Washington 5th most expensive state to retire in, study shows

Nov 17, 2025, 3:01 PM

Vicki Phillips (L) and her friend Wendy Priest take advantage of senior shopping hours at a Safeway grocery store early in the morning on March 19, 2020 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Photo: Karen Ducey, Getty Images)

(Photo: Karen Ducey, Getty Images)

BY JULIA DALLAS

MyNorthwest Content Editor

Looking to retire in Washington? It won’t come cheap.

A study by NetCredit revealed Washington is the fifth most expensive state to retire in.

It costs more than $950,000 to retire in Washington

Factoring in average retirement age, life expectancy, local costs, and 20% for breathing room — the cost to retire in Washington is $967,166.

The most expensive state to retire in was Hawaii, at $1,097,790, followed by Massachusetts at $1,059,811, California at $1,053,814, and New York at $1,011,425.

Meanwhile, the state with the lowest cost was West Virginia, at $712,921. Other states with low costs include Arkansas at $715,126, South Dakota at $724,669, North Dakota at $725,851, and Kentucky at $737,264.

Most and least expensive countries to retire in

Looking worldwide, the U.S. is the fifth most expensive country to retire in, at an average of $737,997. The most expensive country is Singapore at $1,146,232, followed by Iceland at $892,906, Switzerland at $858,950, and Luxembourg at $794,045.

The least expensive countries to retire in are Pakistan at $187,065, India at $188,901, Bangladesh at $189,625, and Nepal at $214,396.

“We live nicely in a way that I would have to have much more to live like this in the U.S.,” Albert Greenwood, who retired to Nepal from New York, said, as reported in the study. “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.”

Saving for retirement

To save for retirement, NetCredit recommends setting savings goals, determining total assets and future earnings, automating savings, utilizing employer-sponsored retirement plans, and visualizing the benefits of saving for retirement.

“Seeing the life you want to live in detail can incentivize you to save more in order to live that life,” Mark Hebner, CEO of Index Fund Advisors, stated, as reported in the study.

Overall, NetCredit stressed the importance of identifying how much is needed to save for retirement and coming up with a plan to do so.

Contributing: Manda Factor, KIRO Newsradio

Follow Julia Dallas on X. Read her stories here. Submit news tips here.

Lifestyle

425 Business

Swiss Coworking Company Adds 5 New Locations to Washington Roster

Originally published on 425 Business. Switzerland-based International Workplace Group is expanding its presence in Washington with five new flexible workspaces under its Regus brand, bringing the company’s total to more than 45 locations across the state. The new branches include private offices, meeting rooms, and coworking and creative spaces for businesses ranging from startups to […]

7 hours ago

425

Everett One Step Closer to Proposed Downtown Event Center

Originally published on 425. Earlier this month, the Everett City Council approved funding to purchase four properties for the city’s proposed Outdoor Event Center, bringing it closer to securing the land needed for the envisioned project. Everett currently has purchase and sale agreements for 11 of the 17 properties required for the site. According to […]

8 hours ago

425

Health Officials Encouraging Blood Donations Amid Shortage

Originally published on 425. Washington health officials are urging eligible residents to donate blood as hospitals across the region contend with a critically low blood supply.According to the Washington State Department of Health and Bloodworks Northwest, fewer than one to two days’ worth of blood is available, raising concerns for patients in need of lifesaving […]

8 hours ago

Northwest Travel & Life

Inventive Jet Boat Tour Brings Stargazing to the Willamette Valley

Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. On a warm spring evening, still under bluebird skies, six of us piled into a vessel piloted by Scott Heesacker, owner and operator of NW Jet Boat Charter, for a trip down the Willamette River. Within a few minutes of leaving the dock outside Newberg, Oregon, we’d left […]

8 hours ago

Northwest Travel & Life

A Sweet Summer Getaway in Nanaimo, British Columbia

Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. If you’ve ever wished for a culinary trail dedicated to desserts, Nanaimo is the summer getaway for you. This coastal city on Vancouver Island is a place to enjoy the sweeter things in life while soaking up Indigenous culture and art. Start with a taste (literally) on the […]

8 hours ago

Northwest Travel & Life

Orange Is the New Pink

Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Across Washington, Oregon and Idaho, skin-contact whites are redefining spring drinking with texture, tension and just enough grip to keep things interesting. Rosé may still dominate spring patios, but across the Pacific Northwest, another hue is steadily rising in the glass. Orange wine: white grapes fermented on their […]

8 hours ago