The American Dream Costs $4.4 Million 💵

What We’re Showing

This graphic shows the estimated cost of the American dream per household over the course of their lifetime, based on analysis from Investopedia.

Key Takeaways

• The cost of the American dream exceeds the average lifetime salaries of both men ($3.3 million) and women ($2.4 million) with a Bachelor's degree.
• For a 20-year retirement, it takes $1.6 million in savings, assuming a 4% annual withdrawal rate and inflation averaging 2.5% per year.
• As a core part of the American dream, owning a home has increasingly grown out of reach, with 77% of U.S. households now unable to afford a median-priced home.