The American Dream Now Costs $4.4 Million - Page 7

The American Dream Now Costs $4.4 Million

The American Dream now costs an estimated $4.4 million over a lifetime, covering milestones like marriage, raising children, homeownership, new cars, retirement savings, and vacations. This figure exceeds the lifetime earnings of most individuals but aligns with potential dual-income household earnings. On average, U.S. households with two earners holding Bachelor’s degrees earn $5.6 million over their careers. However, the $4.4 million estimate doesn’t include essential living costs like food, healthcare, and insurance. Structural issues like the racial wealth gap, gender wage gap, and rising living costs make achieving the American Dream challenging for many. The concept of the American Dream varies, and this analysis reflects only some associated costs. Take a look below on how investopedia broke down on how The American Dream Now Costs $4.4 Million. RELATED | How Lafayette Woman Turned Lampshade Hobby Into a Business

1. Retirement – $1,599,995

Start saving for retirement during your first job after college and to continue saving from the ages of 22 to 65, and to have approximately $1.6 million in retirement savings to withdraw 4% each year.

2. Owning a new car – $811,440

The total cost of making monthly payments on two brand-new cars owned between the ages of 29 and 75 equals about $811,440. For our report, we chose a window for new car ownership beginning at 29 and ending at age 75, as less than 10% of the total driving population is 75 or older. We chose monthly payments on new cars to reflect the dream of always being behind the wheel of a new car, even if it is being financed.

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3. Wedding – $44,300

The American Dream typically includes marriage, and for those who do choose to get married, the average cost comes out to $44,300, including the ring, ceremony, and reception.

4. Raising Two Kids + Their 4-Year College – $832,172

For those who choose to have children, the total cost of raising two children through the age of 17 for a middle-income, married couple is about $611,694. When adding in the cost of sending two children to a public, in-state, four-year college, the total cost of raising two children increases to a total of $832,172. 

5. Owning A Home – $929,955

Owning a home has long been one of the main aspects associated with the American Dream,  with the average age of first-time homebuyers in the U.S. currently at 35 years old. This means a 30-year mortgage would be paid off by age 65. However, the rising costs of homeownership have made it much harder for many Americans to buy a home at all, let alone pay it off.  

6. Pets – $36,626

Nearly two-thirds of Americans own a pet, including 35% who have more than one, according to Pew Research Center.13 If you’re looking to get a dog and a cat, the lifetime cost for one of each is approximately $36,626.

7. Annual Vacation – $179,109

If part of your American Dream is to take a week-long vacation every year between the ages of 22 and 85, the lifetime cost of 63 vacations comes out to $179,109.

8. Funeral – $8,453

While not typically considered part of an inheritance, we included the cost of a funeral in our calculation of the price of the American Dream to account for not leaving behind burial costs for your descendants to pay for on your behalf. The average cost of a funeral, inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars, is $8,453, according to National Funeral Directors Association data.