How Much to Retire in Rochester, MN (2026)
Cost-of-living index 94 (US avg = 100). Comfortable retirement costs ~$48,880/yr · Nest egg target ~$1.2M.
Retirement spending tiers
National baselines adjusted for Rochester's COL index (94 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 | $827 | $1,344 | $1,939 | $2,844 | $4,524 |
| Food | $376 | $611 | $881 | $1,293 | $2,056 |
| Healthcare | $351 | $570 | $823 | $1,206 | $1,919 |
| Transport | $301 | $489 | $705 | $1,034 | $1,645 |
| Leisure | $351 | $570 | $823 | $1,206 | $1,919 |
| Misc | $301 | $489 | $705 | $1,034 | $1,645 |
| Total / month | $2,507 | $4,073 | $5,875 | $8,617 | $13,708 |
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 | $30,080 | $2,507 | $752K |
| Comfortable | $48,880 | $4,073 | $1.2M |
| Premium | $70,500 | $5,875 | $1.8M |
| Affluent | $103,400 | $8,617 | $2.6M |
| Luxurious | $164,500 | $13,708 | $4.1M |
Rochester retirement context
Frequently asked questions
How much money do you need to retire in Rochester?
For a comfortable retirement in Rochester, plan on roughly $48,880/year ($4,073/month). That requires a nest egg of about $1.2M using the 4% safe withdrawal rule. A modest lifestyle costs ~$30,080/year, while a premium lifestyle runs ~$70,500/year.
Is Rochester a good place to retire?
Rochester has a cost of living close to the US average (index 94). Retirement budgets here are fairly typical — neither a bargain nor a budget-buster.
How is the retirement cost calculated for Rochester?
Each tier starts from a US national baseline and is scaled by Rochester's cost-of-living index (94 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