$1 million in retirement savings lasts longest in these 10 states—almost half are in the southeast (2024)

Nearly 30% of millennials and 25% of Gen Zers think they'll need $1 million or more to retire comfortably according to the recent CNBC Make It: Your Money survey, conducted in partnership with Momentive.

Retirement can last 25 years or more after you stop working, according to Fidelity Investments. But in some states with high costs of living, like Hawaii, $1 million in retirement savings would only last about 10 years.

However, in less expensive states, $1 million would be enough to cover your living expenses for the majority of your retirement years.

If you plan on retiring in the United States, you can expect your retirement savings to stretch the furthest in Mississippi, according to GoBankingRates' latest analysis.

In the Magnolia State, $1 million in retirement savings would last about 25 years and three months, assuming that your total spending on living expenses including groceries, housing, transportation and health care total about $40,000 per year in retirement, according to GoBankingRates.

Here are the top 10 states where $1 million in retirement savings would last the longest.

To determine how long $1 million would last in every U.S. state, GoBankingRates first assumed a retirement age of 65 or older. It then analyzed each state's cost of living, including expenses for housing, groceries, health care, transportation and utilities.

All data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2020 Consumer Expenditure Survey and the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

How to meet your retirement goals

A "comfortable retirement" looks different for everyone and will depend on your desired retirement lifestyle.But it can be difficult to put away money for retirement when you haven't set a clear savings goal.

CNBC Make It's retirement planning tool can give you an idea of how much money you'll need to retire comfortably, based on your age and income.

Once you have an idea of how much you'd like to save for retirement, you'll then be able to determine how much of your annual income to put toward retirement savings.

Investors should aim to save between 12 to 15% of their salary, including employer contributions, says Julie Virta, a senior financial advisor with Vanguard Personal Advisor Services.

And don't get spooked by market volatility while saving for retirement — a consistent saving strategy will pay off in the long run.

"For those just getting started, they may have 40-plus years to save for retirement," Virta tells CNBC Make It. "Maintaining a 12 to 15% savings rate, through times of market calm or volatility, over the course of four-plus decades is one of the best ways you can prepare for retirement."

But it's okay if you can't put that much of your income toward your retirement savings — most workers under 35 years old put away around 10.5%, according to Vanguard's recent survey.

Investors who are early in their careers should aim to contribute at least enough to an employer-sponsored retirement plan to earn your employer's full match, Virta says.

From there, aim to increase your retirement contribution by 1% to 2% each year until you reach the target savings rate of 12% to 15%, she advises.

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$1 million in retirement savings lasts longest in these 10 states—almost half are in the southeast (1)

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$1 million in retirement savings lasts longest in these 10 states—almost half are in the southeast (2024)

FAQs

$1 million in retirement savings lasts longest in these 10 states—almost half are in the southeast? ›

With just $1 million to spend, retirement funds will last the longest in Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama, Iowa, Georgia, Indiana, Tennessee and Arkansas, for more than 21 years, according to a new analysis by GOBankingRates using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Missouri Economic Research and ...

How long will $1 million last in retirement by state? ›

For instance, in California, an average retiree requires approximately $100,965 to lead a comfortable life, whereas in Kansas, that figure is just above $63,000. Retirees in certain states can enjoy between 15 and 16 years of life if they save one million dollars.

What percentage of Americans retire with $1 million dollars? ›

Putting that much aside could make it easier to live your preferred lifestyle when you retire, without having to worry about running short of money. However, not a huge percentage of retirees end up having that much money. In fact, statistically, around 10% of retirees have $1 million or more in savings.

Where is the best place to retire with $1 million dollars? ›

First up on our list of best US cities to retire with $1 million in retirement savings is Tulsa in Oklahoma.

Is $1 million enough to retire in California? ›

In a high-cost of living state such as California, you'll need to save more to make it through. Americans think they'll need $1.27 million to live a comfortable retirement, according to the 2023 Planning & Progress Study from life insurance company Northwestern Mutual. That's up from $1.25 million in 2022.

How long can $1 million dollars last in California? ›

How Long Will $1 Million In Retirement Savings Last In Your State? A 65-year-old retiree living in California can expect $1 million in savings to last under 14 years, while that amount will last almost 21 years in Texas.

Can you retire $1.5 million comfortably? ›

Retiring in comfort at 45 with $1.5 million is likely doable as long as your retirement living expenses are no more than average, your investments generate a typical return and you have good health. Challenges include waiting 17 years for Social Security and 20 years for Medicare.

How many people in US have $1000000 in savings? ›

Still, 3.5 million people lost millionaire status last year

The number of adults with assets of more than $1 million fell from 62.9 million at the end of 2021 to 59.4 million at the end of 2022, according to the UBS's annual wealth report—and it's the sharpest fall since the 2008 financial crash.

Is $400,000 enough to retire at 65? ›

You can retire a little early on $400,000, but it won't be easy. If you have the option of working and saving for a few more years, it will give you a significantly more comfortable retirement.

Can $1 million dollars last 30 years in retirement? ›

Around the U.S., a $1 million nest egg can cover an average of 18.9 years worth of living expenses, GoBankingRates found. But where you retire can have a profound impact on how far your money goes, ranging from as a little as 10 years in Hawaii to more than than 20 years in more than a dozen states.

How many people have $1,000,000 in retirement savings? ›

If you have more than $1 million saved in retirement accounts, you are in the top 3% of retirees. According to EBRI estimates based on the latest Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 3.2% of retirees have over $1 million in their retirement accounts, while just 0.1% have $5 million or more.

Can you live off interest of $1 million dollars? ›

Once you have $1 million in assets, you can look seriously at living entirely off the returns of a portfolio. After all, the S&P 500 alone averages 10% returns per year. Setting aside taxes and down-year investment portfolio management, a $1 million index fund could provide $100,000 annually.

At what age should you have $1 million in retirement? ›

Retiring at 65 with $1 million is entirely possible. Suppose you need your retirement savings to last for 15 years. Using this figure, your $1 million would provide you with just over $66,000 annually. Should you need it to last a bit longer, say 25 years, you will have $40,000 a year to play with.

How much money do most people retire with? ›

What is the average and median retirement savings? The average retirement savings for all families is $333,940 according to the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances.

How long will 900k last in retirement? ›

How long will $900k last in retirement? $900k can last you for over 25 years in retirement if your annual spending remains around $50,000, following the 4% rule.

What is a good monthly retirement income for a couple? ›

The average retirement savings for a person about to retire are approximately, $225,000, equal to $450,000 combined for a couple that has saved equally. Following the conservative rule of thumb and withdrawing 4% a year will provide this couple with another $1,500 monthly or $18,000 a year.

How long will 1 million last in retirement with social security? ›

A recent analysis determined that a $1 million retirement nest egg may only last about 20 years depending on what state you live in. Based on this, if you retire at age 65 and live until you turn 84, $1 million will probably be enough retirement savings for you.

How much money do you need to retire comfortably at age 65? ›

For a 25-year retirement, you'd need just over $2 million in Hawaii — the most of all states by far. That's followed by Massachusetts, California and New York, along with 12 other states where you'd need at least $1 million saved up to retire.

How much money to retire at 65? ›

Since higher earners will get a smaller portion of their income in retirement from Social Security, they generally need more assets in relation to their income. We estimated that most people looking to retire around age 65 should aim for assets totaling between 7½ and 13½ times their preretirement gross income.

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