How much do I need to retire?
Start from what the average US household over 65 spends and the average Social Security check, then adjust to your life, and get the nest egg that lasts to the age you choose.
To retire at 65 and make it to 95, you need about
That covers spending of $61,432 a year. Before Social Security starts at 67, savings cover $61,432 a year; after, $36,580. For comparison, the 4% rule on the later gap suggests $914,500.
In today's dollars with a steady 1.9% return after inflation. The amount is just enough to reach age 95, so it leaves nothing extra for bad markets or long life; the 4% rule figure is a more cautious target. Taxes and healthcare surprises are not included.
How this calculator works
Start with the defaults: the average US household aged 65 and over spends about $61,400 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024), and the average Social Security retirement check is about $2,071 a month (2026). Change any number to match your life.
The calculator works out how much savings must cover each year (spending minus Social Security and other income), then finds the nest egg that pays that gap every month until the age you plan for, at your expected return after inflation.
It also shows the 4% rule figure, a more cautious target that leaves room for bad markets.
Nest egg = present value of (spending − Social Security − other income), month by month, until the plan ageCommon questions
How much does the average retiree spend?
US households aged 65 and over spent about $61,400 a year on average in 2024, according to the Consumer Expenditure Survey. Housing, transportation, food and healthcare are the largest parts.
How much is the average Social Security check?
About $2,071 a month for retired workers in January 2026, after the 2.8% cost-of-living increase. Your own amount depends on your earnings history.
Is $1 million enough to retire?
At the 4% rule, $1 million supports about $40,000 a year from savings. Add the average Social Security check and that is over $64,000 a year, above the average spending of households 65 and over.
Why is the 4% rule figure different?
This calculator spends the money down to zero at your plan age with a steady return. The 4% rule was built to survive bad markets, so it usually asks for more.
What about healthcare?
Medicare starts at 65. If you retire earlier, budget for private health insurance until then, and plan for rising out-of-pocket costs later in life.
FatDCA calculators are educational estimates, not investment, tax or legal advice. Results depend on the assumptions you enter, and past returns do not predict future returns.
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