
Determining the exact amount of money you need to save to retire comfortably is difficult — and reaching that goal may be even grueling.
The traditional standard for a comfortable retirement is around $1 million — although you can get by on less in some states and need much more in other states. This number is way out of reach for many Americans, though, considering 28% of people recently told GOBankingRates that they had nothing saved and most of the rest don’t have close to seven figures.
As big a chunk of change a $1 million sounds like, surprisingly it doesn’t last quite as long as you might think it would — but that all depends on the state you live in when you retire.
If you live in one of the more expensive states, like Hawaii or New York, you’ll want to work as long as possible and save as much money as possible because $1 million won’t even cover your living expenses for 15 years. There is a bit more cushion in many Midwestern and Southern states, though, if you live there or planning a move.
Hawaii
- Annual groceries cost: $6,463
- Annual housing cost: $37,135
- Annual utilities cost: $8,573
- Annual transportation cost: $6,168
- Annual healthcare cost: $9,607
- Total annual expenditures: $137,773
How long $1 million will last: 7.3 years
California
- Annual groceries cost: $5,536
- Annual housing cost: $25,000
- Annual utilities cost: $6,053
- Annual transportation cost: $6,283
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,554
- Total annual expenditures: $101,718
How long $1 million will last: 9.2 years
Massachusetts
- Annual groceries cost: $5,174
- Annual housing cost: $26,210
- Annual utilities cost: $6,495
- Annual transportation cost: $5,067
- Annual healthcare cost: $9,972
- Total annual expenditures: $99,573
How long $1 million will last: 10 years
Washington
- Annual groceries cost: $5,234
- Annual housing cost: $15,201
- Annual utilities cost: $4,010
- Annual transportation cost: $5,724
- Annual healthcare cost: $9,369
- Total annual expenditures: $83,426
How long $1 million will last: 12 years
New Jersey
- Annual groceries cost: $5,164
- Annual housing cost: $16,399
- Annual utilities cost: $4,356
- Annual transportation cost: $4,886
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,528
- Total annual expenditures: $79,957
How long $1 million will last: 12.5 years
New York
- Annual groceries cost: $5,149
- Annual housing cost: $20,125
- Annual utilities cost: $4,317
- Annual transportation cost: $4,942
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,639
- Total annual expenditures: $76,515
How long $1 million will last: 13.1 years
Oregon
- Annual groceries cost: $5,263
- Annual housing cost: $15,968
- Annual utilities cost: $3,884
- Annual transportation cost: $5,488
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,703
- Total annual expenditures: $75,660
How long $1 million will last: 13.2 years
Colorado
- Annual groceries cost: $4,991
- Annual housing cost: $12,901
- Annual utilities cost: $3,867
- Annual transportation cost: $4,386
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,274
- Total annual expenditures: $74,621
How long $1 million will last: 13.4 years
Utah
- Annual groceries cost: $4,842
- Annual housing cost: $13,991
- Annual utilities cost: $4,165
- Annual transportation cost: $5,002
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,013
- Total annual expenditures: $73,465
How long $1 million will last: 13.6 years
New Hampshire
- Annual groceries cost: $4,951
- Annual housing cost: $14,075
- Annual utilities cost: $4,867
- Annual transportation cost: $4,886
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,258
- Total annual expenditures: $73,355
How long $1 million will last: 13.6 years
Alaska
- Annual groceries cost: $6,299
- Annual housing cost: $14,135
- Annual utilities cost: $6,616
- Annual transportation cost: $5,289
- Annual healthcare cost: $11,900
- Total annual expenditures: $72,349
How long $1 million will last: 13.8 years
Rhode Island
- Annual groceries cost: $5,050
- Annual housing cost: $13,584
- Annual utilities cost: $6,062
- Annual transportation cost: $4,456
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,298
- Total annual expenditures: $72,220
How long $1 million will last: 13.9
Maryland
- Annual groceries cost: $5,308
- Annual housing cost: $16,267
- Annual utilities cost: $4,776
- Annual transportation cost: $4,706
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,004
- Total annual expenditures: $70,645
How long $1 million will last: 14.2 years
Connecticut
- Annual groceries cost: $5,085
- Annual housing cost: $14,039
- Annual utilities cost: $5,884
- Annual transportation cost: $4,849
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,718
- Total annual expenditures: $70,133
How long $1 million will last: 14.3 years
Arizona
- Annual groceries cost: $5,011
- Annual housing cost: $15,800
- Annual utilities cost: $4,559
- Annual transportation cost: $4,831
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,354
- Total annual expenditures: $69,352
How long $1 million will last: 14.4 years
Nevada
- Annual groceries cost: $5,115
- Annual housing cost: $12,901
- Annual utilities cost: $4,499
- Annual transportation cost: $5,506
- Annual healthcare cost: $6,910
- Total annual expenditures: $68,336
How long $1 million will last: 14.6 years
Maine
- Annual groceries cost: $5,030
- Annual housing cost: $15,417
- Annual utilities cost: $4,806
- Annual transportation cost: $4,974
- Annual healthcare cost: $9,020
- Total annual expenditures: $67,770
How long $1 million will last: 14.8 years
Vermont
- Annual groceries cost: $5,263
- Annual housing cost: $15,537
- Annual utilities cost: $5,007
- Annual transportation cost: $4,433
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,837
- Total annual expenditures: $67,589
How long $1 million will last: 14.8 years
Idaho
- Annual groceries cost: $5,134
- Annual housing cost: $12,087
- Annual utilities cost: $3,373
- Annual transportation cost: $5,071
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,814
- Total annual expenditures: $66,598
How long $1 million will last: 15 years
Montana
- Annual groceries cost: $5,020
- Annual housing cost: $10,362
- Annual utilities cost: $3,607
- Annual transportation cost: $5,076
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,433
- Total annual expenditures: $65,359
How long $1 million will last: 15.3 years
Florida
- Annual groceries cost: $5,214
- Annual housing cost: $12,949
- Annual utilities cost: $4,412
- Annual transportation cost: $4,571
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,854
- Total annual expenditures: $64,693
How long $1 million will last: 15.5 years
Virginia
- Annual groceries cost: $4,936
- Annual housing cost: $12,518
- Annual utilities cost: $4,321
- Annual transportation cost: $4,391
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,330
- Total annual expenditures: $63,720
How long $1 million will last: 15.7
Delaware
- Annual groceries cost: $5,080
- Annual housing cost: $11,668
- Annual utilities cost: $4,252
- Annual transportation cost: $4,729
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,123
- Total annual expenditures: $61,855
How long $1 million will last: 16.2 years
Wyoming
- Annual groceries cost: $4,971
- Annual housing cost: $10,613
- Annual utilities cost: $3,858
- Annual transportation cost: $4,275
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,274
- Total annual expenditures: $57,755
How long $1 million will last: 17.3 years
North Carolina
- Annual groceries cost: $4,877
- Annual housing cost: $11,176
- Annual utilities cost: $4,204
- Annual transportation cost: $4,331
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,306
- Total annual expenditures: $57,186
How long $1 million will last: 17.5 years
Minnesota
- Annual groceries cost: $5,060
- Annual housing cost: $9,691
- Annual utilities cost: $4,217
- Annual transportation cost: $4,400
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,330
- Total annual expenditures: $56,487
How long $1 million will last: 17.7 years
Wisconsin
- Annual groceries cost: $4,857
- Annual housing cost: $10,973
- Annual utilities cost: $4,010
- Annual transportation cost: $4,548
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,441
- Total annual expenditures: $55,632
How long $1 million will last: 18 years
Georgia
- Annual groceries cost: $4,822
- Annual housing cost: $9,487
- Annual utilities cost: $4,217
- Annual transportation cost: $4,442
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,965
- Total annual expenditures: $55,060
How long $1 million will last: 18.2 years
South Dakota
- Annual groceries cost: $4,832
- Annual housing cost: $10,553
- Annual utilities cost: $3,616
- Annual transportation cost: $4,548
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,012
- Total annual expenditures: $53,903
How long $1 million will last: 18.6 years
New Mexico
- Annual groceries cost: $4,778
- Annual housing cost: $10,410
- Annual utilities cost: $3,650
- Annual transportation cost: $4,169
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,147
- Total annual expenditures: $53,602
How long $1 million will last: 18.7 years
South Carolina
- Annual groceries cost: $4,921
- Annual housing cost: $10,386
- Annual utilities cost: $4,430
- Annual transportation cost: $4,382
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,378
- Total annual expenditures: $53,507
How long $1 million will last: 18.7 years
Tennessee
- Annual groceries cost: $4,812
- Annual housing cost: $9,967
- Annual utilities cost: $3,776
- Annual transportation cost: $4,123
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,029
- Total annual expenditures: $53,204
How long $1 million will last: 18.8 years
Texas
- Annual groceries cost: $4,763
- Annual housing cost: $9,823
- Annual utilities cost: $4,559
- Annual transportation cost: $4,294
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,497
- Total annual expenditures: $53,174
How long $1 million will last: 18.8 years
Illinois
- Annual groceries cost: $4,862
- Annual housing cost: $9,979
- Annual utilities cost: $4,308
- Annual transportation cost: $4,784
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,862
- Total annual expenditures: $51,975
How long $1 million will last: 19.2 years
Pennsylvania
- Annual groceries cost: $4,916
- Annual housing cost: $10,098
- Annual utilities cost: $4,590
- Annual transportation cost: $4,826
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,187
- Total annual expenditures: $51,483
How long $1 million will last: 19.4 years
North Dakota
- Annual groceries cost: $4,708
- Annual housing cost: $9,595
- Annual utilities cost: $3,507
- Annual transportation cost: $4,618
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,584
- Total annual expenditures: $51,077
How long $1 million will last: 19.6 years
Nebraska
- Annual groceries cost: $4,916
- Annual housing cost: $9,583
- Annual utilities cost: $3,828
- Annual transportation cost: $4,474
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,933
- Total annual expenditures: $50,003
How long $1 million will last: 20 years
Ohio
- Annual groceries cost: $4,901
- Annual housing cost: $10,266
- Annual utilities cost: $4,300
- Annual transportation cost: $4,437
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,497
- Total annual expenditures: $48,627
How long $1 million will last: 20.6 years
Indiana
- Annual groceries cost: $4,822
- Annual housing cost: $9,236
- Annual utilities cost: $3,919
- Annual transportation cost: $4,567
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,719
- Total annual expenditures: $48,124
How long $1 million will last: 20.8 years
Missouri
- Annual groceries cost: $4,758
- Annual housing cost: $9,320
- Annual utilities cost: $4,278
- Annual transportation cost: $4,035
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,282
- Total annual expenditures: $48,093
How long $1 million will last: 20.8 years
Michigan
- Annual groceries cost: $4,867
- Annual housing cost: $8,829
- Annual utilities cost: $4,243
- Annual transportation cost: $4,608
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,084
- Total annual expenditures: $47,603
How long $1 million will last: 21 years
Kentucky
- Annual groceries cost: $4,946
- Annual housing cost: $9,427
- Annual utilities cost: $3,633
- Annual transportation cost: $4,479
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,457
- Total annual expenditures: $46,774
How long $1 million will last: 21.4 years
Iowa
- Annual groceries cost: $4,787
- Annual housing cost: $8,960
- Annual utilities cost: $4,023
- Annual transportation cost: $4,516
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,600
- Total annual expenditures: $46,367
How long $1 million will last: 21.6 years
Kansas
- Annual groceries cost: $4,698
- Annual housing cost: $8,673
- Annual utilities cost: $4,274
- Annual transportation cost: $4,169
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,497
- Total annual expenditures: $46,212
How long $1 million will last: 21.6
Louisiana
- Annual groceries cost: $4,763
- Annual housing cost: $7,663
- Annual utilities cost: $3,399
- Annual transportation cost: $4,414
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,663
- Total annual expenditures: $45,337
How long $1 million will last: 22.1 years
Alabama
- Annual groceries cost: $4,817
- Annual housing cost: $8,325
- Annual utilities cost: $4,330
- Annual transportation cost: $4,201
- Annual healthcare cost: $6,902
- Total annual expenditures: $45,321
How long $1 million will last: 22.1
Oklahoma
- Annual groceries cost: $4,728
- Annual housing cost: $8,218
- Annual utilities cost: $4,131
- Annual transportation cost: $4,197
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,663
- Total annual expenditures: $44,412
How long $1 million will last: 22.5 years
Arkansas
- Annual groceries cost: $4,718
- Annual housing cost: $8,960
- Annual utilities cost: $3,927
- Annual transportation cost: $4,164
- Annual healthcare cost: $6,799
- Total annual expenditures: $44,353
How long $1 million will last: 22.6 years
Mississippi
- Annual groceries cost: $4,773
- Annual housing cost: $8,852
- Annual utilities cost: $3,849
- Annual transportation cost: $4,155
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,877
- Total annual expenditures: $43,005
How long $1 million will last: 23.3 years
West Virginia
- Annual groceries cost: $4,906
- Annual housing cost: $7,175
- Annual utilities cost: $4,183
- Annual transportation cost: $4,308
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,751
- Total annual expenditures: $40,816
How long $1 million will last in savings: 24.5 years
Travis Woods and Jordan Rosenfeld contributed to the reporting for this article.
Methodology: GOBankingRates found total population, population ages 65 and over, total households and household median income — all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey — and used the Missouri Economic Research Information Center for grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous cost-of-living indexes. Using the cost of living indexes and the national average expenditure costs for retired households, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each location was calculated. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for Feb. 27, 2025. Using the home value, assuming a 10% down payment, and using the most recent national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated. Using the average mortgage and average expenditure costs, the average cost of living was calculated. Assuming $1 million in retirement savings, the number of years to draw down was calculated. The states were sorted to show the shortest to longest years until your savings is depleted. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Feb. 27, 2025.