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GOBankingRates

Travis Woods

How Much You Need To Save Monthly To Retire Comfortably in Every State

GOBankingRates Art Wager DenisTangneyJr Sean Pavone Hawaii

Just how much will you need to save every month to afford a comfortable 20-year retirement — spanning from ages 65 to 85 — in America?

That’s a question GOBankingRates recently sought to answer, breaking it down on a state-by-state basis. The reason for a 50-state breakdown is simple: Cost of living varies wildly from one state to another. A 20-year retirement in one state could require a savings of less than $800,000; meanwhile, another state could require well over $2 million. That’s a vast difference.

Also See: How Long $1 Million in Retirement Will Last in Every State

Learn More: 4 Housing Markets That Have Plummeted in Value Over the Past 5 Years

To find how much money each state’s comfortable retirement would require, GOBankingRates first discerned the average cost of living for a household in each state via such sources as the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Missouri Economic and Research Information Center and the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for Retired Consumer Units. To those cost-of-living numbers, GOBankingRates then added an additional 20% “buffer” of additional savings requirements, all as a means to help craft a more comfortable retirement package than the state-by-state cost of necessities.

With that amount decided, GOBankingRates calculated how much you would need to save each month (starting at age 30) to reach the point where you would enjoy a comfortable 20-year retirement in each state.

Key Findings

Hawaii retirement costs more than any other. In order to settle down for a comfy retirement in the Aloha State, be prepared to spend just over $2.3 million, thanks to the state’s high cost of living. A retiree looking to comfortably live out their golden years in America’s most tropical state needs to save about $5,500 a month from age 30.
West Virginia offers the most affordable retirement. The state requires roughly $770,000 to retire in comfort across two decades — that’s three times less than Hawaii. That means saving $1,833 a month starting at age 30.
You’ll need to save more than $3,000 per month in 15 states. The most expensive after Hawaii are California and Massachusetts, which both require over $4,000 per month. The other states requiring more than $3,000 a month are Washington, New Jersey, Colorado, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, New York, Connecticut, Alaska, Maryland and Idaho.

See how much savings you will need to accrue on average every month to retire comfortably in each state. Also see how much those amounts have changed over the past year.

See More: 10 Little Luxuries To Stay Away From in Retirement

Find More: 3 Things Retirees Should Sell To Build Their Retirement Savings

Alabama

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,055
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $862,897
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $3,595
- Monthly cost of necessities: $2,996
% of population 65+: 17.5%

Check Out: Here’s How Much You Need To Retire With a $100K Lifestyle

Anfisa Tukane / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Alaska

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $3,156
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,325,355
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $5,522
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,602
% of population 65+: 13.3%

Arizona

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,891
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,214,317
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $5,060
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,216
% of population 65+: 18.6%

Arkansas

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $1,956
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $821,316
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $3,422
- Monthly cost of necessities: $2,852
% of population 65+: 17.3%

California

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $4,496
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,888,167
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $7,867
- Monthly cost of necessities: $6,556
% of population 65+: 15.3%

Muhammad Zulkifal / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Colorado

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $3,380
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,419,452
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement:$5,914
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,929
% of population 65+: 15.2%

Find Out: The Most Common Retirement Mistake, According to an Expert

Connecticut

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $3,159
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,326,915
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $5,529
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,607
% of population 65+: 18.1%

Delaware

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,797
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,174,659
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $4,894
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,079
% of population 65+: 20.0%

Florida

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,744
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,152,560
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $4,802
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,002
% of population 65+: 21.1%

Georgia

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,497
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,048,675
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $4,369
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,641
% of population 65+: 14.6%

Hawaii

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $5,506
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $2,312,551
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $9,636
- Monthly cost of necessities: $8,030
% of population 65+: 19.9%

Discover More: 7 Things You Should Own in Retirement, According to Kevin Lum

Idaho

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $3,010
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,264,006
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $5,267
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,389
% of population 65+: 16.6%

Illinois

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,349
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $986,731
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $4,111
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,426
% of population 65+: 16.6%

Indiana

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,168
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $910,421
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $3,793
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,161
% of population 65+: 16.4%

Iowa

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,072
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $870,288
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $3,626
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,022
% of population 65+: 17.8%

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Kansas

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,141
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $899,032
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $3,746
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,122
% of population 65+: 16.6%

Also Learn: You’ll Run Out of Money in 20 Years’ — Why Retirees Are Rethinking Their Savings Strategy

Kentucky

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,024
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $850,234
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $3,543
- Monthly cost of necessities: $2,952
% of population 65+: 17.0%

Louisiana

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $1,972
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $828,245
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $3,451
- Monthly cost of necessities: $2,876
% of population 65+: 16.3%

EJJohnsonPhotography / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Maine

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,950
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,238,886
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $5,162
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,302
% of population 65+: 21.9%

Maryland

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $3,027
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,271,346
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $5,297
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,414
% of population 65+: 16.3%

Massachusetts

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $4,144
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,740,370
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $7,252
- Monthly cost of necessities: $6,043
% of population 65+: 17.5%

Also Discover: 4 Retirement Expenses Boomers Didn’t Plan for — but Should Have

Michigan

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,162
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $908,126
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $3,784
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,153
% of population 65+: 18.2%

Minnesota

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,585
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,085,495
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $4,523
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,769
% of population 65+: 16.8%

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Mississippi

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $1,879
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $789,198
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $3,288
- Monthly cost of necessities: $2,740
% of population 65+: 16.8%

Missouri

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,150
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $903,087
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $3,763
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,136
% of population 65+: 17.5%

Montana

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,997
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,258,804
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $5,245
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,371
% of population 65+: 19.7%

steveodonnell / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Nebraska

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,239
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $940,362
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $3,918
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,265
% of population 65+: 16.4%

Nevada

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,980
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,251,490
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $5,215
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,345
% of population 65+: 16.6%

New Hampshire

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $3,330
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,398,496
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $5,827
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,856
% of population 65+: 19.5%

New Jersey

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $3,529
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,482,150
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $6,176
- Monthly cost of necessities: $5,146
% of population 65+: 16.8%

New Mexico

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,421
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,016,690
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $4,236
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,530
% of population 65+: 18.8%

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New York

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $3,182
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,336,469
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $5,569
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,641
% of population 65+: 17.4%

North Carolina

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,536
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,064,926
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $4,437
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,698
% of population 65+: 16.9%

North Dakota

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,330
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $978,633
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $4,078
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,398
% of population 65+: 16.2%

Ohio

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,165
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $909,197
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $3,788
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,157
% of population 65+: 17.9%

Oklahoma

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $1,993
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $836,859
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $3,487
- Monthly cost of necessities: $2,906
% of population 65+: 16.1%

Find Out: How Long $2 Million in Retirement Will Last in Every State

Oregon

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $3,318
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,393,421
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $5,806
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,838
% of population 65+: 18.6%

Pennsylvania

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,325
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $976,411
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $4,068
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,390
% of population 65+: 19.1%

Rhode Island

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $3,247
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,363,602
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $5,682
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,735
% of population 65+: 18.3%

South Carolina

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,360
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $991,147
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $4,130
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,441
% of population 65+: 18.5%

South Dakota

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,460
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,033,045
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $4,304
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,587
% of population 65+: 17.6%

Know This: 6 Key Signs You’ll Run Out of Retirement Funds Too Early

Tennessee

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,380
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $999,634
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $4,165
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,471
% of population 65+: 16.8%

Texas

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,369
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $995,168
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $4,147
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,455
% of population 65+: 13.2%

Utah

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $3,225
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,354,436
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $5,643
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,703
% of population 65+: 11.6%

Vermont

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,907
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,221,103
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $5,088
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,240
% of population 65+: 20.8%

Virginia

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,832
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,189,535
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $4,956
- Monthly cost of necessities: $4,130
% of population 65+: 16.3%

Also Read: I’m Retiring a Multimillionaire — Here’s What I Wish I Knew in My 30s

Washington

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $3,713
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,559,300
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $6,497
- Monthly cost of necessities: $5,414
% of population 65+: 16.3%

William Krumpelman / Getty Images/iStockphoto

West Virginia

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $1,833
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $768,778
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $3,207
- Monthly cost of necessities: $2,673
% of population 65+: 20.7%

Wisconsin

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,504
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,051,795
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $4,382
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,652
% of population 65+: 18.0%

Wyoming

Monthly savings starting at age 30 for comfortable retirement: $2,594
Total cost of 20-year comfortable retirement: $1,089,380
- Monthly cost of comfortable retirement: $4,539
- Monthly cost of necessities: $3,783
% of population 65+: 18.0%

Methodology: Population ages 65 and over was sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. Monthly savings needed for a comfortable retirement was calculated by finding the total amount needed for a 20-year retirement, based on 35 years of savings. To get the amount needed, GOBankingRates added the cost of living for retired households and the average mortgage for each state and then a 20% buffer. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Missouri Economic and Research Information Center for Q2 2025; national average expenditures for retired households were sourced from the 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for retired Consumer Units. Mortgage amounts were determined using the August 2025 Zillow Home Value Index and Federal Reserve Economic Data (subtracting a 10% down payment). All data was collected on and is up to date as of Sept. 29, 2025.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much You Need To Save Monthly To Retire Comfortably in Every State

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