$3K vs. $5K vs. $10K: How much monthly income do you need to retire comfortably in 2026?

Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Most U.S. adults are convinced the only way to retire comfortably is to be a millionaire. As of 2025, the so-called “magic number” for the average worker was $1.28 million, according to the Schroders 2025 U.S. Retirement Survey (1). However, the size of the nest egg is only part of the equation. After all, the definition of a comfortable and stress-free retirement is that all your monthly living expenses ar ...