Last updated 29 August 2025
More of us are saving in a workplace pension than ever before. We now have more information, more choices, and more responsibility for our retirement savings.
But will the future we want be the future we are able to get?
If you know your retirement income, enter your retirement income in the below tool to see your expected lifestyle.
Or if you want to look at how much you will spend in retirement and what that means for the income you will need, take a look at our Lifestyle Modeller.
To learn more about the data behind these figures, take a look at the Retirement Living Standards, based on independent research by Loughborough University, which has been developed to help us to picture what kind of lifestyle we could have in retirement.
The standards show you what life in retirement looks like at three different levels, and what a range of common goods and services would cost for each level.
| Minimum | Moderate | Comfortable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| One person household | £13,400 a year | £31,700 a year | £43,900 a year |
| What standard of living could you have? | Covers all your needs, with some left over for fun | More financial security and flexibility | More financial freedom and some luxuries |
|
House |
DIY £200 a year to maintain condition of your property. | £500 a year to maintain condition of your property, £300 contingency. | £600 a year to maintain condition of your property, £300 contingency. |
|
Food |
Around £55 a week on groceries, £30 a month on food out of the home, £12 per month on takeaways. | Around £56 a week on groceries, £32 a week on food out of the home, £11 a week on takeaways, £106 a month to take others out for a monthly meal. | Around £75 a week on food, £42 a week on food out of the home, £21 a week on takeaways, £106 a month to take others out for a monthly meal. |
|
Transport |
No car, free bus pass, £30 per month for two taxi trips, £180 per year to cover 3 rail journeys. | 3-year-old small car, replaced every 7 years, £22 a month on taxis, £104 per year on rail fares. | 3-year-old small car, replaced every 5 years, £22 a month on taxis, £208 per year on rail fares. |
|
Holidays & Leisure |
A week long UK holiday. TV license and broadband plus a streaming service with ads. £20 per week for activities. | A fortnight 3* all-inclusive holiday in the Med and a long weekend off peak break in the UK. TV license and broadband plus two streaming services. £43 per week for activities. | A fortnight 4* holiday in the Med with around £100 per person spending money and 3 long weekend breaks in the UK with £400 spending money per break. Extensive bundled broadband, streaming and TV entertainment subscription. £54 a week for activities. |
|
Clothing & Personal |
Up to £450 for clothing and footwear. | Up to £1,548 for clothing and footwear. | Up to £1,548 for clothing and footwear. |
|
Helping others |
£20 for each birthday and Xmas present. | £30 for each birthday and Xmas present, £200 a year charity donation, £1,000 for supporting family members e.g. paying for grandchildren activities. | £50 for each birthday and Xmas present, £300 per year charity donation, £1,000 family support. |
*These amounts would fund this lifestyle for people living outside London. See the detail for more information.
| Minimum | Moderate | Comfortable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two person household | £21,600 a year | £43,900 a year | £60,600 a year |
| What standard of living could you have? | Covers all your needs, with some left over for fun | More financial security and flexibility | More financial freedom and some luxuries |
|
House |
DIY £200 a year to maintain condition of your property. | £500 a year to maintain condition of your property, £300 contingency. | £600 a year to maintain condition of your property, £300 contingency. |
|
Food |
Around £109 a week on groceries, £60 a month per household on food out of the home, £24 a month per household on takeaways. | Around £103 a week on groceries, £63 a week per household on food out of the home, £21 a week per household on takeaways, £106 a month to take others out for a monthly meal. | Around £134 a week on food, £85 a week per household on food out of the home, £32 a week per household on takeaways, £105 a month to take others out for a monthly meal. |
|
Transport |
No car, free bus pass, £30 per month to cover two taxi trips, £180 per year per person to cover 3 rail fares. | 3-year-old small car, replaced every 7 years, £22 a month on taxis per household, £104 a year on rail fares per person. | 3-year-old small car, replaced every 5 years, £22 a month on taxis per household, £208 a year on rail fares per person. |
|
Holidays & Leisure |
A week long UK holiday. TV license and broadband plus a streaming service with ads. £20 a week per person for activities. | A fortnight 3* all-inclusive holiday in the Med and a long weekend off-peak break in the UK with £321 spending money. TV license and broadband plus two streaming services. £43 a week per person for activities. | A fortnight 4* half board holiday in the Med with around £100 per person per day spending money and 3 long weekend breaks in the UK with £400 spending money per break. Extensive bundled broadband, movie and TV entertainment subscription. £54 a week per person for activities. |
|
Clothing & Personal |
Up to £450 for clothing and footwear each year per person. | Up to £1,548 for clothing and footwear each year per person. | Up to £1,548 per person for clothing and footwear each year. |
|
Helping others |
Twelve gifts of £20 for birthdays and the same amount for 12 Xmas presents. | Twelve gifts of £30 for each birthday and the same amount for 12 Xmas presents, £200 per household a year for charity donations. £1,000 for supporting family members e.g. paying for grandchildren activities, treats, trips etc. | Twelve gifts of £50 for each birthday and the same amount for 12 Xmas presents, £300 per household a year for charity donations. £1,000 for supporting family members e.g. paying for grandchildren activities, treats, trips etc. |
We know the world of pensions can be a scary place. So we’re committed to supporting our Clients’ members and helping you understand your choices, helping you to make informed decisions.
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