July 9, 2020, 5:00 AM
How Far a Retirement Fund of Half a Million Dollars Stretches in the 7 Most Populous StatesExperts typically recommend having at least $1 million dollars saved up for retirement, but some people either don’t have the time or refuse to delay their retirement to reach that idealistic milestone. Fortunately, if your retirement nest egg is hovering around $300,000, you have options both stateside and abroad.
For example, if you move to Fort Wayne, Indiana, you can stretch your retirement stash out over more than a decade. If you choose to move to another country, however, you can stretch your funds even further — in the top-ranked country on this list, a $300,000 nest egg could last you 55 years.
To find out the best locations for people with $300,000 in retirement, GOBankingRates analyzed the population and annual expenditures in the top 100 U.S. cities and 50 of the top countries across the globe. Discover where you can retire well without $1 million in the bank.
Last updated: Nov. 7, 2019
How Long $300,000 Lasts in Retirement in These CitiesEven though a $300,000 retirement nest egg doesn’t seem that substantial, you might be surprised. There are U.S. cities where that sum of money can last almost 12 years. Here are 11 locations to consider.
11. Memphis, Tennessee
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 9.68
- Annual cost of rent: $10,890
- Annual grocery cost: $3,527.12
- Annual utilities cost: $3,576.58
- Annual healthcare cost: $8,716.70
- Annual transportation cost: $4,283.40
What sets Memphis back on this list is its annual healthcare cost. At $8,716.70, Memphis not only has far and away the most expensive healthcare cost on this list, it was also the most expensive cost for healthcare among all of the U.S. cities analyzed.
10. Pensacola, Florida
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 9.69
- Annual cost of rent: $12,600
- Annual grocery cost: $3,589.61
- Annual utilities cost: $3,910.84
- Annual healthcare cost: $6,760.30
- Annual transportation cost: $4,096.49
9. Tulsa, Oklahoma
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 9.83
- Annual cost of rent: $11,940
- Annual grocery cost: $3,499.78
- Annual utilities cost: $3,550.58
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,416.90
- Annual transportation cost: $4,100.38
Alternatively: See How Long $100,000 Will Last in Retirement in Every State
8. Kansas City, Missouri
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 9.84
- Annual cost of rent: $12,420
- Annual grocery cost: $3,628.67
- Annual utilities cost: $6,713.40
- Annual healthcare cost: $3,766
- Annual transportation cost: $3,960.20
7. St. Louis
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 10.03
- Annual cost of rent: $12,000
- Annual grocery cost: $3,628.67
- Annual utilities cost: $3,558.01
- Annual healthcare cost: $6,284.60
- Annual transportation cost: $4,431.37
6. Mobile, Alabama
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 10.16
- Annual cost of rent: $11,142
- Annual grocery cost: $3,628.67
- Annual utilities cost: $3,621.15
- Annual healthcare cost: $7,148.90
- Annual transportation cost: $3,991.35
5. Indianapolis
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 10.44
- Annual cost of rent: $12,000
- Annual grocery cost: $3,542.74
- Annual utilities cost: $3,350.03
- Annual healthcare cost: $5,795.50
- Annual transportation cost: $4,041.97
4. Wichita, Kansas
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 10.79
- Annual cost of rent: $10,200
- Annual grocery cost: $3,531.02
- Annual utilities cost: $3,843.99
- Annual healthcare cost: $6,612.90
- Annual transportation cost: $3,613.63
3. Cleveland
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 10.89
- Annual cost of rent: $10,800
- Annual grocery cost: $3,632.58
- Annual utilities cost: $3,524.59
- Annual healthcare cost: $5,514.10
- Annual transportation cost: $4,088.70
2. Toledo, Ohio
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 11.43
- Annual cost of rent: $ 9,540
- Annual grocery cost: $3,542.74
- Annual utilities cost: $3,610.01
- Annual healthcare cost: $5,748.60
- Annual transportation cost: $3,796.65
1. Fort Wayne, Indiana
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 11.79
- Annual cost of rent: $9,600
- Annual grocery cost: $3,464.62
- Annual utilities cost: $3,368.60
- Annual healthcare cost: $5,393.50
- Annual transportation cost: $3,621.42
How Long $300,000 Lasts in Retirement in These CountriesIf you’re willing to go international in retirement, your options with a $300,000 retirement fund suddenly open up. Here are 11 attractive locations aboard where you can stretch your retirement savings farther than anywhere in the U.S.
11. Australia
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 14.44
- Annual cost of rent: $15,861.99
- Annual grocery cost: $3,251.28
- Annual utilities cost: $1,666.08
10. Panama
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 20.07
- Annual cost of rent: $10,901.10
- Annual grocery cost: $2,960.16
- Annual utilities cost: $1,086.36
Read: How Long $1 Million in Savings Will Last in Every State
9. Cyprus
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 21.94
- Annual cost of rent: $9,340.59
- Annual grocery cost: $2,719.08
- Annual utilities cost: $1,615.92
8. Portugal
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 22.37
- Annual cost of rent: $9,751.65
- Annual grocery cost: $2,375.04
- Annual utilities cost: $1,283.16
7. Taiwan
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 24.68
- Annual cost of rent: $7,133.04
- Annual grocery cost: $4,128.36
- Annual utilities cost: $806.64
6. Costa Rica
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 27.23
- Annual cost of rent: $7,224.63
- Annual grocery cost: $2,858.16
- Annual utilities cost: $933.84
5. Uruguay
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 27.83
- Annual cost of rent: $6,896.73
- Annual grocery cost: $2,549.52
- Annual utilities cost: $1,333.44
4. Greece
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 30.84
- Annual cost of rent: $5,167.50
- Annual grocery cost: $2,553.24
- Annual utilities cost: $2,006.52
3. Malaysia
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 40.52
- Annual cost of rent: $4,725
- Annual grocery cost: $2,141.16
- Annual utilities cost: $537.48
2. Mexico
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 42.60
- Annual cost of rent: $4,783.11
- Annual grocery cost: $1,829.76
- Annual utilities cost: $429
1. Sri Lanka
- How many years $300K will last for renters: 55.01
- Annual cost of rent: $3,056.97
- Annual grocery cost: $1,943.40
- Annual utilities cost: $453.24
More From GOBankingRates
- 100 Ways To Make Your Money Last Until You’re 100
- Here’s How Much Cash You Need Stashed If an Emergency Happens
- 31 Hidden Ways You’re Bleeding Money Every Month
- 21 Smartest Ways To Invest Your Money Right Now
Methodology: GOBankingRates analyzed the top 100 U.S. cities in terms of population and 50 of the top countries across the globe in order to find how long $300,000 will last in retirement.
For the top 100 U.S. cities, GOBankingRates found the annual expenditures for a consumer unit (1.8 people) 65 years and older in the following categories: (1) grocery (“food at home”), (2) healthcare (“Healthcare”), (3) utilities (“Utilities, fuels, & public services), and (4) transportation (“Gas, other fuels, & motor oils” + “Other vehicle expenses”), all sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, 3rd Quarter 2017 through 2nd Quarter 2018. These annual expenditures were then factored for each city using Sperling’s Best Places Cost of Living indices. For each city, GOBankingRates found both the median list price and median rent, which were then extrapolated out to give an (5) annual mortgage cost using SmartAsset’s mortgage calculator (assuming a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage after a 20% down payment and a rate of 3.82% as sourced from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis as of June 16, 2019) and (6) annual cost of rent, respectively. These four factors formed the annual cost of living total, which was then combined with the annual mortgage cost and annual rent cost to give both (7) annual cost of living for homeowners and (8) annual cost of living for renters for each city. The totals were then divided by $300,000 to see how many years into retirement that total would last, with the larger total being better.
For countries, GOBankingRates used Numbeo.com to source all annual expenditure data. The average monthly rent was determined by averaging the costs of one one-bedroom apartment in the city centre, one one-bedroom partment outside of the city centre, one three-bedroom partment in the city centre, and one three-bedroom apartment outside of the city centre for each country. This average monthly rent was extrapolated out to give an (9) annual cost of rent for each country. GOBankingRates then found the monthly cost of utilities and groceries for each country, extrapolating those costs out to get annual cost for both (10) groceries and (11) utilities. These two factors (groceries and utilities) were combined with annual cost of rent to give an (12) annual cost of living for renters in each country. This total was then divided by $300,000 to see how many years into retirement that total would last, with the larger total ranking higher.
Data is accurate as of July 25, 2019, and is subject to change.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Here’s How Long $300K Lasts in Retirement