Short answer
According to the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association's 2025 Retirement Living Standards, a single person needs around £13,400 a year for a Minimum retirement lifestyle, £31,700 for Moderate, and £43,900 for Comfortable; for a two-person household the figures are around £21,600, £43,900 and £60,600. These are estimated annual spending figures, not income targets, and assume you own your home outright.
What the Retirement Living Standards are
The Retirement Living Standards are produced by the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA), based on independent research by the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University. They describe three lifestyles — Minimum, Moderate and Comfortable — based on real discussion groups with members of the public about what each level of spending actually buys.[11]
They show estimated annual expenditure, not the income you'd need before tax, and assume you own your home with no mortgage — if you rent or still have a mortgage in retirement, you'd need to add that on top.
The 2025 figures
Minimum: £13,400 a year for one person, £21,600 for a couple — covers all your needs, with some left over for fun, but no car and limited spending on holidays.
Moderate: more financial security and flexibility — for example, a car, more frequent holidays and some spontaneous spending.
Comfortable: more financial freedom and some luxuries, such as regular overseas travel.
The 2025 update noted the Minimum standard actually fell slightly, mainly due to lower energy costs, while Moderate and Comfortable rose modestly with inflation.[11]
How the State Pension fits in
Since 6 April 2026, the full new State Pension is £241.30 a week — around £12,547.60 a year for one person, or roughly £25,095 for a couple who both qualify for the full amount. That alone gets a couple close to the Minimum standard, but a single person would likely need some additional income from a workplace or personal pension, savings or part-time work to comfortably meet even the Minimum standard once other costs like Council Tax, food and energy are factored in.
Not everyone gets the full new State Pension — it depends on your National Insurance record, so check your own forecast rather than assuming the full amount.
How to check if you're on track
Get a State Pension forecast on GOV.UK to see your expected State Pension income and age.
Request statements for every workplace or personal pension you have, including old ones — small pots from previous jobs add up, and you can use the free government Pension Tracing Service to find lost ones.
Compare your likely total retirement income with the Retirement Living Standard that matches the lifestyle you want, using the PLSA's online calculator.
If you're 50 or over, Pension Wise (run by MoneyHelper) offers a free, impartial appointment to talk through your options for accessing a defined contribution pension.
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Questions
Questions people also ask
How much money do I need to retire in the UK?
It depends on the lifestyle you want. PLSA's 2025 Retirement Living Standards estimate around £13,400 a year (single) or £21,600 (couple) for a Minimum lifestyle, up to £43,900 (single) or £60,600 (couple) for Comfortable.
Is the full State Pension enough to retire on?
The full new State Pension (£241.30 a week from April 2026) gets a couple close to the Minimum Retirement Living Standard, but most people need additional income from a workplace or personal pension, especially if living alone.
What's the difference between Minimum, Moderate and Comfortable retirement?
Minimum covers your needs with little left for extras and no car. Moderate adds more flexibility, a car and regular holidays. Comfortable adds more financial freedom, including regular overseas travel.
How do I find out how much pension I actually have?
Request statements from every pension provider you've saved with, use your State Pension forecast on GOV.UK, and use the free Pension Tracing Service for any pensions you've lost track of.
Where can I get free, impartial help planning retirement income?
Pension Wise, run by MoneyHelper, offers free appointments for anyone 50 or over with a defined contribution pension. For a personal recommendation, speak to an FCA-regulated financial adviser.