Retirement in Cambridge
Work out if you're on track - we'll help you understand where you stand
Cambridge offers a 8% above average cost of living compared to the UK average. With average house prices at £471,532 and annual living costs of £41,040, here's what you need to know about retiring comfortably in Cambridge.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to retire in Cambridge?
It depends on your annual living costs. The standard method: take what you'll spend each year in retirement, subtract your State Pension, and multiply the gap by 25. The calculator on this page does this using Cambridge's average living costs, and you can adjust the figures to match your own lifestyle.
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule says you can withdraw 4% of your retirement pot in your first year of retirement, adjusting for inflation each year after, with a low historical risk of running out over 30 years. It's the basis of the 25× multiplier: a pot of 25 times your annual spending gap supports a 4% withdrawal rate.
Does the State Pension count towards my retirement number?
Yes, and it makes a big difference. The full new State Pension is £12,548 per year (2026/27), paid from age 67. You only need your savings and pensions to cover the gap between your annual living costs and that amount, which is why the calculation subtracts it before applying the 25× multiplier.
How much do I need to retire early, before the State Pension starts?
Retiring before 67 means your pot has to cover your full living costs for the bridge years until the State Pension begins, with nothing subtracted. Each bridge year adds roughly one year of full living costs to your target, so retiring at 60 in Cambridge needs a meaningfully bigger pot than retiring at 67.
About Retirement Planning in Cambridge
Cambridge has an average house price of £471,532, which is 60% higher than the UK average of £295,000 (ONS UK House Price Index, March 2026).
Annual living costs in Cambridge are estimated at £41,040, above the UK average of £38,000, reflecting the local cost of living in East of England.
The local property market offers a range of options for retirees, from flats to family homes, at prices reflecting local demand and supply.
Data sources: ONS UK House Price Index, ONS Family Spending Survey, Land Registry.
Your Cambridge Retirement Number
per year
£12,548
£12,548/yr at age 67
£28,492
Annual costs − State Pension
£712,300
25× gap (4% rule)
This does not include your primary residence
Based on 4% withdrawal rate · Assuming retirement at state pension age · Cambridge cost of living data · UK State Pension 2026/27
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Explore Other Locations in East Of England
| Location | Region | Avg House Price | Living Costs | Avg retirement number @ 4% SWR | Avg total net worth required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How much do you need to retire in Babergh | East Of England | £329,156 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,041,456 |
| How much do you need to retire in Basildon | East Of England | £355,621 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,067,921 |
| How much do you need to retire in Bedford | East Of England | £330,076 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,042,376 |
| How much do you need to retire in Braintree | East Of England | £321,337 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,033,637 |
| How much do you need to retire in Breckland | East Of England | £269,164 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £981,464 |
| How much do you need to retire in Brentwood | East Of England | £523,441 | £34,580 | £550,800 | £1,074,241 |
| How much do you need to retire in Broadland | East Of England | £314,366 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,026,666 |
| How much do you need to retire in Broxbourne | East Of England | £416,886 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,129,186 |
| How much do you need to retire in Castle Point | East Of England | £367,482 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,079,782 |
| How much do you need to retire in Central Bedfordshire | East Of England | £357,709 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,070,009 |
| How much do you need to retire in Chelmsford | East Of England | £375,996 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,088,296 |
| How much do you need to retire in Colchester | East Of England | £300,327 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,012,627 |
| How much do you need to retire in Dacorum | East Of England | £461,072 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,173,372 |
| How much do you need to retire in East Cambridgeshire | East Of England | £341,007 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,053,307 |
| How much do you need to retire in East Hertfordshire | East Of England | £456,251 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,168,551 |
| How much do you need to retire in East Suffolk | East Of England | £284,973 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £997,273 |
| How much do you need to retire in Epping Forest | East Of England | £520,502 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,232,802 |
| How much do you need to retire in Fenland | East Of England | £229,709 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £942,009 |
| How much do you need to retire in Great Yarmouth | East Of England | £208,098 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £920,398 |
| How much do you need to retire in Harlow | East Of England | £316,293 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,028,593 |
| How much do you need to retire in Hertsmere | East Of England | £564,363 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,276,663 |
| How much do you need to retire in Huntingdonshire | East Of England | £308,663 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,020,963 |
| How much do you need to retire in Ipswich | East Of England | £213,736 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £926,036 |
| How much do you need to retire in King's Lynn and West Norfolk | East Of England | £265,887 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £978,187 |
| How much do you need to retire in Luton | East Of England | £278,032 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £990,332 |
| How much do you need to retire in Maldon | East Of England | £387,071 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,099,371 |
| How much do you need to retire in Mid Suffolk | East Of England | £319,488 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,031,788 |
| How much do you need to retire in North Hertfordshire | East Of England | £415,597 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,127,897 |
| How much do you need to retire in North Norfolk | East Of England | £292,749 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,005,049 |
| How much do you need to retire in Norwich | East Of England | £225,521 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £937,821 |
| How much do you need to retire in Peterborough | East Of England | £240,475 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £952,775 |
| How much do you need to retire in Rochford | East Of England | £409,437 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,121,737 |
| How much do you need to retire in South Cambridgeshire | East Of England | £430,145 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,142,445 |
| How much do you need to retire in South Norfolk | East Of England | £312,006 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,024,306 |
| How much do you need to retire in Southend-on-Sea | East Of England | £328,502 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,040,802 |
| How much do you need to retire in St Albans | East Of England | £633,319 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,345,619 |
| How much do you need to retire in Stevenage | East Of England | £312,898 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,025,198 |
| How much do you need to retire in Tendring | East Of England | £258,096 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £970,396 |
| How much do you need to retire in Three Rivers | East Of England | £594,115 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,306,415 |
| How much do you need to retire in Thurrock | East Of England | £326,531 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,038,831 |
| How much do you need to retire in Uttlesford | East Of England | £466,865 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,179,165 |
| How much do you need to retire in Watford | East Of England | £381,977 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,094,277 |
| How much do you need to retire in Welwyn Hatfield | East Of England | £457,823 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,170,123 |
| How much do you need to retire in West Suffolk | East Of England | £297,406 | £41,040 | £712,300 | £1,009,706 |