What $500,000 costs
| Example buyer | Monthly price |
|---|---|
| 30 year old woman, nonsmoker, average health, 20 year term | $32/mo |
| 30 year old man, nonsmoker, average health, 20 year term | $38/mo |
| 40 year old woman, nonsmoker, average health, 20 year term | $47/mo |
| 40 year old man, nonsmoker, average health, 20 year term | $59/mo |
| 40 year old woman, nonsmoker, preferred, 20 year term | $35.27/mo |
| 40 year old man, nonsmoker, preferred, 20 year term | $42.94/mo |
Published sample rates from MoneyGeek, updated September 22, 2026. Your price depends on your age, health and the company.
What it can pay for
- Pay off a mortgage
- Replace 5 to 10 years of a typical income
- Child care and school
- Debts and final costs
Common questions
How much does health class matter?
A lot. At 40, MoneyGeek shows $500,000 of 20 year term for a woman at $29/mo in Preferred Plus and $52/mo in Standard.
What about smokers?
MoneyGeek shows a 40 year old male smoker at $194/mo for $500,000, 20 year term.
What term length is best?
Match it to your mortgage or youngest child. At 40, MoneyGeek shows $500,000 for a woman at $34/mo for 10 years and $82/mo for 30 years.
Is $500,000 enough?
A policy this size is usually term life. As a rough guide, $500,000 replaces about 9 years of a $55,000 paycheck before any mortgage or debts.
To check, add up your pay for the years your family needs it, your mortgage, other debts, school money for kids and the funeral. Then subtract savings and coverage you already have. Our coverage calculator does it in a minute.
Ways to lower the price
- Buy sooner. Prices go up with age.
- Pick term life if you only need coverage for a set number of years.
- Quit tobacco. Smokers can pay several times more.
- Compare companies. Each one prices age, health and jobs differently.
