How Much to Retire in Columbus, OH (2026)
Cost-of-living index 91 (US avg = 100). Comfortable retirement costs ~$47,320/yr · Nest egg target ~$1.2M.
Retirement spending tiers
National baselines adjusted for Columbus's COL index (91 vs 100 US average). Nest egg uses the 4% safe withdrawal rule (annual × 25).
Small apartment, cook at home, public transit, minimal travel
1BR apartment, dining out occasionally, one modest vacation/year
2BR home, regular dining out, two vacations/year, newer car
Owned home, frequent travel, generous entertainment budget
Upscale home, luxury travel, golf/clubs, full-time help
Monthly budget breakdown by tier
Estimated monthly allocation across spending categories
| Category | Modest | Comfortable | Premium | Affluent | Luxurious |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $801 | $1,301 | $1,877 | $2,753 | $4,379 |
| Food | $364 | $591 | $853 | $1,251 | $1,991 |
| Healthcare | $340 | $552 | $796 | $1,168 | $1,858 |
| Transport | $291 | $473 | $683 | $1,001 | $1,593 |
| Leisure | $340 | $552 | $796 | $1,168 | $1,858 |
| Misc | $291 | $473 | $683 | $1,001 | $1,593 |
| Total / month | $2,427 | $3,943 | $5,688 | $8,342 | $13,271 |
Nest egg targets
How much you need saved to fund each lifestyle, using the 4% safe withdrawal rule
| Tier | Annual spend | Monthly spend | Nest egg (4% rule) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modest | $29,120 | $2,427 | $728K |
| Comfortable | $47,320 | $3,943 | $1.2M |
| Premium | $68,250 | $5,688 | $1.7M |
| Affluent | $100,100 | $8,342 | $2.5M |
| Luxurious | $159,250 | $13,271 | $4.0M |
Columbus retirement context
Frequently asked questions
How much money do you need to retire in Columbus?
For a comfortable retirement in Columbus, plan on roughly $47,320/year ($3,943/month). That requires a nest egg of about $1.2M using the 4% safe withdrawal rule. A modest lifestyle costs ~$29,120/year, while a premium lifestyle runs ~$68,250/year.
Is Columbus a good place to retire?
Columbus has a cost of living close to the US average (index 91). Retirement budgets here are fairly typical — neither a bargain nor a budget-buster.
How is the retirement cost calculated for Columbus?
Each tier starts from a US national baseline and is scaled by Columbus's cost-of-living index (91 vs 100 US average). Nest egg targets use the 4% safe withdrawal rule (annual spend × 25). The budget allocation assumes roughly 33% housing, 15% food, 14% healthcare, 12% transport, 14% leisure, and 12% miscellaneous.
Deep-dive by tier
Spending estimates adjusted by BLS cost-of-living data · 4% safe withdrawal rule (Bengen 1994) · 2026 estimates · For general guidance only