According to the Australian Superannuation Fund Association's (ASFA's) Retirement Standard1, to enjoy a comfortable retirement, singles need $595,000 in savings at retirement (aged 67) to generate a yearly income of $50,004. Similarly, couples need $690,000 at retirement to generate $70,482 a year.
Retiring couples need more than $70,000 a year for a comfortable retirement and singles require $50,000, according to the latest calculations by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia.
So, how much does one need to retire in comfort? If you're single, you'll need more than $500,000, assuming you own your own home, according to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Retirement Standard. That figure is worryingly higher than the average super balance.
The cost of a moderate or comfortable retirement
Based on ASFA research1, here are the estimated budgets for various households and living standards for people aged around 67. On a weekly basis, a single person needs around $957.94 while a couple needs around $1,350.23 for a comfortable retirement.
If you have substantial income from sources like a pension and Social Security, an $800,000 portfolio could last for many years. That's especially true if your expenses are low and you don't have significant health care expenses.
This obviously depends on what annual income you want to fund but if you want to be able to afford a comfortable retirement—which is an income of just over $48,000 a year for a single according to the ASFA Retirement Standard—then you need a balance of at least $500,000.
Yes, for some people, $2 million should be more than enough to retire. For others, $2 million may not even scratch the surface. The answer depends on your personal situation and there are lot of challenges you'll face. As of 2023, it seems the number of obstacles to a successful retirement continues to grow.
How long will $800,000 last in retirement? Your money is projected to last approximately 30 years with monthly withdrawals totaling $2,024,574. How long will $1,500,000 last in retirement? Your money is projected to stretch beyond 30 years and you'll be able to make monthly withdrawals beyond $4,000,000.
In fact, statistically, around 10% of retirees have $1 million or more in savings.
So looking at the table, you can see that a 60-year old male will need a lump sum of almost $500,000 to provide an annual income in retirement of $42,000 for 20 years. These calculations are based on a 20-year time frame because the approximate life expectancy for Australian males is 84 years and 88 for females.
Using the default assumptions built into the Moneysmart Retirement Calculator – and assuming you are single, will retire at age 65, want the funds to last until age 90, and require an annual income of $80,000 (indexed up each year for inflation) – then you need approximately $1,550,000 by retirement to live on an ...
If you still have a mortgage or pay high property taxes, downsizing or moving to a less expensive area may be worthwhile if those expenses are straining your budget. Yes, retiring at 70 with $2 million in the bank is possible. It will require diligent planning and a good hard look at your expenses in retirement.
Average Monthly Retirement Income
According to data from the BLS, average incomes in 2021 after taxes were as follows for older households: 65-74 years: $59,872 per year or $4,989 per month. 75 and older: $43,217 per year or $3,601 per month.
You may need less than you think
On the higher end, those organisations recommend individuals to save $545,000 to $745,000 in super by ages 65 to 67, for a comfortable or high-spending retirement. The only scenario where $1 million is set as the savings goal is for a high-spending couple in retirement.
How Much Does a Couple Need to Retire Comfortably? A couple needs $690,000 to retire comfortably in Australia from age 67 until age 95. The amount that a couple needs to live comfortably in retirement is said to be $70,000 p.a.
Retiring at 65 seems like a typical target, but it takes careful planning and a sufficient nest egg to pull off. If you accrue $2 million during your career, you can pay yourself $80,000 annually without touching your principal, which translates to a healthy monthly budget.
And, while life expectancy can be estimated, no one knows for certain how long they will live. As a result, they can only approximate how long their nest egg will need to last. Retiring at age 45 with $3 million is quite feasible if you already have the money and your post-retirement income needs are not excessive.
How long will $2 million last? The short answer is, most likely it will last you comfortably for the rest of your life. The longer answer is, even with no growth of any kind this nest egg will last an average household around 35 years.
Can You Live off of 2 Million in Investments? Whether or not you can live off of 2 million in investments depends on your lifestyle, spending habits, and other financial factors. Assuming a 4% withdrawal rate, a 2 million dollar investment portfolio could potentially provide an annual income of $80,000.
To feel wealthy, Americans say you need a net worth of at least $2.2 million on average, according to financial services company Charles Schwab's annual Modern Wealth Survey. But even if you have that much in the bank, it might not be enough to be considered rich in certain places, the survey found.
Assume, for example, you will need 65 per cent of your pre-retirement income, so if you earn $50,000 now, you might need $32,500 in retirement.
It suggests a $690,000 super balance for a couple, or a $595,000 balance for a single person, should provide a comfortable retirement, assuming the age pension will also come into play.
The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) standard shows that for a couple to have a comfortable retirement, they will need $640,000 saved for retirement. Singles will need to have $545,000 saved. These figures assume that retirees will draw down all their capital and receive a part Age Pension.