Retiring at 62 in coastal San Diego demands $3.6M to $4M in assets plus a paid-off home, with annual income needs of $150K-$160K.
Retiring at 62 along San Diego’s coast requires $3.6 million to $4 million in invested assets, alongside a fully owned home, to sustain a 30-year retirement. Annual gross income needs range from $150,000 to $160,000, driven by elevated living costs and housing premiums.
California’s cost of living exceeds the national average by 10.72%, with coastal San Diego further outpacing state benchmarks. The Bureau of Economic Analysis reports California’s real per capita income at $78,015, compared to a nominal $86,378, highlighting a purchasing-power gap. Home prices in the region trade at a steep premium to the national Case-Shiller index of 329.9.
Strategies like delaying Social Security claims until 70 and maintaining a 3.3% withdrawal rate are critical to longevity. Traditional IRA withdrawals between 62 and 65 can cost couples $50,000 to $80,000 in lost ACA subsidies and additional state taxes versus Roth or taxable drawdowns.