Retirement Details
How Much Do You Need to Retire in San Diego?
Retirement savings targets depend heavily on where you plan to live. San Diego's cost of living directly affects how large your nest egg needs to be. The 25x rule (save 25 times your annual expenses) is a useful starting point — but your San Diego-specific expenses should drive that multiplier.
2025 Contribution Limits
- 401(k): $23,500 (under 50) / $31,000 (50+) including catch-up contributions
- IRA (Traditional or Roth): $7,000 (under 50) / $8,000 (50+)
- SEP IRA (self-employed): Up to $69,000 or 25% of compensation
Employer Matching in San Diego
Always contribute enough to capture your full employer match — it's an immediate 50–100% return on that money. San Diego-area employers across finance, tech, and healthcare sectors often offer 3–6% matching contributions. Check your plan documents and enter your actual match above.
The 4% Safe Withdrawal Rule
The calculator uses the 4% rule: you can withdraw 4% of your nest egg annually without running out of money over a 30-year retirement. For a $1.5M nest egg, that's $60,000/year or $5,000/month in San Diego. Adjust your target income above to see how much you need saved.
Social Security as a San Diego Supplement
This calculator shows investment savings only — it does not include Social Security. The average Social Security benefit in 2025 is approximately $1,907/month. Add that to your projected monthly income above to get a more complete retirement picture for your San Diego household.