CPF LIFE calculator (2026) — monthly payout estimator

Your details

Gender

Payouts differ slightly because life expectancy differs.

Your age now 40

Payout start age

Starting later means fewer payout years — so the monthly payout rises. Already 65+? The official estimator uses your exact RA; this is a guide.

Your OA today $70,000

Ordinary Account — earns 2.5%/yr

Your SA today $50,000

Special Account — earns 4%/yr

Est. monthly payout · Standard plan

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OA + SA at 55 — forms your RA

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RA when payouts start — the capital

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Plan	At start	Age 85	Age 95
Standard Level payout for life; smallest bequest, most income early.	—	—	—
Basic Pays from your RA until ~90, then from the small premium — steps down twice. Largest early bequest.	—	—	—
Escalating Starts ~20% lower, +2% every year for life. Smallest bequest.	—	—	—

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Rules verified 27 Oct 2026 · see sources & changelog

What we assumed

Standard: level payout for life. Interpolated between CPF's published 2026 reference anchors (male member): RA S$82.4k → S$490/mo, S$164.8k → S$950, S$227.9k → S$1,250, S$330.1k → S$1,780, S$445.6k → S$2,380, S$650.1k → S$3,440. Our curve passes through every anchor exactly.
Basic: only 10–20% of your RA buys the annuity premium; the rest pays you out (earning 4%) until about 90, when it switches to the premium alone and steps down. Modelled as 87% of Standard to start, stepping down to 78% from ~90.
Escalating: starts at ~77% of Standard, +2%/yr compounded for life. Overtakes Standard's monthly payout around age 78 (start 65) and is the highest of the three from then on.
Deferral uplift ≈6%/yr for starting at 66–70 (CPF's published figure is "up to 7%"; S$1,780 at 65 → S$2,380 at 70 on the FRS). Female payouts modelled ≈5% lower (longer life expectancy; CPF's published table is for a male member). All payouts tax-exempt.
We grow your RA at a flat 4%. CPF's official tables include up to 2% extra interest on the first S$60,000 — real numbers run slightly higher.
Our factors are calibrated guides, not CPF's actuarial tables. Final numbers always come from the official CPF LIFE estimator.

Frequently asked questions

How much does CPF LIFE pay per month?

It depends on your Retirement Account savings when payouts start. Turning 55 in 2026 with the Full Retirement Sum of S$220,400 translates to roughly S$1,780 per month on the Standard plan from age 65. Basic starts lower; Escalating rises about 2% every year and overtakes Standard in your late 80s.

Which CPF LIFE plan is best — Standard, Basic or Escalating?

Standard is the default and pays the most through your 60s to 80s. Escalating is the inflation hedge — it starts about 20% lower but compounds upward. Basic usually pays less than Standard over a full retirement. You can switch plans any time before payouts start, and once within the period after they start.

Can I withdraw my CPF at 55?

Yes. You can withdraw any savings above your Retirement Sum, plus an unconditional S$5,000 even if you're below it. Everything at or below the Retirement Sum stays in your account to fund CPF LIFE payouts.

Are CPF LIFE payouts taxable?

No. CPF LIFE monthly payouts are tax-exempt, like the rest of your CPF withdrawals.