Savings Needed To Be Rich in America’s Most Popular Retirement Destinations

The “magic number” for a comfortable retirement is $1.26 million, according to a 2025 study from Northwestern Mutual. But what does this amount look like if you want to retire wealthy?

To determine the amount needed to retire rich in America’s 50 most popular retirement destinations (50 cities with populations over 15,000 and with the highest percent of population over age 65), GOBankingRates found the annual cost of expenditures for retired people by multiplying the expenditures for seniors by the cost-of-living index for each city. To find how much money a retired person would need to save, we divided each city’s annual expenditures, minus the annual Social Security income, by 0.05%, 0.04% and 0.0333% — assuming 20, 25 and 30 years of retirement. GOBankingRates then took the 20-, 25-, and 30-year minimums and doubled those amounts to determine savings needed to retire rich in each destination.

• It takes more than $3 million to retire wealthy in five California towns. Laguna Woods (#1), Seal Beach (#2), Palm Springs (#3), Palm Desert (#4) and Rancho Mirage (#5) swept the top five. A rich retirement spanning 25 years costs $2.7 million to $3.7 million in these five locales, while 30 years costs $3.2 million to $4.5 million.
• Parole, Maryland, and Marco Island, Florida, stand out as the only non-California or Arizona-based retirement destinations to rank in the top 10. Retirees need at least $2.2 million in savings to enjoy a rich 25-year retirement in both destinations.
• There are 20 Florida destinations where retirees with less than $1 million in savings can retire wealthy for 25 years. These cities include Venice (#15), Bonita Springs #16), Sun City Center (#18), Estero (#19), North Fort Myers (#20), Dunedin (#21), West Lealman (#22), Tavares (#25), Mount Dora (#26), Lady Lake (#27), The Villages (#30), Bayonet Point (#31), Zephyrhills (#32), Wildwood (#33), Sebastian (#38), New Smyrna Beach (#39), Ormond Beach (#40), Edgewater (#41), Port Charlotte (#44) and Punta Gorda (#45).

From most to least amount of savings, see how much you need to retire rich in America’s 50 most popular retirement destinations.

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $3,785,271
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $4,546,872
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $1,892,636
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $2,273,436
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $99,083

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $3,782,267
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $4,543,263
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $1,891,133
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $2,271,632
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $99,023

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $2,802,849
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $3,366,785
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $1,401,424
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,683,393
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $79,435

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $2,772,805
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $3,330,697
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $1,386,403
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,665,348
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $78,834

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $2,742,762
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $3,294,609
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $1,371,381
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,647,304
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $78,233

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $2,277,087
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,735,240
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $1,138,544
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,367,620
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $68,920

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $2,259,061
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,713,587
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $1,129,531
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,356,794
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $68,559

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $2,247,044
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,699,152
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $1,123,522
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,349,576
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $68,319

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $2,241,035
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,691,934
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $1,120,518
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,345,967
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $68,199

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $2,232,022
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,681,108
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $1,116,011
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,340,554
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $68,018

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $2,229,018
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,677,499
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $1,114,509
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,338,749
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $67,958

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $2,226,014
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,673,890
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $1,113,007
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,336,945
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $67,898

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $2,153,909
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,587,278
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $1,076,955
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,293,639
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $66,456

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $2,000,687
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,403,228
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $1,000,344
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,201,614
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $63,392

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,994,679
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,396,010
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $997,339
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,198,005
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $63,272

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,970,644
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,367,140
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $985,322
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,183,570
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $62,791

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,964,635
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,359,922
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $982,318
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,179,961
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $62,671

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,961,631
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,356,313
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $980,815
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,178,157
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $62,611

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,958,626
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,352,704
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $979,313
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,176,352
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $62,551

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,955,622
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,349,095
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $977,811
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,174,548
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $62,490

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,922,574
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,309,398
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $961,287
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,154,699
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $61,830

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,919,570
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,305,790
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $959,785
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,152,895
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $61,769

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,895,535
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,276,919
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $947,768
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,138,459
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $61,289

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,892,531
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,273,310
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $946,265
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,136,655
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $61,229

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,862,487
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,237,222
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $931,244
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,118,611
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $60,628

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,856,478
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,230,004
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $928,239
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,115,002
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $60,508

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,844,461
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,215,569
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $922,231
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,107,784
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $60,267

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,838,452
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,208,351
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $919,226
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,104,176
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $60,147

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,835,448
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,204,742
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $917,724
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,102,371
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $60,087

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,784,374
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,143,392
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $892,187
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,071,696
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $59,066

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,778,365
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,136,175
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $889,183
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,068,087
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $58,945

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,775,361
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,132,566
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $887,681
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,066,283
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $58,885

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,772,357
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,128,957
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $886,178
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,064,478
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $58,825

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,751,326
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,103,695
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $875,663
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,051,848
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $58,405

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,748,322
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,100,086
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $874,161
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,050,043
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $58,344

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,745,318
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,096,477
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $872,659
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,048,239
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $58,284

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,742,313
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,092,869
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $871,157
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,046,434
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $58,224

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,739,309
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,089,260
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $869,654
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,044,630
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $58,164

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,691,239
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,031,519
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $845,620
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,015,759
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $57,203

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,682,226
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,020,692
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $841,113
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,010,346
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $57,023

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,679,222
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,017,083
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $839,611
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,008,542
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $56,962

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,670,209
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $2,006,257
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $835,104
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $1,003,128
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $56,782

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,652,183
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $1,984,604
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $826,091
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $992,302
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $56,422

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,649,178
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $1,980,995
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $824,589
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $990,497
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $56,362

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,646,174
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $1,977,386
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $823,087
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $988,693
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $56,302

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,607,117
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $1,930,471
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $803,559
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $965,236
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $55,520

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,565,057
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $1,879,948
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $782,528
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $939,974
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $54,679

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,562,052
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $1,876,339
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $781,026
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $938,169
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $54,619

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,547,030
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $1,858,295
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $773,515
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $929,147
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $54,319

• Savings needed for 25 years of retiring rich: $1,339,730
• Savings needed for 30 years of retiring rich: $1,609,286
• Minimum savings needed for 25 years of retirement: $669,865
• Minimum savings needed for 30 years of retirement: $804,643
• Annual cost of living (total expenditures): $50,173

Editor’s note: Photos are for illustrative purposes only. In many cases, the closest major city outside of the city/county mentioned in the article was used. 

Methodology: In order to find out exactly how much you need to retire in some of America’s most retirement destinations (50 cities with populations over 15,000 with the highest percent of population over 65), GOBankingRates found the annual expenditures for retired people in each destination by multiplying the senior expenditures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey by the cost-of-living index for each city from Sperling’s BestPlaces. To find how much money a retired person would need to save, we divided each city’s annual expenditures, minus the annual Social Security income (sourced from the Social Security Administration’s Monthly Statistical Snapshot for April 2025) by 0.05%, 0.04% and 0.0333% — assuming 20, 25 and 30 years of retirement. To determine how much one would need to retire rich, GOBankingRates doubled those amounts. All data was collected on and is up to date as of June 3, 2025.