How much does the average person need to retire in Canada?
If you were to estimate what amount you should have saved for retirement based on the Canadian average, a single person should have $800,000 and a couple should have $1.6 million. This is based on the amount lasting you roughly 25 years at $32,000 annually.
A rule of thumb is you'll need about 70% of your pre-retirement income to spend every year in retirement. The rule states that if you made $100,000 before you retired, you would need about $70,000 per year after retirement.
His final conclusion was that “a barebones but fulfilling middle-class retirement for a single person in Canada starts about $33,000 per year for a single, and $44,000 per year for couples.” Those numbers were for 65-year-old retirees who owned their own home.
A good retirement income is about 80% of your pre-retirement income before leaving the workforce. For example, if your pre-retirement income is $5,000 you should aim to have a $4,000 retirement income.
Age | Retirement Savings | Average Savings |
---|---|---|
Under 35 | $40,100 | $58,900 |
35 to 44 years old | $89,700 | $125,900 |
45 to 54 years old | $290,900 | $350,500 |
55 to 64 years old | $377,300 | $446,500 |
What is considered rich in Canada? Here's the scoop: People with more than $1 million can be considered rich in Canada, with 764,033 people or 2% of the population having between $1 and $5 million.
It is certainly possible to have a comfortable retirement in Canada with $1 million. As I said, things such as lifestyle, retirement age, and pension payments make a big difference, so it's best not to take the word of others and do your own calculations instead.
Sex | Both sexes | |
---|---|---|
Geography2 | Canada (map) | |
Average age | Total, all retirees | 63.8 |
Public sector employees4 | 61.7 | |
Private sector employees5 | 64.4 |
If you have a low living cost and can supplement your income with a part-time job or a generous pension, then retiring on $3,000 a month is certainly possible. However, if you have a high living cost or rely solely on Social Security benefits, retiring on $3,000 a month may be more difficult.
It doesn't take much to have an above-average TFSA. The average value of a tax-free savings account in 2022 is $32,234, according to estimates based on data from Canada Revenue Agency. Total contribution room alone since 2009 introduction of TFSAs amounts to $81,500.
What is a decent amount of money to retire with?
Financial planners often recommend replacing about 80% of your pre-retirement income to sustain the same lifestyle after you retire. This means that, if you earn $100,000 per year, you'd aim for at least $80,000 of income (in today's dollars) in retirement.
By age 40, you should have accumulated three times your current income for retirement. By retirement age, it should be 10-12 times your income at that time to be reasonably confident that you'll have enough funds. Seamless Transition: enough to replace 60%-100% of your pre-retirement annual income.

Year | Median retirement account savings |
---|---|
2010 | $51,843 |
2013 | $64,792 |
2016 | $63,814 |
2019 | $65,000 |
With some planning, you can retire at 60 with $500k. Keep in mind, however, that your lifestyle will significantly affect how long your savings will last. If you're content to live modestly and don't plan on significant life changes (like travel or starting a business), you can make your $500k last much longer.
It is certainly possible to have a comfortable retirement in Canada with $1 million. As I said, things such as lifestyle, retirement age, and pension payments make a big difference, so it's best not to take the word of others and do your own calculations instead.
Between 10-16% of American households have $1 million or more in retirement savings. If you define savings more broadly to include a household's net worth, the number rises closer to 20%, whereas if you limit it to individuals with $1 million+ in retirement accounts, the rate drops to 10%.
You can retire on one million dollars. Annuities can provide a guaranteed income for both spouses' lifetimes.
So, can you retire at 60 with $1 million, and what would that look like? It's certainly possible to retire comfortably in this scenario. That said, it's wise to review your spending needs, taxes, health care, and other factors as you prepare for your retirement years.
Make a budget and use the Canadian Retirement Income Calculator to see how much you could receive from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), and other retirement benefits. In 2022, the average CPP monthly amount is $702.77 with the maximum set at $1,253.59.
Yes, for some people, $2 million should be more than enough to retire. For others, $2 million may not even scratch the surface. The answer depends on your personal situation and there are lot of challenges you'll face. As of 2022, it seems the number of obstacles to a successful retirement continues to grow.