The latest Retirement Standard report from the Association of Super Funds Australia has found that retirees are spending more than ever on digital connectivity, which now costs couples $58 per week at the comfortable level and $45 at the modest level.
Mary Delahunty, chief executive, said the latest quarterly report reveals that the stereotype of the “digitally challenged” senior is outdated and the connectivity of retirees is being reflected in their household budgets.
“Someone retiring in 2025 likely had their first mobile in their 30s, a Hotmail account in their early 40s, a BlackBerry device in their 40s, and their first iPhone in their early 50s. They were using digital tech before their children,” Delahunty said.
“The Retirement Standard now fully reflects that retirees expect the same quality of digital connectivity they enjoyed in their working lives.”
According to the most recent retirement report, couples aged around 65 now need $75,319 per year to achieve a comfortable retirement, with $53,289 required for singles.
Additionally, it found that beyond digital costs, there are heightened price pressures on some essential goods and services, with the latest quarter bringing above-inflation increases in private health insurance, electricity, and fresh food.
Private health insurance jumped 3.7 per cent, the largest quarterly increase since 2018. Electricity prices rose 8.1 per cent after a 16.3 per cent increase in the previous quarter. Fruit and vegetables rose 4.3 per cent. Fuel prices provided some relief, falling 3.4 per cent due to lower global oil prices.
“We continue to see steep cost-of-living increases for retirees. Superannuation matters more than ever in delivering the dignified retirement Australians deserve,” Delahunty said.
“While cost of living increases can make the future feel uncertain, the good news is that superannuation is working well for more Australians every year and leading to greater financial independence in retirement than we have ever seen before.”
Furthermore, Delahunty said voluntary contributions to super, with their significant tax benefits, can also make a significant difference to those wanting to feel more certain about the future.
“Contributing extra to super can help some people ensure they won’t have to downgrade the lifestyle they’ve become accustomed to when they retire, whether that’s having a new iPhone and access to streaming, or the other pleasures of modern life,” she added.
The quarterly data also showed an increase in international holiday travel and accommodation prices (+4.7 per cent), due to an increase in demand for holiday travel to Europe at the start of their peak tourist season.
Insurance overall fell 0.5 per cent, the first quarterly fall since the March 2019 quarter. Lower reinsurance and claims costs have led to falls in insurance premiums across motor vehicle, house and home contents insurance.
