Updated: June 24, 2025
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A $250,000 term life policy provides moderate coverage at an affordable price, making it ideal for those with financial obligations like mortgage payments, education costs or everyday living expenses.
Rates depend on factors like age, health, smoking status and term length. Average insurance payments for a 10-year term range from $16 to $18 per month.
Allstate, Transamerica and GEICO offer some of the most competitive rates, with prices starting as low as $12 per month for qualified applicants.
A $250,000 term life insurance policy costs about $18 per month for healthy 40-year-old males and $16 per month for females. Rates vary and depend on age, gender, health and term length. Shorter terms typically have lower premiums, but coverage ends when the term expires.
Age is one of the biggest factors impacting your insurance cost for a $250,000 term life insurance policy. The cost for a $250,000 10-year policy for a female in their 30s is as low as $12 per month, while a male in their 70s will pay over $200 per month. The costs for a $250,000 policy over 20 years range from $15 for a 30-year-old female to over $700 for a 70-year-old male.
Compare the cost by age group, gender and term length below.
| 30 | $14 | $12 |
| 40 | $18 | $16 |
| 50 | $37 | $31 |
| 60 | $76 | $54 |
| 70 | $204 | $155 |
A $250,000 policy can vary in cost based on several personal profile factors. To estimate your life insurance cost, use MoneyGeek's quote calculator.
For a $250,000 policy, 10-year term life costs an average of $18 per month for males and $16 for females. A 20-year term averages $26 for males and $21 for females.
Once you determine how much life insurance you need and decide on a $250,000 policy, you'll need to choose a term length — usually 10 to 30 years. Your beneficiaries receive with death benefit if you die during the term. A 10-year term may suit someone nearing the end of a mortgage, while a 20-year term is ideal for those with long-term financial responsibilities.
| 10-Year Term | $18 | $16 |
| 20-Year Term | $26 | $21 |
Smokers pay an average of $41 per month for males and $33 for females for a 10-year $250,000 term life policy. This is more than double what a healthy nonsmoker pays — around $18 per month.
The rate increase accounts for smoking's health impact, such as heart disease, cancer and decreased life expectancy. Insurers charge higher premiums to offset this added risk.
| 10-Year Term | $41 | $33 |
| 20-Year Term | $57 | $44 |
People in poor health typically pay around $20 per month for males and $16 for females for a 10-year $250,000 term life policy — slightly higher than the rate for healthy individuals.
Conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure or a history of cancer may increase your risk profile, even if you’re a nonsmoker. As a result, insurers adjust rates to reflect the potential for higher claims.
| 10-Year Term | $20 | $16 |
| 20-Year Term | $28 | $22 |
Allstate offers the cheapest $250,000 10-year policy for males and females. Transamerica matches Allstate's rate, while GEICO and Protective follow closely behind.
The table below presents a comparison of average monthly premiums for a 10-year term life insurance policy with $250,000 coverage from various companies.
| Allstate | $12 | $11 |
| Transamerica | $12 | $11 |
| GEICO | $13 | $13 |
| Protective | $13 | $12 |
| Nationwide | $16 | $16 |
| AAA | $17 | $15 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $17 | $15 |
| Prudential | $17 | $13 |
| Fidelity | $20 | $19 |
| Haven | $22 | $17 |
| State Farm | $22 | $20 |
| Bestow | $27 | $22 |
| Progressive | $31 | $19 |
MoneyGeek found Mutual of Omaha offers males the best affordable no-medical-exam life insurance at $41 per month for a $250,000 term policy. AAA and Mutual of Omaha tie for the lowest rates for females at $33 per month for a $250,000 10-year term policy.
No-exam policies offer quick approval and are cost-effective for younger buyers. However, older adults may pay more due to increased risk for insurers.
| AAA | $33 | $25 |
| Fidelity | $40 | $33 |
| Haven | $38 | $25 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $30 | $26 |
A good rule of thumb for deciding whether a $250,000 life insurance amount is sufficient for you is to multiply your annual income at least 10 to 15 times. However, if you own an expensive home or provide for children, you may need more coverage.
A $250,000 policy can make sense if you have minimal financial commitments or are older with minimal expenses. Younger families may want to consider $500,000 policies or $1 million policies. Use the life insurance need quiz below to determine your coverage needs.
A $250,000 term life insurance policy offers affordable protection for people with moderate financial needs, such as covering a mortgage, supporting dependents or paying off debt. With average rates starting at around $17 per month and top providers like Allstate and Transamerica offering even lower premiums, this coverage level balances cost and peace of mind.
Compare quotes and term lengths to find a policy that fits your life stage and budget.
Before taking out a $250,000 life insurance policy, there are several factors to consider so you can choose the option that best fits your needs. Below are our answers to some frequently asked questions about $250,000 life insurance rates.
On average, a $250,000 life insurance policy costs $23 per month for a 10-year term and $29 for a 20-year term. Final premiums depend on factors like your overall health, age and term length. However, rates can range from as low as $12 monthly for young, healthy applicants to over $200 monthly for applicants in their 70s.
Allstate offers the cheapest $250,000 term life policy at just $12 per month for a 10-year term. Transamerica matches this rate, while GEICO and Protective follow closely at $13 per month for the same coverage.
Age dramatically impacts life insurance costs, with rates increasing as you get older. For example, a 30-year-old male pays around $14 monthly for a 10-year $250,000 policy, while a 70-year-old male pays approximately $204 monthly for the same coverage.
A $250,000 term life insurance policy provides coverage for a specific period (typically 10 to 30 years) in exchange for regular premium payments. If you die during the term, the insurance company pays your beneficiaries the $250,000 death benefit tax-free, which they can use for any purpose. If you outlive the term, coverage ends unless you renew or convert the policy, though premiums will be higher based on your new age.
A $250,000 policy is typically sufficient for people with minimal financial commitments or older adults with fewer expenses. However, the general recommendation is to have coverage that's 10 to 15 times your annual income, so younger families with mortgages and children often need $500,000 or $1 million in coverage.
Young, healthy people may qualify for instant, no-medical-exam life insurance with coverage of $250,000. These policies are convenient and have almost immediate coverage, but sometimes can cost more than policies that require an exam.
Why Trust MoneyGeek?
We analyzed 1,488 of life insurance quotes to determine the average cost of a $250,000 life insurance policy for a variety of needs.
MoneyGeek’s Scoring System
In our unique scoring system, companies can earn up to five points in each of five categories. We then use these category scores to calculate an overall MoneyGeek score out of 100. We applied the following weightings to score insurers:
Each company’s score incorporates:
Sample Customer Profile
MoneyGeek used a standard profile to obtain life insurance quotes:
Premiums are based on the standard profile unless otherwise noted.
We modified the profile by age, gender, height, weight, tobacco use, health rating and geographic location to collect a variety of quotes and determine the best life insurance company for several types of customers. We collected quotes for term life insurance with varying term lengths and coverage amounts as well.
We identified trends in the data set and used those patterns to calculate projections and extend the data beyond what was originally collected.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
