The cost to retire varies enormously across the US — from $875k in Wichita, KS to $2.75M in San Francisco, CA. Pick your city to find your exact FIRE number with local cost-of-living data and state tax rates.
Cheapest first. Moving country changes both what you spend and what you are taxed, which is why it can move a freedom date by years.
Cost of living is the primary driver. Housing, food, transportation, and healthcare all vary significantly across US cities. San Francisco has a ~3.1x higher cost of living than Wichita, KS — which means a $100,000 annual budget in San Francisco requires roughly a $3.1M portfolio, versus $1M in Wichita.
No. These pages show the baseline using each city's median cost of living, but your actual FIRE number depends on your desired retirement spending — which may be higher or lower than the median. Use the full FIRE calculator to input your specific number.
The cost of living data is based on housing, food, transportation, and other cost factors, but does not embed income tax assumptions. States with no income tax (Florida, Texas, Nevada, Washington, etc.) have a structural tax advantage for retirees — something to consider when comparing cities across state lines.
Yes. Each city page shows Lean, Regular, and Fat FIRE targets as well as the monthly savings timeline to reach full FIRE in 10, 15, 20, or more years. Pick the variant that fits your desired lifestyle.
These pages provide a realistic baseline, but your actual FIRE number depends on your specific spending, taxes, healthcare, Social Security timing, and withdrawal strategy. Use the full FIRE calculator and pressure-test your number with different assumptions before making major life decisions.
Log transactions, see your savings rate, and watch your FIRE date move closer every month.
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