An under-appreciated point that extends far beyond the financial is that Americans have an anomalously high amount of optionality in life.
More than enough. The vast majority retire on less and have comfortable retirements.
Despite the narrative, Social Security pays out quite a lot and isn’t going insolvent any time soon. The average payout ($1,900) is more than double that of Canada ($850).
A retired couple would have almost $4000/month in monthly income.
Add on top a paid off home, Medicare eligibility, and Social Security, most people retire with a few hundred thousand, which is very comfortable in most of the US.
Nursing home care runs $8k/mo or more per person. And low-end ones can be sketchy... you hear horror stories.
That $4k/mo won't be enough as you head into your 80s or 90s. Also consider inflation over 3 or 4 decades.
What I’ve noticed is what Americans consider “bare minimum” is pretty luxurious.
“I’m not even middle class” means buying a single family home in the most expensive coastal cities, multiple international (Mexico and Canada don’t count) per year, a couple SUVs less than 5 years old, lots of toys, plus $5M when they retire at 55.
Of course most people can’t afford that. That’s upper class in the US.
Social Security has COLA (Cost of Living Adjustments). It tracks with inflation over time.
Practically what probably matters is "how many years do you have to work to take care of your basic needs after you retire, and how does this change if you (a) have medical problems (b) want kids (c) [add your other variants of ordinary life choices people should be able to make]"