A life insurance cost calculator

Life insurance premiums can cost anywhere between $80 and $1K a month, depending on the policy

A life insurance premium is essentially the monthly cost or fee someone pays to an insurance company in exchange for a specified sum of money after their death to their beneficiaries. Factors like term length, health and lifestyle, and any added benefits can impact your premium.

Term life insurance costs about $80 per month

Permanent life insurance, on the other hand, can run you anywhere between $540 and $700 a month. However, the average monthly cost can vary depending on your age, sex, and policy type.

The two main types of life insurance are term and permanent

The biggest difference between the two is how long they cover the life of the insured person and how much they cost. This guide can help you learn more about term and permanent life insurance, plus their different variations, to choose the right policy for you.

Life insurance can can cover funeral expenses, loss of income, and more

Life insurance can act as a financial safety net if your main financial provider dies. Among other things, it can cover any debts that were left behind. In this video, a Yahoo Finance contributor dives into why life insurance could be the key financial protection your family needs.

Permanent life insurance policies can sometimes help you cover expenses, access cash, and more

If you’re planning on purchasing permanent life insurance, your policy will come with a cash value (which acts like a savings account). To make the most of this account, you could pay your life insurance premium, apply it towards a loan, or put it towards long-term or terminal care.

Final life insurance is most common for people over the age of 50

Final expense life insurance is a type of life insurance where, instead of paying a sum of money to your beneficiaries after death, the insurance covers the expenses for your funeral, burial, and any end-of-life care.

If you decide to buy term life insurance, coverage will eventually expire

If you decide to buy term life insurance, you’ll no longer have coverage once the agreed-upon timeframe is over. You can always plan ahead to pay off major expenses before your coverage ends, but if this doesn’t happen, you may need to renew or replace your policy.

Life insurance offers peace of mind, ensuring that loved ones are financially supported after one's passing

People typically apply for life insurance policies through specific companies or online marketplaces. This video offers more information that's important to know when considering buying life insurance.

Most life insurance policies cover death by natural causes or accidents

However, some other causes aren’t always covered. Suicide in the first two years of coverage, high-risk activities or jobs, and war or terrorism aren’t typically covered by life insurance, for instance. However, some added benefits (or “riders”) can account for some of these situations.

People can customize their life insurance policies by adding on extra benefits

While most life insurance policies have similar coverage, adding on these extra benefits (called riders) can help make these policies more bespoke. Some common added benefits include coverage for your children, a high-risk lifestyle, or a critical or terminal illness.

Whole and universal life insurance are two types of permanent life insurance

While they both stick with you for your whole life, they vary when it comes to added benefits, overall cost, and changes you can make to an active policy. The biggest difference between the two is that universal insurance lets you make changes to an active policy, whereas whole insurance is fixed.

A 'death benefit' can replace lost income, pay for a funeral, or leave a legacy

Those beneficiaries are usually family members. In exchange, the policyholder pays a monthly fee for coverage. It’s normally used to cover the life of a financial provider.

Life insurance policies are often recommended for people with financial dependents

If you’re a parent, spouse, business owner, homeowner, or if you hold a lot of debt, you might want to consider life insurance. It can replace a loss of income or pay off debt.

Permanent life insurance offers access to a cash value account, which is like a savings account

It's a huge perk of purchasing permanent life insurance. Policyholders often use these accounts as another investment tool. In this podcast episode, NerdWallet experts break down how you can use your cash value account to invest, plus the pros and cons of this tactic.

Some people don't like talking about life insurance—perhaps because they fear death

But CBS News business analyst Jill Schlesinger makes a case for why life insurance is worth discussing anyway on this "CBS Mornings" segment. She also reviews the different types of life insurance, who can be a beneficiary, and other basics.

The cost of covering family health insurance has tripled in 20 years

The Milliman Medical Index tracks the real cost of health insurance for people covered through employer-sponsored plans. In 2025, healthcare for a family of four cost an average of $35K, including employer contributions, out-of-pocket expenses, premiums, and offset wages.

Life insurance policies and annuities are both contracts between individuals and insurance companies

But while life insurance policies are paid out only after an individual dies, annuities are intended to provide a steady income while the investor is still alive. Also, life insurance protects an investor's family in the event of their death, but an annuity helps protect an investor from outliving their retirement savings.

A wedding cost calculator

Want to know how much your wedding will cost? Simply enter your wedding date, location, and a few more details about your wedding plans, and this tool will spit out an estimate for how much it will all cost—with details on how each estimate was figured, from a wedding dress or tux to ordering the cake. If you're planning a wedding soon (or just dreaming about planning one), explore this wedding cost generator.

The concept of life insurance likely originated in ancient Rome around the year 100 BCE

However, life insurance policies didn’t reach the Americas until 1759, when life insurance started being used to protect the families of Protestant ministers when said ministers died. This timeline of life insurance’s early history—and how it has evolved since then—provides more details.

Mortgage insurance offers help to buyers who can’t afford to put down 20% up front

Buyers who need mortgage insurance end up paying more per month on top of their loan to cover the added insurance. At its core, mortgage insurance helps buyers purchase a home they can’t afford, letting them put down 20%, while protecting lenders offering potentially risky loans.

Use this annuity income calculator to estimate how much money someone can expect in their annuity payouts, depending on factors such as how much they invest and how long they expect to be paid.

Calculate the financial outlook for your retirement

This simple calculator takes your age, income, planned contributions, and expected retirement needs into account to give you a portrait of how your financial condition will look when it comes time to start withdrawals.

Annuities differ from life insurance policies in a few key ways, such as when they're paid out and who they benefit

Annuities are intended to benefit the plan owner, and benefits are paid out during the owner's life. The person who buys life insurance rarely sees those benefits—they're intended instead for heirs and dependents.

Annuities can help protect investors from outliving their retirement savings

While an annuity is also a contract between an individual and an insurance company, a life insurance policy differs in that it protects the beneficiaries in the event of the policyholder’s death.

The lifetime costs of caring for a dog can run anywhere from $16,440 to $52,075.

Use this mortgage calculator to estimate how much you can borrow, factoring in fundamentals such as financial standing, property cost, loan length, and more.

Mortality tables help determine the probability of death for specific populations

A mortality table is a diagram that helps predict a specific population’s likelihood of death within a particular time period. Life insurance companies often use them to help figure out pricing for their insurance products. They’re sometimes known as actuarial tables or life tables.

Flood insurance policies from the National Flood Insurance Program cost just over $1,100 per year on average

Private residential policies range from $600 to $2,800 per year. Taking steps to lower flood risk in your home, such as installing flood vents or elevating home utilities, can make premiums cheaper.

Living wage calculator

Some people who work low-wage jobs don't make enough money to pay for the cost of basic needs (like housing or child care) in their area of the country. Curious to see whether or not you make what's considered a "living wage" for your city or state? To find out, plug your locale into this Living Wage Calculator.

Paperwork errors cost families millions in life-insurance payouts

This podcast episode reveals how human missteps by employers and insurance providers caused hundreds of families who paid life-insurance premiums to be denied millions of dollars in death benefits. A Wall Street Journal reporter breaks down how flaws in the system made this happen.

Use a CD rate calculator

This CD Rate Calculator allows you to determine your interest earnings and total savings balance at CD maturity. Enter your initial deposit, your interest rate, and your term length in months or years. Click here to use it.

A ‘rent vs. buy’ financial calculator

The New York Times built a continuously updated financial calculator to help potential homebuyers figure out which makes more sense given their individual situation: buying or renting a home. It takes into account how long someone plans to own the home for, mortgage rates, and more.

Explore this interactive tool from the National Cancer Institute to calculate your risk of dying from various causes, including cancer.

Organ transplants can come with a price tag of more than $2M without insurance

According to 2025 report data that was graphically represented by Statista, average costs for organ transplants can be as steep as $2.3M for a double lung transplant and $1.9M for a heart. These figures are based on what was actually charged to insurance companies—not what individual patients paid. Following the actual transplant there are also additional costs associated with the procedure, including lifelong immunosuppressant drugs.

The factors stirring up a home insurance storm

The cost of the average home insurance premium shot up 33% between 2020 and 2023 in the US, a trend mimicking heightened inflation. But beyond the cost, insurers are also pulling out of major markets like Florida and California, and millions of policies aren't being renewed as the number of $1B weather disasters continues to increase each year. Read up on the difficulties the home insurance market faces here.

The lifetime cost of the American dream exceeds $5M

A new analysis suggests it costs millions of dollars to maintain the American dream over a lifetime. The price tag includes retirement, healthcare, higher education, homeownership, and other core elements of a comfortable life for the average American.

A caffeine calculator

This simple calculator takes your preferred caffeinated drink and your body weight to determine how much is the right amount, and how much might kill you. In case you've ever had the morbid curiosity about just how much of that tea you'd have to drink to doze off forever. Find out your moderate and lethal doses here, as well as some extra info on caffeine consumption.

Use this federal student loan calculator to estimate your monthly student loan payments and see which repayment option is right for you.

Many 'cheap' retirement destinations contain hidden costs

Considering factors outside of housing and state income tax is crucial when thinking of an inexpensive place to retire. High energy bills, grocery tax, and insurance premiums are just a few things to look out for when picking where to live.

Use this student loan calculator to estimate monthly student loan payments.

Annuities are financial products typically used by retirees looking for guaranteed income streams.

Should you prepay for your funeral?

The median cost of a funeral with a viewing and burial was $8,300 as of 2023, according to The National Funeral Directors Association.

Should you give up a car in retirement?

Did you know that drivers over the age of 74 tend to pay higher car insurance rates than most other age groups? That small fortune in auto insurance payments is just one reason some people give up a car when they retire. If you're curious about the pros of getting rid of your car when you retire, read this article.

If someone buys a $100K annuity, they may receive $525 to $1K monthly payments

In general, how much an annuity will pay out depends on a variety of factors, including how old an annuitant was when they bought it and what type of annuity they bought. Regardless, annuities can provide a guaranteed extra income for retirees.

Calculate creator economy platform costs

The creator economy continues to be an attractive way to earn money for many people. While many platforms exist to help creators monetize their work, each has different feature sets and pricing models. This calculator helps workers decide which platform works best for them.

Why car insurance rates are skyrocketing

The average annual premium for auto insurance coverage in the US rose 26% in 2024, and rates are only expected to increase. The rate hikes aren't simply a result of more people getting into crashes. This video explores how a lack of trained auto mechanics, a tighter supply of used vehicles, record healthcare bills, and litigation are contributing to higher monthly insurance bills.

The American Dream costs more than $4M

The estimated cost of the American Dream—including buying a house, yearly vacations, retiring, raising two children, getting married, and more—is $4.4M, according to recent data from Investopedia. This illustrated graphic shows the estimated cost of the American dream per household over the course of their lifetime. See it here.

Use this marriage tax calculator to see how much two specific people might pay if they were to get married, based on their individual income levels and more.

Estimate your Social Security benefits

To calculate your Social Security benefit, the government uses information such as your birthday, current earnings, future retirement date, and more. Calculate an estimation for your future Social Security monthly benefit here.

Memento Movi

Have you ever wanted life to be a little more like a movie? This somewhat absurd website shows you how far along you are in life, if your life was an actual film. Enter your birthday, how long you expect to live (using your best judgment!), and pick a film. The site will show you where you are in life—if your life was, say, "Inception" or "Wicked." A little silly, we know.