(Image credit: Getty Images with Gemini edit) Question : We’re New Yorkers retiring with $3.8 million and considering a move to South Carolina for better weather and lower taxes. We can sell our $1.3 million home and buy a similar one for $600K. My wife worries about rebuilding a social life and making friends. I think we will be fine. Am I being unrealistic? Answer : New York can be a great place to raise a family and launch a successful career. But it can also be an expensive place for retirees. With a top tax rate of 10.9% and just a small pension exclusion , it can be difficult to maintain a comfortable lifestyle in New York without the promise of a large salary. (For more on New York taxes, read our NY Tax Guide .) And so, unsurprisingly, New York is one of the top states people moved out of in 2025, according to a United Van Lines study . From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor.…