Lesson 14 of 28 · Your retirement number · 5 min read · Reviewed 15 Oct 2026
Start from today’s spending, grow it with inflation to your retirement year, then fund it for every year after. At ₹1 lakh a month today, 6% inflation, retiring in 20 years and planning for 25 years, with 8% returns, you need about ₹7.8 crore.
The first year of retirement costs far more than today. ₹1 lakh a month now is about ₹3.2 lakh a month after 20 years at 6% inflation.
The corpus has to keep paying as prices keep rising, for as long as you live. Plan to at least 85 or 90.
Key idea: Count medical costs on their own. They usually rise faster than general inflation.
Try the calculator and the one-question quiz on this page to check your own numbers.
That rule comes from the US, where inflation is lower. With Indian inflation, plan for a larger multiple, or use a calculator like this one.
Lower than before, because you’ll hold more debt. This lesson uses 8% as an example.
Yes. Add what they are likely to be worth at retirement to what you already have.
For learning only, not investment advice. Designed and built by people who have worked at India’s leading wealth management firms.