In short
A $250,000 term life policy over 20 years costs about $16 a month for a healthy 30-year-old man ($13 for a woman) and $26 at 40 ($21) with Nectar Term, as estimates in the preferred non-tobacco class. A 10-year term is about 28 percent less, a 30-year term about 45 percent more. The final premium is set during underwriting.
A quarter-million is the policy people buy when the need is specific and bounded: a cosigned student loan, a partner's share of the rent, a small mortgage, a stay-at-home parent's coverage, or a top-up over group insurance at work. It is also the amount most often chosen by people in their fifties who want final expenses and a few years of income covered without paying for coverage to eighty.
$250,000 term life insurance rates by age
Estimated monthly premiums for $250,000 of Nectar Term coverage in the preferred non-tobacco class. Every figure is an estimate; the issuing insurer sets the final premium during underwriting.
| Age | Man, 10 yr | Man, 20 yr | Man, 30 yr | Woman, 10 yr | Woman, 20 yr | Woman, 30 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | $10 | $14 | $20 | $8 | $12 | $17 |
| 30 | $12 | $16 | $24 | $10 | $13 | $19 |
| 35 | $13 | $19 | $27 | $11 | $15 | $22 |
| 40 | $19 | $26 | $37 | $15 | $21 | $30 |
| 45 | $28 | $38 | $56 | $23 | $32 | $46 |
| 50 | $48 | $67 | $97 | $40 | $55 | $80 |
| 55 | $78 | $109 | $158 | $64 | $89 | $129 |
| 60 | $128 | $178 | $258 | $105 | $146 | $212 |
Smaller policies cost a little more per thousand dollars than larger ones, which is why $250,000 is about 55 percent of the $500,000 price rather than half. If the number you actually need is $400,000 or more, price $500,000 too; the difference per month is often smaller than people expect. Published averages from NerdWallet for comparable applicants fall in the same range; our guide to term life insurance cost explains what sits behind the numbers.
Buy the amount the plan needs, not the amount that sounds responsible. The coverage calculator turns your mortgage, income and family into a number, and the Nectar Term application shows your price, approval odds and expected decision time before you apply.
Is $250,000 the right amount?
Run the coverage calculator before settling on $250,000. For a household with a mortgage and children it usually comes up short; for a single person with a cosigned loan it is often more than enough. The guide to how much life insurance you need walks through the method, and the pages for term life insurance rates by age show every amount side by side at your age.
See what Nectar Term would cost you
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Frequently asked questions
Is $250,000 of life insurance enough?
For a single person with a cosigned loan, a partner who shares rent, or a stay-at-home parent, it often is. For a household with a mortgage and children it is usually too little; the calculator builds the real number.
How much is a $250,000 policy for a 30-year-old?
About $17 a month for a man and $13 for a woman on a 20-year term in the preferred class, as an estimate. A 30-year term is about $24 and $20.
Does a $250,000 policy need a medical exam?
Rarely for healthy applicants under 60. It is well inside the no-exam limits of every issuing partner, so a clean prescription and driving record usually means a same-day decision.
Can I buy $250,000 now and add more later?
Yes, but a second policy is priced at your age and health at that time. If you expect the need to grow, pricing a larger policy now is usually cheaper over the life of the coverage.
Nectar Term policies are issued by Nectar's partner insurers, each rated A or better by A.M. Best, and serviced by Nectar. Prices in this article are estimates calibrated to published 2026 averages and are not an offer of coverage. Final rates are set during underwriting.
Keep reading
Cost & PricingHow Much Does Term Life Insurance Cost in 2026?
Term life costs about $25 to $35 a month for a healthy 30-year-old with $500,000 of coverage. See rates by age, what moves the price, and how to pay less.
Cost & PricingTerm Life Insurance Rates at 55: What You Will Pay
At 55, $500,000 of 20-year term life costs about $198 a month for a man and $162 for a woman (preferred class). Estimates for $250,000 to $1 million.
Cost & PricingTerm Life Insurance Rates at 60: What You Will Pay
At 60, $500,000 of 20-year term life costs about $324 a month for a man and $266 for a woman (preferred class). Estimates for $250,000 to $1 million.