Retiring comfortably in Sydney costs ~$58,000/year — nearly 40% more than regional Queensland. See the full city-by-city breakdown.
3.5% = conservative / 4% = standard / 5% = aggressive
| City | Comfortable/yr | Modest/yr | Super Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $58,000 | $32,000 | $1,450,000 |
| Melbourne | $52,000 | $29,000 | $1,300,000 |
| Brisbane | $48,000 | $27,000 | $1,200,000 |
| Perth | $50,000 | $28,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Adelaide | $44,000 | $25,000 | $1,100,000 |
| Hobart | $45,000 | $26,000 | $1,125,000 |
| Darwin | $52,000 | $30,000 | $1,300,000 |
| Canberra | $54,000 | $31,000 | $1,350,000 |
| Regional NSW | $40,000 | $23,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Regional VIC | $39,000 | $22,000 | $975,000 |
| Regional QLD | $38,000 | $21,000 | $950,000 |
Sources: ASFA Retirement Standard, ABS Cost of Living. Assumes homeowner (no rent/mortgage). Age Pension: $28,514/yr single (2026). "With Pension" = self-funded portion only.
A comfortable retirement in Sydney costs $58,000/year vs $38,000 in regional Queensland — a 53% difference. Over a 25-year retirement, that's an extra $500,000 in required savings. For many Australians, moving to a lower-cost city (or a sea-change to the regions) is the single most impactful retirement planning decision.
The Age Pension at 67 dramatically reduces the self-funded requirement. In Adelaide, where a comfortable retirement costs $44,000/year, the pension covers $28,514 — leaving only $15,486/year to self-fund. At a 4% withdrawal rate, you only need $387,150 in self-funded retirement savings, far below the ASFA comfortable standard.
Comfortable standard: essentials + good car + private health insurance + regular leisure activities + occasional international travel. Assumes owning your home. Does not include rent/mortgage — add $15,000-$30,000/year if renting. Modest standard: basics + limited recreation + public transport + no overseas travel.
Tell Felix your target city and it will calculate exactly how much super you need — and how to close the gap from where you are today.
Retiring comfortably in Sydney requires approximately $58,000/year in living expenses. At a 4% withdrawal rate, you need a retirement portfolio of ~$1,450,000. If eligible for the full Age Pension ($28,514/year for singles from age 67), the required self-funded amount drops to ~$737,000.
Regional Australia is the most affordable option at ~$38,000/year for a comfortable retirement (requiring ~$950,000 in super at 4% withdrawal). Among capital cities, Adelaide ($44,000/year, ~$1.1M needed) and Hobart ($45,000/year, ~$1.125M) are the most affordable.
These figures assume you own your home outright (no rent/mortgage), which is the standard ASFA assumption. If you're renting in retirement, add $15,000-$30,000/year depending on the city — significantly increasing both the annual cost and total required balance.
The Age Pension provides ~$28,514/year (single) or ~$42,988/year (couple) from age 67, subject to assets and income tests. If your total assets (excluding the family home) are below the threshold ($301,750 for homeowners), you receive the full pension. This can reduce the self-funded portion by 40-60%.