Retirement Savings Calculator
Written by Thierno Sadou Diallo, formula verified per our methodology • Last checked on 9/6/2026
The estimated capital at retirement is calculated by projecting your current savings and monthly contributions with compound interest, up to your planned retirement age. Starting at 30 with €5,000 already saved and €200/month at a 5% return, the estimated capital at 65 is about €255,887.
Explanation
This calculator applies the principle of compound interest to a retirement plan: starting from your already-accumulated savings and your regular monthly contributions, it projects the growth of this capital up to the retirement age you specify, at an estimated annual rate of return. It's exactly the same calculation as our compound interest calculator, with the duration automatically derived from the difference between your current age and your planned retirement age, rather than entered directly. The rate of return to use depends heavily on the savings vehicle chosen (a regulated savings account, a euro-denominated life insurance fund, or a stock-invested retirement plan don't offer the same risk-return profile at all): this calculator doesn't recommend any particular investment, it simply projects a rate you choose. This projection assumes a constant return over the entire period, a simplification that never reflects real market behavior (which goes through ups and downs), and doesn't account for inflation, which reduces the final capital's real purchasing power. For your debt-to-income ratio before increasing your savings effort, see our debt-to-income ratio calculator.
Example: from age 30 to 65, €5,000 already saved, €200/month at 5%
Inputs
Current age: 30. Retirement age: 65. Current savings: €5,000. Monthly contribution: €200. Return: 5%/year.
Calculation
Duration = 65 − 30 = 35 years (420 months). Applying the same formula as the compound interest calculator over this duration, the estimated final capital reaches about €255,887, including €89,000 in cumulative contributions and about €166,887 in interest generated.
Result
The estimated capital at 65 is about €255,887, including €166,887 in interest.
Frequently asked questions
Does this calculator account for inflation?
No, the final capital shown is in current euros (not adjusted for inflation). With average inflation of 2% per year, for example, this capital's real purchasing power in 35 years will be significantly lower than its nominal value shown here — an important point to keep in mind for as long a horizon as a retirement plan.
Which rate of return should I choose?
This depends entirely on the savings vehicle: a regulated savings account offers a low but guaranteed return, a euro-denominated life insurance fund a moderate and secure return, a stock-invested plan a historically higher return over the long term but with a real risk of capital loss, especially in the short term. This calculator doesn't recommend any product; it only projects the rate you enter yourself.
Does this capital replace a retirement pension?
No, this calculator estimates a personal savings capital, distinct from the pay-as-you-go pension system (pensions paid by mandatory schemes). This capital can supplement a pension, but its amount and availability depend entirely on the savings product chosen (free withdrawal, annuity payout, retirement savings plan with its own withdrawal rules).