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.
A million dollars isn't the symbol of wealth that it used to be, but saving that much for retirement is still rare. Just 16% of retirees say they have more than $1 million saved, including all personal savings and assets, according to the recent CNBC Your Money retirement survey conducted with SurveyMonkey.
If you retire in California, $1 million in savings will last 12 years, eight months, five days. Annual groceries cost: $4,979. Annual housing cost: $13,691. Annual utilities cost: $3,944.
Bottom line. “It is most definitely possible to retire on $1 million,” says Delgado. “However, doing so depends on each individual.” Stretching that retirement money may involve some changes, such as moving out of high-cost cities in favor of moderately priced areas or downsizing your home.
Key Takeaways
Yes, it's possible to retire on $1 million today. In fact, with careful planning and a solid investment strategy, you could possibly live off the returns from a $1 million nest egg.
What are the average and median retirement savings? The average retirement savings for all families is $333,940, according to the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances. The median retirement savings for all families is $87,000.
At the current Treasury rate of 4.3%, a $1 million portfolio would generate about $43,000 per year, or roughly $3,500 per month. With your Social Security payments that would generate about $6,000, again enough to live comfortably in most places.
Probably 1 in every 20 families have a net worth exceeding $3 Million, but most people's net worth is their homes, cars, boats, and only 10% is in savings, so you would typically have to have a net worth of $30 million, which is 1 in every 1000 families.
Rich retirees: In the 90th percentile, with net worth starting at $1.9 million, this group has much more financial freedom and is able to afford luxuries and legacy planning.
Your net worth is what you own minus what you owe. It's the total value of all your assets—including your house, cars, investments and cash—minus your liabilities (things like credit card debt, student loans, and what you still owe on your mortgage).
According to the Federal Reserve's 2022 survey, approximately 18% of U.S. households had at least seven figures net worth. That's roughly 23.7 million millionaire households across the country.
The Reality of Million-Dollar Retirements
According to estimates based on the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, only 3.2% of retirees have over $1 million in their retirement accounts. This percentage drops even further when considering those with $5 million or more, accounting for a mere 0.1% of retirees.
How much does a $1 million annuity pay per month? As of January 2025, with a $1,000,000 annuity, you'll get an immediate payment of $6,000 monthly starting at age 60, $6,608 monthly at age 65, or $7,125 monthly at age 70.
As you can see, there are many ways to invest $1 million and earn interest. However, most of these investments are currently paying between 4–5% interest. So, if you want to live off the interest from your portfolio, you'll need to spend less than $5,000 per month.
Sometime around age 50, the average American can now expect a household net worth exceeding $1 million. How did so many 50-somethings become millionaires? Household wealth swelled at a record pace during the pandemic.
Let's say you consider yourself the typical retiree. Between you and your spouse, you currently have an annual income of $120,000. Based on the 80% principle, you can expect to need about $96,000 in annual income after you retire, which is $8,000 per month.
For example, if you have retirement savings of $1 million, the 4% rule says that you can safely withdraw $40,000 per year during the first year — increasing this number for inflation each subsequent year — without running out of money within the next 30 years.
The typical American has an average retirement savings of $489,170. Americans in their 60s have the most saved for retirement with average balances close to $1.2 million. Average account balances more than double between those in their 20s vs their 30s.
The reality is that $100,000 in retirement savings is likely not enough to supplement Social Security for a lifetime.
The safest place to put $1 million dollars would be in a combination of insured bank accounts and conservative investments, such as bonds and CDs, to ensure a balance of liquidity and stability.
Many retirees who follow the 4% rule. With a $1 million nest egg, They withdraw 4% the first year, or $40,000, and they live on this amount. In the second year, they take out the same 4%, plus the rate of inflation for that year. If inflation were 2%, the second year's withdrawal would be 102% of $40,000, or $40,800.
However, CDs are unlikely to provide you with the returns you need to build wealth for the future or live off the interest — unless you already have a large amount of money and ladder your CDs to avoid penalties. Additionally, CDs lack the liquidity you'd need for something like an emergency fund.