Are you looking for an 'average' retirement lifestyle? A million dollars is probably not enough in these cities. You may need quite a bit more.

Almost 40% of the 384 U.S. metropolitan areas now require retirees to spend more than $1 million on an average lifestyle.

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The average nest egg needed by retirees nationwide is $1.07 million. According to a LendingTree study, a San Francisco retiree would need nearly $1.37 million in retirement income. The United States has the highest rate of suicide in the world.

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Based on retiree spending and median annual earnings between the ages of 55 and 64, the LendingTree study calculates how much retirees need to retire in each U.S. metro area.

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New York ($1,315,587), San Diego ($1,298,796), Honolulu ($1,288,763) and San Jose, Calif. ($1,276,997) round out the five places where you'll need the biggest nest egg to retire ($1,276,997)).

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A single metro area, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, offers affordable retirement living for less than $800,000. Nearly $779,765 is the metro's figure in Pennsylvania. In terms of dollars, Cumberland, Maryland ($802,988) and Danville, Illinois ($804,301) come in second and third, respectively.

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Jacob Channel, senior economist at LendingTree, says the cost of living in a metro area is determined by a number of factors, including how many people live there, the number and type of homes available, the zoning and building laws, and the type of industries.

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Often, strict development regulations and scarce land are responsible for high housing costs in San Francisco. Due to high demand in a city with limited supply, there is a shortage of supply. Lending Tree found San Francisco and San Jose are expensive places to live and retire because they're close to Silicon Valley, whose high salaries play a role in driving up prices.

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“All metros are unique and will have their own quirks that can make them more expensive or less expensive,” says Channel. "This applies to metro areas in the same state or with ostensible similarities. Research an area thoroughly before packing up and moving if you are considering retiring there. Taking a chance on living in an area should not be determined by preconceived notions or vague ideas about it."

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The largest nest egg is needed to retire in San Francisco, San Diego, and San Jose, but other California metro areas aren't too far behind. There are 12 metro areas in California that are in the top 20. Sixth in the list is Los Angeles, where an average standard of living requires a nest egg of $1,273,643. 

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There are a lot of people who find California to be a very attractive state, Channel says. Climate-wise, the state has an agreeable climate, there is a lot of variety in terms of geography (from beaches to mountain ranges), and there are many stable (and high-paying) careers to choose from. There are many people who want to live in California because it is so appealing. It means that housing is scarcer and the cost of living is higher because there are fewer resources available. Retirement can be well worth the higher cost of living for many retirees, even if it means increasing savings."

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In addition to New York, Hawaii, Florida, Colorado, Washington, and the District of Columbia, other metro areas that make the top 20 list include New York, Hawaii, Florida, Colorado, and Washington. A retirement nest egg of $1,243,532 is likely required in Denver, the only metro area primarily in a landlocked state.

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It's true that having a high-paying job and not having much debt will make saving easier, but many people don't have these two things." Channel said. Even if you work hard, there is no guarantee that you will ever accumulate a $1 million nest egg. However, a million dollars aren't necessary to enjoy a happy retirement. Saving what you can, and planning a lifestyle around the money you currently have, is what matters most..”

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