Just found some interesting data on how much money to retire at 40 across different states. Turns out the answer varies wildly depending on where you want to live. The research suggests you'd need at least $2 million in most affordable states, but that number nearly doubles in expensive areas like Hawaii.

What caught my attention: Oklahoma comes in as the cheapest option at around $2.1 million for a 40-year retirement (to age 80), while Hawaii requires over $4.5 million. That's more than double just because of location. The top 10 most affordable states all cluster around the $2.2 million mark, but if you're eyeing the Northeast or West Coast, you're looking at $3+ million minimum.

The breakdown shows annual living costs ranging from about $53k in Oklahoma to nearly $114k in Hawaii. When you multiply that over decades, it really adds up. States like Maryland, New York, and California also spike the requirements significantly. So how much money to retire at 40 really depends on your lifestyle and where you want to settle.

Interesting thing they didn't factor in: Social Security benefits or inflation adjustments. So these numbers might be conservative estimates if you're counting on either of those. Still gives a solid baseline for what early retirement actually costs in different parts of the country.