyhave $100,000 saved, says GoBankingRates, your nest egg will stretch far here.

2. Arkansas: 25 years, 6 months

Arkansas comes pretty close to the top of the list, with $1million lasting retirees 25 years and six months.

So if you haven’t saved all that much to get by once you’re notworking any longer, you might want to try the Natural State.

At $39,260, the cost of living is cheaper than in all but oneother state. Housing costs will run you just $12,004 a year, andgroceries a mere $3,100—the fourth-lowest cost in the country.

Everything else is comparatively cheap in Arkansas, too, saysGoBankingRates, with healthcare costs the second-lowest in thecountry at $5,025.

And for transportation, the costs are just $5,997, the lowestamount in the nation.

1. Mississippi: 26 years, 4 months

Your money will last the longest in Mississippi, where you’ll beable to get by on that million dollars for a grand total of 26years and four months—the only state in the country where it lastslonger than 26 years.

Not only is Mississippi the cheapest state in the nation, but at$11,134, it also has the lowest housing costs of any state—meaningthat you won’t be sinking all your retirement cash into your livingquarters.

In total, you'll spend just $37,964 to get through a whole yearin Mississippi, where retirees can stretch their money farther thananywhere else.

5 states where $1 million won't last long in retirement

5. Massachusetts: 17 years, 4 months

It’s not the housing that will get you here, it’s the healthcare.

Not that other things in Massachusetts are cheap, but healthcare alone will set you back $6,844 per person per year—that’s morethan in all but two other states.

Then there are utilities.

At $4,628 a year, utilities will take a big chunk out of thatmillion—and will keep doing it year after year. In fact, saysGoBankingRates, only three states pay higher utility bills.

When you add it all up, Massachusetts residents need about$57,795 a year to support the cost of living in the state—so notsuitable for a budget of $1 million.

4. New York: 17 years, 1 month

Surprisingly, New York is not at the top—er, bottom—of thislist. A million dollars will last you 17 years and a month—a singlemonth longer than it will get you through in Alaska.

New York’s housing is more expensive than any other state in thenation, with the exception of just two, running residents anaverage of $29,055 per year.

Then there are groceries and transportation, both of which areright up there, at the ninth highest in the country.

Utilities aren’t too bad, but when considered in light of NewYork’s other costs, you should look elsewhere. Really.

3. Alaska: 17 years

If you think your retirement will only last 17 years, thenconsider Alaska.

It will cost you $58,733 for every year you live in Alaska, andpart of that is because groceries are so costly.

At least here you can understand it, since the growing season isso short—your supermarket bill every year is second only toHawaii’s, at $4,651 annually.

Surprisingly, housing isn’t anywhere near as expensive in theother pricey states, running $21,585 a year, but unless you hit thelottery, even at that rate, between groceries and a roof over yourhead, be prepared to move or die in 17 years.

2. California: 16 years, 5 months

You’ll have a little more time here to enjoy the beaches andworry about earthquakes; that million-dollar retirement will lastyou 16 years and five months.

Retirees spend an average of $60,877 annually just to get by—andCalifornia is one of only two states in the country that cost themmore than $60,000 a year. (You just read about the other one.)

And Hawaii is also the only state to top California when itcomes to housing costs.

Although it's nearly $16,000 more forgiving than Hawaii, housingin California is a brutal $30,514 a year.

1. Hawaii: 11 years, 11 months

Live fast if you retire here, because even with a milliondollars in your bank account, you’ll run out of money in just 11years and 11 months.

One might not expect it in a tropical paradise where exoticfruit grows on the trees in your back yard and you can fish fordinner on the beach, but at $5,626 a year, the cost of groceries isby far the highest in the country.

Housing is no bargain, either. At $46,478 a year, housing costsin Hawaii blow away the next-most-expensive state by nearly $16,000a year.

In all, annual expenditures are nearly $23,000 more in Hawaiithan the next-priciest state.