People tend to spend differently depending upon their stage in life.

Everyone knows that it costs more to raise a family and buy a home pay, but as the children move on and you pay off that mortage,  the expenses usually fall. 

Some examples from 2005:

$66,800 - average total expenditure of individuals in all households

$56,500 - average total household expenditure for people between 55 - 64

$37,700 - average total household expenditure for people between 65 -74

$30,900 - average total household expenditure for people over 75

Based on those levels of spending, people would need the following percentages of their pre-retirement income:

67% - for people between 55 to 64

55% - for those between 65 to 74

40% - for people 75 and older

Source: Statistics Canada