How Much to Retire in Midland, TX (2026)
Cost-of-living index 93 (US avg = 100). Comfortable retirement costs ~$48,360/yr · Nest egg target ~$1.2M.
Retirement spending tiers
National baselines adjusted for Midland's COL index (93 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 | $818 | $1,330 | $1,918 | $2,813 | $4,476 |
| Food | $372 | $605 | $872 | $1,279 | $2,034 |
| Healthcare | $347 | $564 | $814 | $1,194 | $1,899 |
| Transport | $298 | $484 | $698 | $1,023 | $1,628 |
| Leisure | $347 | $564 | $814 | $1,194 | $1,899 |
| Misc | $298 | $484 | $698 | $1,023 | $1,628 |
| Total / month | $2,480 | $4,030 | $5,813 | $8,525 | $13,563 |
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 | $29,760 | $2,480 | $744K |
| Comfortable | $48,360 | $4,030 | $1.2M |
| Premium | $69,750 | $5,813 | $1.7M |
| Affluent | $102,300 | $8,525 | $2.6M |
| Luxurious | $162,750 | $13,563 | $4.1M |
Midland retirement context
TX has no state income tax — retirement income (Social Security, withdrawals) is not taxed at the state level.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do you need to retire in Midland?
For a comfortable retirement in Midland, plan on roughly $48,360/year ($4,030/month). That requires a nest egg of about $1.2M using the 4% safe withdrawal rule. A modest lifestyle costs ~$29,760/year, while a premium lifestyle runs ~$69,750/year.
Is Midland a good place to retire?
Midland has a cost of living close to the US average (index 93). Retirement budgets here are fairly typical — neither a bargain nor a budget-buster.
How is the retirement cost calculated for Midland?
Each tier starts from a US national baseline and is scaled by Midland's cost-of-living index (93 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