1 million can barely buy a house....1 million now is what 400k was a decade ago in that regard. You might be able to retire with 1 million, but only if you are older with Medicare, living in a cheap area of the country, 1 million might be enough....maybe.

Currently, a comfortable living and feeling wealthy would need at least 4 million in California. That would be enough of a buffer for living expenses and enough to do travelling here and there and maybe buy a few luxury items.