Here’s What You Need Saved To Live a Middle-Class Retirement on the East Coast

Florida is the second-biggest retirement state in America, behind California. It’s also one of the cheapest for the middle class, especially among East Coast states.

According to recent GOBankingRates research, a middle-class retiree in Florida needs only about $494,000 for a 20-year retirement. That is cheaper than all but two Atlantic states — the Carolinas.

Here’s a look at what a middle-class retirement costs in each of the East Coast states.

• Middle-class income range: $62,507 to $187,520
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $787,975
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $1,250,133

• Middle-class income range: $55,237 to $165,710
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $642,575
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $1,104,733

• Middle-class income range: $47,807 to $143,422
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $493,988
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $956,147

• Middle-class income range: $49,776 to $149,328
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $533,362
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $995,520

• Middle-class income range: $47,849 to $143,546
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $494,815
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $956,973

• Middle-class income range: $67,768 to $202,304
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $893,202
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $1,355,360

• Middle-class income range: $67,561 to $202,682
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $889,055
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $1,351,213

• Middle-class income range: $63,752 to $191,256
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $812,882
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $1,275,040

• Middle-class income range: $67,367 to $202,100
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $885,175
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $1,347,333

• Middle-class income range: $56,385 to $169,156
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $665,548
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $1,127,707

• Middle-class income range: $46,603 to $139,808
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $469,895
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $932,053

• Middle-class income range: $50,721 to $152,162
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $552,255
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $1,014,413

• Middle-class income range: $57,581 to $172,744
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $689,468
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $1,151,627

• Middle-class income range: $44,545 to $133,636
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $428,748
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $890,907

• Middle-class income range: $60,649 to $181,948
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $750,828
• Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $1,212,987

Methodology: The amount needed for retirement was calculated using cost-of-living data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, Zillow Home Value Index and the Federal Reserve Economic Research. Middle-class income is defined by Pew Research Center as two-thirds to double the national median income. The minimum income needed to be middle class was calculated and the savings needed to retire was calculated. The average income for one person was sourced from the Social Security Administration for December 2024, and the retirement savings needed after Social Security benefits was calculated. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Jan. 24, 2025.