Can I Retire With $500K? How Long It Lasts

How long $500,000 lasts

Withdrawing a fixed amount at the start of each year, with a steady return after inflation:

Withdrawal a year	0% real	3% real	4% real
$20,000	25.0 years	44.1 years	83.1 years
$25,000	20.0 years	29.6 years	37.4 years
$30,000	16.7 years	22.5 years	26.1 years
$40,000	12.5 years	15.3 years	16.7 years
$50,000	10.0 years	11.6 years	12.4 years

Social Security lowers what the savings have to pay once it starts. Retiring at 60 on $45,000 a year, with $24,000 of benefits from 67 and a 3% real return:

Scenario	Savings last
No Social Security	13.2 years
$24,000 a year from 67	22.1 years
$24,000 a year from 62, reduced to $16,800	22.3 years

The $24,000 is an example; your own figure is on your statement at ssa.gov. Claiming at 62 gives 70% of the full benefit for anyone born in 1960 or later.

By retirement age

Retire at	Length to plan for	Morningstar rate	First-year withdrawal
55	40 years	3.3%	$16,500
60	35 years	3.5%	$17,500
65	30 years	3.9%	$19,500

These figures are illustrations worked out from stated assumptions, not forecasts. Real returns vary from year to year, and taxes, fees and the order of good and bad years change the outcome. See the disclaimer.

Questions people ask

Can I retire at 60 with 500k?

It depends on spending and Social Security. $500,000 at Morningstar's 35-year rate of 3.5% supports $17,500 in the first year; with $24,000 of Social Security from 67, savings of $500,000 can pay $45,000 a year for 22.1 years at a steady 3% after inflation.

Can I retire on 500k plus Social Security?

Many people do, with modest spending. At 65, $500,000 at 3.9% adds $19,500 a year to your benefit, rising with inflation, for a 30-year retirement.

Can I retire with 500k at 55?

A retirement from 55 may last 40 years and Social Security is at least 7 years away. At 3.3%, $500,000 supports $16,500 in the first year, so spending would have to be low or partly covered by work. Retiring at 55 has the full math.

Run your numbers

The how long will my money last calculator tests your withdrawal with a bad start; how long $1 million lasts has the same table for larger portfolios.

Sources

Amy C. Arnott, "How Much Can You Safely Withdraw If You Retire Early?", Morningstar, September 15, 2026 (data as of September 30, 2025).
Social Security Administration, Office of the Chief Actuary, Early or Late Retirement?
Social Security Administration, Retirement benefits if you were born in 1960 or later.

Keep reading

Sequence of returns risk, explained
Same average return, different order: why a bad start does more damage, with the numbers and ways to manage it.
Safe withdrawal rate by retirement length
Starting withdrawal rates for 30 to 50-year retirements, what they assume and what they mean for your portfolio.
How much do you need to invest to make $1,000 a month?
The amount invested for $500 to $10,000 a month, from dividends, interest or a withdrawal rate, and why the answers differ.
How much do I need to retire at 60?
The portfolio for a 35-year retirement by spending level, with Social Security from 62 or 67.
How much Social Security will I get if I make $X a year?
Monthly benefits at 62, 67 and 70 for salaries from $25,000 to $200,000, with the SSA's own formula.

Last reviewed by Asier Fernández, editor, on October 18, 2026. Educational information only, not financial advice. How we calculate

Can I retire with $500K?