How Much Do You Need to Retire in Scottsdale, Arizona?

There is no single number that works for every Scottsdale retiree, but many families we work with land in a range we can talk about clearly. Scottsdale's cost of living runs roughly 15-20% above the national average, and healthcare and property taxes deserve their own line in your plan. The right target is the one that funds the life you actually want, not a generic rule of thumb.

Start with the income you need, not the lump sum

We start every plan with a monthly income picture rather than a savings goal. For a couple in north Scottsdale or Paradise Valley, a comfortable retirement lifestyle often falls between $7,500 and $12,000 per month after taxes. That covers housing, healthcare, travel, vehicles, and the discretionary spending many retirees underestimate in year one.*

From there we work backward. Subtract guaranteed income — Social Security, pensions, annuity income — and the remaining gap is what your portfolio needs to produce reliably, year after year, in any market.

A reasonable starting range

• Illustrative only: a modest Scottsdale or Phoenix lifestyle might be modeled around several hundred thousand to roughly a million dollars in investable assets alongside Social Security. Your own figure will differ.
• Illustrative only: a more comfortable lifestyle with regular travel is often modeled at a higher figure again. These are illustrations, not targets or projections.
• North Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, or a paid-off second home: $2.5M+ is common.

Three local factors people miss

Healthcare before 65. If you retire early, replacing employer coverage with an ACA plan in Maricopa County can run $1,200-$2,200 per month for a couple before Medicare kicks in.

Property taxes are friendly, but HOAs are not. Arizona property taxes are modest, but Scottsdale HOA dues, club memberships, and pool/landscape maintenance add up.

Sequence-of-returns risk. A 20-25% market drop in the first few years of retirement does more long-term damage than the same drop in year 15. Protection planning typically matters more early.

What we'd suggest doing this month

Write down your real monthly spending — not a budget, the actual number. Add expected healthcare costs. Subtract Social Security and any pension. The remainder is your portfolio's job. If you'd like a second set of eyes on the math, we offer a no cost 45-minute strategy session in our Scottsdale office or by video.

*Hypothetical example and figures shown for illustrative purposes only and will vary by your specific circumstances.