How much retirement income will I need?

Most financial planners recommend replacing 70-80% of your pre-retirement income. If you earn $100,000 before retirement, plan for $70,000-$80,000 per year in retirement. However, your actual need depends on whether your mortgage is paid off, your healthcare costs, desired lifestyle, and location. Some retirees spend more in early 'go-go' years and less later.

How much does the average retiree receive per month?

The average retiree receives about $1,907/month from Social Security (2025). Combined with other sources, the median household income for Americans 65+ is approximately $55,000-$60,000 per year. However, there's wide variation: the top 25% of retirees have income exceeding $100,000, while the bottom 25% live on less than $30,000.

How long will $500,000 last in retirement?

Using the 4% rule, $500,000 provides $20,000/year ($1,667/month) of safe withdrawals. Combined with average Social Security ($22,884/year), total income would be about $42,884/year. At a 5% withdrawal rate (slightly aggressive), you'd get $25,000/year from savings plus Social Security for about $47,884/year. The 4% rule is designed to last 30 years with high probability.

How do I estimate my retirement income needs?

A common starting point is replacing 70 to 80 percent of your pre-retirement income, though actual needs vary widely. Add up expected income from Social Security, pensions, and annuities. The gap between that income floor and your spending need must come from portfolio withdrawals. A retirement income calculator can model different scenarios based on your specific numbers.

Retirement Income Calculator: How Much Will You Have in Retirement? (2026)

Use these tables to estimate your total retirement income from all sources and see if you’re on track.

Retirement Income from Savings (4% Rule)

Annual Income Your Savings Can Provide

Retirement Savings	3% Withdrawal (Conservative)	4% Withdrawal (Standard)	5% Withdrawal (Aggressive)
$100,000	$3,000/year ($250/mo)	$4,000/year ($333/mo)	$5,000/year ($417/mo)
$250,000	$7,500/year ($625/mo)	$10,000/year ($833/mo)	$12,500/year ($1,042/mo)
$500,000	$15,000/year ($1,250/mo)	$20,000/year ($1,667/mo)	$25,000/year ($2,083/mo)
$750,000	$22,500/year ($1,875/mo)	$30,000/year ($2,500/mo)	$37,500/year ($3,125/mo)
$1,000,000	$30,000/year ($2,500/mo)	$40,000/year ($3,333/mo)	$50,000/year ($4,167/mo)
$1,500,000	$45,000/year ($3,750/mo)	$60,000/year ($5,000/mo)	$75,000/year ($6,250/mo)
$2,000,000	$60,000/year ($5,000/mo)	$80,000/year ($6,667/mo)	$100,000/year ($8,333/mo)
$3,000,000	$90,000/year ($7,500/mo)	$120,000/year ($10,000/mo)	$150,000/year ($12,500/mo)

The 4% rule assumes a 30-year retirement with a diversified portfolio. Adjust down for earlier retirement or conservative temperament.

Average Monthly Benefits by Claiming Age

Claiming Age	Average Benefit	Maximum Benefit	% of Full Benefit
Age 62 (earliest)	$1,336	$2,831	70%
Age 63	$1,431	$3,032	75%
Age 64	$1,526	$3,234	80%
Age 65	$1,669	$3,536	86.7%
Age 66	$1,812	$3,838	93.3%
Age 67 (full retirement age)	$1,907	$4,018	100%
Age 68	$2,060	$4,339	108%
Age 69	$2,212	$4,661	116%
Age 70 (max delay)	$2,365	$4,873	124%

Delaying from 62 to 70 increases benefits by 77% — from $1,336 to $2,365 for the average retiree.

Total Retirement Income by Scenario

Scenario 1: Moderate Saver (Single)

Income Source	Monthly	Annual
Social Security (age 67)	$1,907	$22,884
401(k) at $400,000 (4% rule)	$1,333	$16,000
IRA at $150,000 (4% rule)	$500	$6,000
Total retirement income	$3,740	$44,884
Pre-retirement income		$75,000
Replacement rate		59.8%

Scenario 2: Strong Saver (Single)

Income Source	Monthly	Annual
Social Security (age 70)	$2,365	$28,380
401(k) at $800,000 (4% rule)	$2,667	$32,000
IRA/Roth IRA at $350,000 (4% rule)	$1,167	$14,000
Taxable investments at $200,000	$667	$8,000
Total retirement income	$6,866	$82,380
Pre-retirement income		$120,000
Replacement rate		68.7%

Scenario 3: Married Couple (Dual Earners)

Income Source	Monthly	Annual
Social Security (Spouse 1, age 67)	$2,200	$26,400
Social Security (Spouse 2, age 67)	$1,800	$21,600
Combined 401(k)s at $1,200,000 (4% rule)	$4,000	$48,000
Combined IRAs at $400,000 (4% rule)	$1,333	$16,000
Total retirement income	$9,333	$112,000
Pre-retirement household income		$175,000
Replacement rate		64.0%

Scenario 4: Late Starter (Starting to Save at 45)

Income Source	Monthly	Annual
Social Security (age 67)	$1,907	$22,884
401(k) at $250,000 (4% rule)	$833	$10,000
IRA at $80,000 (4% rule)	$267	$3,200
Total retirement income	$3,007	$36,084
Pre-retirement income		$85,000
Replacement rate		42.5%

⚠️ Gap of $23,916/year — this person needs to save more, delay Social Security, work part-time, or reduce expenses.

How Much You Need Saved by Retirement

Savings Target by Desired Retirement Income

Desired Income (Annual)	Social Security Covers	Savings Must Cover	Savings Needed (4% Rule)
$40,000	$22,884	$17,116	$428,000
$50,000	$22,884	$27,116	$678,000
$60,000	$22,884	$37,116	$928,000
$75,000	$22,884	$52,116	$1,303,000
$100,000	$22,884	$77,116	$1,928,000
$125,000	$22,884	$102,116	$2,553,000
$150,000	$22,884	$127,116	$3,178,000

Assumes average Social Security benefits. Higher earners will receive more from SS.

How Savings Grow Over Time

$500/Month Contributions Starting at Various Ages (Retiring at 67)

Start Age	Years Saving	Total Contributed	At 7% Return	At 8% Return	At 10% Return
22	45	$270,000	$1,712,641	$2,284,916	$4,159,828
25	42	$252,000	$1,407,189	$1,844,920	$3,234,284
30	37	$222,000	$998,176	$1,270,963	$2,072,456
35	32	$192,000	$697,079	$862,056	$1,303,254
40	27	$162,000	$478,377	$574,057	$800,768
45	22	$132,000	$320,175	$373,040	$479,412
50	17	$102,000	$206,949	$234,003	$276,586
55	12	$72,000	$125,083	$137,216	$148,968

Retirement Expense Breakdown

What Retirees Actually Spend

Category	Average Monthly	Average Annual	% of Budget
Housing (mortgage/rent, taxes, insurance)	$1,529	$18,348	33.0%
Healthcare (insurance, prescriptions, services)	$665	$7,980	14.4%
Transportation	$672	$8,064	14.5%
Food (groceries + dining)	$583	$6,996	12.6%
Utilities	$301	$3,612	6.5%
Entertainment/Travel	$248	$2,976	5.4%
Personal/Clothing	$165	$1,980	3.6%
Charitable giving	$183	$2,196	4.0%
Other	$331	$3,972	7.2%
Total	$4,627	$55,524	100%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, households age 65+.

Retirement Income Tax Considerations

Income Source	Federal Tax Treatment	State Tax Treatment
Social Security	0-85% taxable (based on income)	38 states exempt; 12 tax partially
401(k)/Traditional IRA	100% taxable as ordinary income	Taxable in most states
Roth IRA/Roth 401(k)	Tax-free (qualified distributions)	Tax-free in all states
Pension	100% taxable as ordinary income	Taxable in most states
Taxable investment gains	Capital gains rates (0/15/20%)	Varies by state
Dividend income	Qualified: 0/15/20%; Ordinary: income rates	Varies by state

Estimated Taxes on $80,000 Retirement Income (Married Filing Jointly)

Income Source	Amount	Tax Treatment
Social Security	$45,000	~85% taxable = $38,250
401(k) withdrawal	$35,000	100% taxable = $35,000
Total taxable income		$73,250
Standard deduction (65+)		-$33,400
Adjusted taxable income		$39,850
Federal tax owed		~$4,382
Effective tax rate		~5.5%

Closing the Retirement Income Gap

Strategy	Impact	Best For
Delay Social Security to 70	+24-77% higher monthly benefit	Those who can afford to wait
Work part-time in retirement	$10,000-$30,000/year extra income	Active, healthy retirees
Downsize home	$100,000-$300,000 freed equity	Empty nesters with home equity
Move to lower-cost area	20-40% reduction in expenses	Flexible retirees
Reduce expenses 10-15%	$5,500-$8,300/year saved	Everyone
Convert to Roth (pre-retirement)	Tax-free income in retirement	Those in lower bracket now than later
Annuitize portion of savings	Guaranteed lifetime income	Worried about outliving money

For more on building a sustainable retirement paycheck, see the Retirement Income hub.

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

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