This Is What It Costs To Retire in Hawaii

by Samuel Stebbins, 24/7 Wall St. via The Center Square Dec 21, 2021

A 2019 report from the Federal Reserve found that nearly one in every four American adults have no retirement savings. During the economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, that share has likely grown. Despite stimulus payments and enhanced unemployment benefits, millions of Americans have reduced retirement account contributions or stopped them entirely -- some have even been forced to make withdrawals. Here is what you can do if the coronavirus is threatening your retirement.

At age 65, Americans are expected to live an average of another 19.4 years, and the typical retirement-age American spends $50,220 a year. Multiply those figures, and add in a little extra for unforeseen expenses and additional financial security, and a comfortable retirement costs an estimated $1,120,408 in the United States.

With the highest cost of living of any state, Hawaii is also the most expensive state in which to retire comfortably. Goods and services in the state are 19.3% more expensive than they are on average nationwide, and the average 65 year old should plan on spending $1,481,336 throughout retirement, nearly $361,000 more than the national average.

A long life expectancy also contributes to the high retirement costs in Hawaii. The typical 65 year old in the state is expected to live an additional 21.5 years, two years longer than the typical 65 year old American.

State level calculations in this story are based on the average annual expenditure of $50,220 for Americans 65 years and older in 2019, as reported in the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This figure is adjusted by state to account for both cost of living and life expectancy at age 65, and then multiplied by 115% in order to reflect greater financial stability and comfort in retirement. All data in this story is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.