Retirement in Washington Costs Nearly $1 Million, Study Finds

According to a study conducted by NetCredit, Washington state is the 5th most expensive place to retire in the United States as of November 2025. The study factors in average retirement age, life expectancy, local costs, and a 20% buffer, estimating the total cost of retiring in Washington at $967,166.

The most expensive state for retirement is Hawaii, with an estimated cost of $1,097,790, followed by Massachusetts ($1,059,811), California ($1,053,814), and New York ($1,011,425). In contrast, the least expensive state for retirement is West Virginia, with a cost of $712,921.

Globally, the U.S. ranks as the 5th most expensive country to retire in, with an average cost of $737,997. The most expensive country is Singapore at $1,146,232, while the least expensive are Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

One retiree, Albert Greenwood, shared his experience of retiring to Nepal from New York, stating, "We live nicely in a way that I would have to have much more to live like this in the U.S. But I know not everybody has success with these moves. If you have a big family, you miss them, and maybe that's going to be a problem."

To help people save for retirement, the study recommends setting savings goals, determining total assets and future earnings, automating savings, utilizing employer-sponsored retirement plans, and visualizing the desired retirement lifestyle.