U.S. states where you can retire at 65 with less than $1 million

For many Americans, $1 million is considered a savings benchmark for retirement. But in 32 U.S. states, the estimated minimum required to retire at age 65 is less than that.
That’s according to a state-by-state analysis by personal finance site GOBankingRates, which estimates the minimum household savings needed to retire at age 65 and cover basic living expenses, including housing, food, transportation, utilities and health care, for 25 years.
GOBankingRates looked at cost-of-living data for retirees age 65 and older from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, minus average Social Security income, to determine minimum savings amounts in each state. He then used a 4% annual withdrawal rate to estimate the total amount of savings needed to cover remaining expenses.
These estimates focus not on a comfortable retirement but on the minimum amount needed to cover daily living expenses. They exclude discretionary expenses and don’t take into account factors like inheritances or paid off mortgages.
The analysis is also based on household spending; This means retirement costs can be supported by more than one person’s savings or income from a given household.
Even so, basic living expenses in retirement may exceed many people’s expectations. Nearly half of U.S. workers say they’ll need at least $500,000 to retire comfortably (not just to cover basic needs) 2025 Bank Rate Survey.
Here’s a look at U.S. states where the estimated minimum savings needed to retire at age 65 are under $1 million.
Alabama
- Annual cost of living: $53,999
- Savings you need for retirement: $789,037
Arkansas
- Annual cost of living: $54,859
- Savings you need for retirement: $810,538
Florida
- Annual cost of living: $61,125
- Savings you need for retirement: $967,190
Georgia
- Annual cost of living: $56,395
- Savings you need for retirement: $848,933
Idaho
- Annual cost of living: $60,818
- Savings you need for retirement: $959,511
illinois
- Annual cost of living: $58,913
- Savings you need for retirement: $911,901
indiana
- Annual cost of living: $55,657
- Savings you need for retirement: $830,504
Iowa
- Annual cost of living: $55,473
- Savings you need for retirement: $825,896
in kansas
- Annual cost of living: $54,613
- Savings you need for retirement: $804,395
Kentucky
- Annual cost of living: $56,456
- Savings you need for retirement: $850,469
Louisiana
- Annual cost of living: $56,947
- Savings you need for retirement: $862,756
Michigan
- Annual cost of living: $58,176
- Savings you need for retirement: $893,472
Minnesota
- Annual cost of living: $57,869
- Savings you need for retirement: $885,793
mississippi
- Annual cost of living: $52,524
- Savings you need for retirement: $752,178
Missouri
- Annual cost of living: $54,674
- Savings you need for retirement: $805,931
Nebraska
- Annual cost of living: $56,272
- Savings you need for retirement: $845,862
Nevada
- Annual cost of living: $60,572
- Savings you need for retirement: $953,368
new mexico
- Annual cost of living: $56,825
- Savings you need for retirement: $859,684
North Carolina
- Annual cost of living: $59,835
- Savings you need for retirement: $934,938
north dakota
- Annual cost of living: $56,087
- Savings you need for retirement: $841,254
Ohio
- Annual cost of living: $57,009
- Savings you need for retirement: $864,291
Oklahoma
- Annual cost of living: $51,849
- Savings you need for retirement: $735,284
Pennsylvania
- Annual cost of living: $59,650
- Savings you need for retirement: $930,331
South Carolina
- Annual cost of living: $56,825
- Savings you need for retirement: $859,684
south dakota
- Annual cost of living: $56,395
- Savings you need for retirement: $848,933
Tennessee
- Annual cost of living: $55,473
- Savings you need for retirement: $825,896
Texas
- Annual cost of living: $55,780
- Savings you need for retirement: $833,575
Utah
- Annual cost of living: $60,879
- Savings you need for retirement: $961,047
Virginia
- Annual cost of living: $61,493
- Savings you need for retirement: $976,405
West Virginia
- Annual cost of living: $54,122
- Savings you need for retirement: $792,109
Wisconsin
- Annual cost of living: $60,019
- Savings you need for retirement: $939,546
wyoming
- Annual cost of living: $58,545
- Savings you need for retirement: $902,686
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