What do you want your pension to pay for?
The Retirement Living Standards have been designed by the Pensions UK to help you picture what kind of lifestyle is possible in retirement. The aim is to help you think in a practical way about the kind of lifestyle you want and to help you plan for the future.
For many people, your private and state pensions could go a long way towards these costs. The full State Pension for 2025/26 is £230.25 per week, or £11,973 per year. Remember, you may need to add other costs depending on your circumstances, such as rent, mortgage and social care costs as the Standards assume you will be mortgage and rent free by retirement.
The Standards show what life in retirement looks like at three different levels of income; minimum, moderate and comfortable, and whether you are a one person or two person household. The categories below show what life in retirement could look like at each of the different levels.
| Income level | One person household | Two person household | Standard of living |
| Minimum | £13,400 | £21,600 | Covers all your needs, with some left over for fun. |
| Moderate | £31,700 | £43,900 | More financial security and flexibility. |
| Comfortable | £43,900 | £60,600 | More financial freedom and some luxuries. |
These examples show what this may mean for a two person household at each of the different levels of income.
Holidays
- At minimum level you could have a weeks holiday in the UK every year.
- At moderate level you could have two weeks in Europe in a 3* all inclusive resort and a long weekend in the UK every year.
- At comfortable level you could have two weeks in Europe in a 4* resort and three long weekend breaks in the UK every year.
Food and drink
- At minimum level you could spend around £556 a month on food including eating out and takeaways.
- At moderate level you could spend around £916 a month on food including eating out and takeaways.
- At comfortable level you could spend £1,192 a month on food including eating out and takeaways.
Transport
- At minimum level you would have no car.
- At moderate level you could have a three year old car, replaced every seven years.
- At comfortable level you could have a three year old car, replaced every five years.
Helpful links
Pension scam - FCA
find out how pension scams work, how to avoid them and what to do if you suspect a scam
Money Helper
previously The Pension Advisory service
Guides about retirement
Tax relief on pensions
previously the Money Advice Service
How tax relief works
The basic State Pension
An overview of the basic State Pension
Plan for retirement
A step by step guide to planning your retirement income
Occupational pensions
Government guidance on workplace pensions
Pensions advice
Find the right expert to give you unbiased advice if you need it
Pensions UK
The Retirement Living Standards help to picture what kind of lifestyle you could have in retirement
Local Government Pension Scheme
GMPF is one of 86 local pension funds which administers the LGPS.