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Map: How much Americans need to retire comfortably in every state

By
FOX Local
Lifestyle
Published October 28, 2026 2:11 PM MST
Published October 28, 2026 2:11 PM MST
article

(Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP via Getty Images)

The Brief

    • A MoneyLion analysis using data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator estimated the annual income a single adult without children would need to retire comfortably in each state.
    • Hawaii had the highest estimated retirement income requirement at $64,504 per year, followed by California at $63,402 and Massachusetts at $63,610.
    • West Virginia had the lowest estimated requirement at $40,627 per year, while the average annual Social Security benefit was $24,852 as of January 2026.

Households across the country are facing financial pressure as inflation continues to drive up costs. Retirees, in particular, need to ensure their income can keep pace with rising expenses.

Retirement income can come from several sources, including personal savings in a 401(k) or IRA, annuities, pensions and Social Security benefits.

By the numbers:

The average annual Social Security benefit is $24,852, based on the Social Security Administration’s reported average monthly benefit of $2,071 in January 2026.

A new MoneyLion analysis using data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator estimated the annual income needed to retire comfortably in each state. The amount ranged from $64,504 in Hawaii to $40,627 in West Virginia.

Dig deeper:

Here is the state-by-state breakdown of the annual income a single adult without children would need to retire comfortably, according to MoneyLion’s analysis of the MIT Living Wage Calculator.

The Source: FOX Business contributed to this report. The story’s information came from the Social Security Administration, which reported the average monthly benefit of $2,071 in January 2026, and a MoneyLion analysis that used data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator to estimate the annual income a single adult without children would need to retire comfortably in each state. This story was reported from Los Angeles. 

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