How Much to Retire in St. George, UT (2026)
Cost-of-living index 96 (US avg = 100). Comfortable retirement costs ~$49,920/yr · Nest egg target ~$1.2M.
Retirement spending tiers
National baselines adjusted for St. George's COL index (96 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 | $845 | $1,373 | $1,980 | $2,904 | $4,620 |
| Food | $384 | $624 | $900 | $1,320 | $2,100 |
| Healthcare | $358 | $582 | $840 | $1,232 | $1,960 |
| Transport | $307 | $499 | $720 | $1,056 | $1,680 |
| Leisure | $358 | $582 | $840 | $1,232 | $1,960 |
| Misc | $307 | $499 | $720 | $1,056 | $1,680 |
| Total / month | $2,560 | $4,160 | $6,000 | $8,800 | $14,000 |
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 | $30,720 | $2,560 | $768K |
| Comfortable | $49,920 | $4,160 | $1.2M |
| Premium | $72,000 | $6,000 | $1.8M |
| Affluent | $105,600 | $8,800 | $2.6M |
| Luxurious | $168,000 | $14,000 | $4.2M |
St. George retirement context
Frequently asked questions
How much money do you need to retire in St. George?
For a comfortable retirement in St. George, plan on roughly $49,920/year ($4,160/month). That requires a nest egg of about $1.2M using the 4% safe withdrawal rule. A modest lifestyle costs ~$30,720/year, while a premium lifestyle runs ~$72,000/year.
Is St. George a good place to retire?
St. George has a cost of living close to the US average (index 96). Retirement budgets here are fairly typical — neither a bargain nor a budget-buster.
How is the retirement cost calculated for St. George?
Each tier starts from a US national baseline and is scaled by St. George's cost-of-living index (96 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