The Money You Need To Save Monthly To Retire Comfortably in the 50 Most Livable Cities

That you need to save for retirement throughout your life is no secret. That said, many don’t know just how much you should save — and when you should begin saving — to guarantee yourself a comfortable retirement.

Recently, GOBankingRates analyzed America’s 50 most livable cities (per AreaVibes) in order to find the most suitable locales for an enjoyable retirement. From that list of cities, GOBankingRates the calculated such factors as overall expenses, population numbers and home values to determine the annual cost of living for each city. Using that annual cost of living and multiplying it by a factor of 20 to estimate the cost of a two-decade retirement for each city, GOBankingRates was then able to calculate just how much you would need to accrue monthly starting at the age of 25, 30 or 40 in order to have a comfortable retirement in each of America’s 50 most livable cities.

Also see the cost of living comfortably in America’s 50 largest cities.

• Livability: 94
• Annual cost of living: $59,850
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,393,985
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $4,987
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $5,700
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $7,980

• Livability: 94
• Annual cost of living: $55,910
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,236,407
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $4,659
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $5,325
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $7,455

• Livability: 93
• Annual cost of living: $38,904
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,556,159
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,242
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $3,705
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $5,187

• Livability: 92
• Annual cost of living: $69,784
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,791,362
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $5,815
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $6,646
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $9,305

• Livability: 92
• Annual cost of living: $60,255
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,410,180
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $5,021
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $5,739
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $8,034

• Livability: 92
• Annual cost of living: $46,625
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,864,999
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,885
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,440
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $6,217

• Livability: 92
• Annual cost of living: $44,520
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,780,811
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,710
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,240
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $5,936

• Livability: 92
• Annual cost of living: $41,533
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,661,327
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,461
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $3,956
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $5,538

• Livability: 92
• Annual cost of living: $38,859
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,554,351
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,238
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $3,701
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $5,181

• Livability: 91
• Annual cost of living: $75,518
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $3,020,722
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $6,293
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $7,192
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $10,069

• Livability: 91
• Annual cost of living: $59,222
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,368,887
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $4,935
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $5,640
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $7,896

• Livability: 91
• Annual cost of living: $51,026
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,041,042
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $4,252
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,860
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $6,803

• Livability: 91
• Annual cost of living: $46,418
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,856,704
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,868
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,421
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $6,189

• Livability: 91
• Annual cost of living: $45,043
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,801,726
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,754
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,290
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $6,006

• Livability: 91
• Annual cost of living: $45,093
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,803,738
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,758
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,295
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $6,012

• Livability: 91
• Annual cost of living: $43,250
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,729,988
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,604
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,119
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $5,767

• Livability: 91
• Annual cost of living: $39,523
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,580,924
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,294
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $3,764
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $5,270

• Livability: 90
• Annual cost of living: $88,114
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $3,524,575
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $7,343
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $8,392
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $11,749

• Livability: $73,719
• Annual cost of living: 90
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,948,743
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $6,143
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $7,021
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $9,829

• Livability: 90
• Annual cost of living: $67,249
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,689,958
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $5,604
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $6,405
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $8,967

• Livability: 90
• Annual cost of living: $65,594
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,623,745
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $5,466
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $6,247
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $8,746

• Livability: 90
• Annual cost of living: $65,703
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,628,131
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $5,475
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $6,257
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $8,760

• Livability: $64,812
• Annual cost of living: 90
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,592,499
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $5,401
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $6,173
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $8,642

• Livability: 90
• Annual cost of living: $53,903
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,156,126
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $4,492
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $5,134
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $7,187

• Livability: 90
• Annual cost of living: $54,057
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,162,294
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $4,505
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $5,148
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $7,208

• Livability: 90
• Annual cost of living: $51,380
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,055,186
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $4,282
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,893
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $6,851

• Livability: 90
• Annual cost of living: $50,980
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,039,197
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $4,248
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,855
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $6,797

• Livability: 90
• Annual cost of living: $46,262
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,850,483
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,855
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,406
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $6,168

• Livability: 90
• Annual cost of living: $45,815
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,832,616
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,818
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,363
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $6,109

• Livability: 90
• Annual cost of living: $46,620
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,864,798
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,885
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,440
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $6,216

• Livability: 90
• Annual cost of living: $44,089
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,763,570
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,674
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,199
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $5,879

• Livability: 90
• Annual cost of living: $43,720
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,748,795
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,643
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,164
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $5,829

• Livability: 90
• Annual cost of living: $44,679
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,787,160
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,723
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,255
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $5,957

• Livability: 90
• Annual cost of living: $36,311
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,452,426
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,026
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $3,458
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $4,841

• Livability: 89
• Annual cost of living: $68,116
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,724,623
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $5,676
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $6,487
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $9,082

• Livability: 89
• Annual cost of living: $62,891
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,515,636
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $5,241
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $5,990
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $8,385

• Livability: 89
• Annual cost of living: $59,864
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,394,561
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $4,989
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $5,701
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $7,982

• Livability: 89
• Annual cost of living: $58,409
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,336,380
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $4,867
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $5,563
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $7,788

• Livability: 89
• Annual cost of living: $59,619
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,384,766
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $4,968
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $5,678
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $7,949

• Livability: 89
• Annual cost of living: $57,216
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,288,659
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $4,768
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $5,449
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $7,629

• Livability: 89
• Annual cost of living: $54,307
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,172,267
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $4,526
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $5,172
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $7,241

• Livability: 89
• Annual cost of living: $52,022
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $2,080,875
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $4,335
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,954
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $6,936

• Livability: 89
• Annual cost of living: $49,115
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,966,197
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $4,096
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,681
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $6,554

• Livability: 89
• Annual cost of living: $49,205
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,968,201
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $4,100
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,686
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $6,561

• Livability: 89
• Annual cost of living: $46,189
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,847,573
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,849
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,399
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $6,159

• Livability: 89
• Annual cost of living: $46,922
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,876,866
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,910
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,469
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $6,256

• Livability: 89
• Annual cost of living: $45,291
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,811,644
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,774
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $4,313
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $6,039

• Livability: 89
• Annual cost of living: $41,291
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,651,628
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,441
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $3,932
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $5,505

• Livability: 89
• Annual cost of living: $37,928
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,517,111
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,161
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $3,612
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $5,507

• Livability: 89
• Annual cost of living: $39,483
• Amount needed for 20 years of comfortable retirement: $1,579,307
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 25: $3,290
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 30: $3,760
• Monthly savings/investment gain from age 40: $5,264

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the top 50 most livable cities, as sourced from Areavibes.com. Data was sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Sperling’s BestPlaces, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, Zillow Home Value Index for April 2025 and the Federal Reserve Economic Data. Using the 50/30/20 finance rule that states that needs should not exceed 50% of household income, the total cost of retirement was doubled to find the comfortable cost of retirement. Assuming someone retires at 65, 20 years of retirement was calculated. The monthly savings you need to afford a comfortable retirement in the highest livable cities was calculated assuming you started saving at 22, 25, 30, and 40 years old. The cities were sorted by their livability index, showcasing the cost of retirement in the highest livable cities. All data was collected on and is up to date as of June 13, 2025.