Retirement Calculator
Find the corpus you'll need to retire — and the monthly SIP to build it.
₹7,21,01,382
to sustain your lifestyle from age 60 to 85.
How the Retirement Calculator works
Reviewed by Dinesh Babu · Last updated July 2026
This calculator estimates the retirement corpus you will need so your savings can fund your lifestyle after you stop working, accounting for inflation both before and during retirement, and then tells you the monthly SIP required to build it.
It inflates today's expenses to your retirement date, then works out a corpus large enough to pay those rising expenses through your expected lifespan while the remaining corpus keeps earning returns. This two-stage inflation adjustment is what separates a realistic plan from a dangerously low estimate.
Every figure here rests on assumptions about returns, inflation, and lifespan, none of which are guaranteed. Treat the output as a well-reasoned target to revisit regularly, and consider professional advice for a decision this important.
The two steps behind the number
1) Future expenses = today's expenses × (1 + inflation)^years-to-retire 2) Corpus must fund those rising expenses across retirement
A common shortcut is to target 25 to 30 times your annual expenses at retirement.
Why inflation dominates retirement planning
Over a 25 to 30 year working life, and then another two to three decades in retirement, even moderate inflation multiplies your expenses several times over. A plan that ignores it can understate the required corpus by more than half.
It is also why your corpus must stay partly invested during retirement. Money sitting idle steadily loses purchasing power precisely when you can least afford it to.
The 4% rule as a rough guide
A widely quoted rule of thumb suggests withdrawing about 4 percent of your corpus in the first year of retirement, then adjusting for inflation, as a starting point for how long money might last. It is a guideline, not a guarantee.
It was derived from specific markets and periods, so treat it cautiously in the Indian context. Longer lifespans, higher inflation, or a weak run of early returns can all mean you should withdraw less.
| Phase | Typical stance | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Before retirement | More equity, higher assumed return | Long horizon can absorb market swings |
| After retirement | More conservative, lower assumed return | Protecting capital matters more than growth |
How inflation inflates the target
Monthly expenses of ₹50,000 today, growing at 6 percent inflation, become about ₹2.15 lakh a month in 25 years. Planning around today's ₹50,000 would leave you drastically short, which is why the inflation step matters most.
Sizing the corpus
If your expenses at retirement work out to about ₹31 lakh a year, a 25-times rule points to a corpus of roughly ₹7.7 crore, and 30 times to about ₹9.3 crore. The range reflects how conservative you want to be about lifespan and market returns.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Planning around today's expenses instead of their inflated future value, the single biggest error.
- Assuming you will spend far less in retirement, when healthcare costs often rise with age.
- Underestimating lifespan and running out of money in your later years.
- Keeping the entire retirement corpus in low-return safe assets, so inflation erodes it.
- Starting to save too late, which makes the required monthly SIP unaffordably large.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to retire in India?+
It depends on your expenses, inflation, and how long you will live. This calculator personalises the figure, but a common rule of thumb is 25 to 30 times your annual expenses at the point of retirement, measured in future inflated rupees.
Why does inflation matter so much for retirement?+
Over 25 to 30 years, inflation multiplies your expenses several times over. At 6 percent, ₹50,000 of monthly expenses today becomes about ₹2.15 lakh in 25 years. Ignoring this badly underestimates the corpus you need.
What is the monthly SIP figure this shows?+
It is how much you would need to invest every month, at your assumed pre-retirement return, to build the required corpus by your retirement age. Starting earlier makes this figure dramatically smaller.
Should returns before and after retirement differ?+
Usually yes. Before retirement you can take more equity risk for a higher return; after retirement, portfolios turn more conservative to protect capital, which lowers the return. This calculator lets you set the two separately.
Is the 4% withdrawal rule safe for India?+
Treat it only as a rough starting guide, not a guarantee. It was derived from other markets and periods, and India's higher inflation and long lifespans mean a more cautious withdrawal rate may be wiser. Review your plan regularly rather than relying on any single rule.
What if I have EPF, PPF, or NPS already?+
Those are valuable building blocks toward your corpus, and you can count their expected maturity values against the target this calculator produces. Our PPF vs EPF vs NPS guide can help you decide where to direct additional retirement savings.
How often should I revisit my retirement plan?+
At least once a year, and whenever your income, expenses, or goals change materially. Because the plan rests on long-term assumptions about returns and inflation, regular reviews keep it on track and let you adjust the SIP early rather than scrambling later.