US planning reference

FIRE Number by State

Compare annual spending baselines and 25× FIRE targets for 226 sampled cities across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Every result links back to the city sample and the official Census rent tables behind it.

Data reviewed September 17, 2026 · Annual USD · City-sample averages, not statewide household averages

Coverage

50 states + D.C.

226 sampled cities

Lowest sample average

$43,650

North Dakota

Highest sample average

$64,722

California

State comparison

Ranked by the average annual baseline of the sampled cities in each state. Open a state to inspect every city included.

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Swipe the table to see targets, city ranges, and tax context →

State	Sample	Annual baseline	25× target	Sampled range	State income tax
North Dakota	2 cities	$43,650	$1,091,250	Fargo to Bismarck $43,500–$43,800	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Iowa	3 cities	$45,267	$1,131,675	Cedar Rapids to Iowa City $44,400–$46,000	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
West Virginia	2 cities	$45,350	$1,133,750	Charleston to Morgantown $44,600–$46,100	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
South Dakota	1 city	$46,100	$1,152,500	Sioux Falls to Sioux Falls $46,100–$46,100	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Arkansas	2 cities	$46,300	$1,157,500	Fayetteville to Little Rock $45,900–$46,700	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Ohio	6 cities	$46,450	$1,161,250	Toledo to Columbus $43,600–$50,300	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Oklahoma	4 cities	$46,800	$1,170,000	Norman to Edmond $45,000–$49,000	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Kansas	3 cities	$46,800	$1,170,000	Topeka to Overland Park $44,400–$51,500	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Nebraska	2 cities	$46,850	$1,171,250	Lincoln to Omaha $46,200–$47,500	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Missouri	4 cities	$46,875	$1,171,875	Springfield to Kansas City $44,500–$48,600	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Louisiana	2 cities	$47,100	$1,177,500	Baton Rouge to New Orleans $44,800–$49,400	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Mississippi	2 cities	$47,300	$1,182,500	Jackson to Gulfport $47,300–$47,300	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Alabama	4 cities	$47,675	$1,191,875	Mobile to Huntsville $47,100–$48,400	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Wisconsin	3 cities	$48,500	$1,212,500	Milwaukee to Madison $46,800–$51,600	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Kentucky	2 cities	$48,500	$1,212,500	Louisville to Lexington $47,500–$49,500	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Indiana	1 city	$48,800	$1,220,000	Indianapolis to Indianapolis $48,800–$48,800	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Michigan	4 cities	$50,025	$1,250,625	Lansing to Ann Arbor $45,400–$53,900	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Idaho	2 cities	$50,300	$1,257,500	Idaho Falls to Boise $48,000–$52,600	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Pennsylvania	4 cities	$50,925	$1,273,125	Harrisburg to Philadelphia $47,700–$53,700	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Texas	21 cities	$51,262	$1,281,550	Laredo to Frisco $45,000–$58,800	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Georgia	7 cities	$51,829	$1,295,725	Macon to Alpharetta $47,800–$58,500	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
New Mexico	2 cities	$51,850	$1,296,250	Albuquerque to Santa Fe $49,000–$54,700	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Utah	4 cities	$51,925	$1,298,125	Provo to St. George $48,800–$56,100	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
South Carolina	4 cities	$52,225	$1,305,625	Columbia to Charleston $49,000–$57,200	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Montana	3 cities	$52,300	$1,307,500	Billings to Bozeman $50,200–$56,200	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Tennessee	5 cities	$52,540	$1,313,500	Memphis to Franklin $48,600–$60,000	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
North Carolina	7 cities	$52,871	$1,321,775	Winston-Salem to Asheville $49,700–$55,300	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Wyoming	2 cities	$53,150	$1,328,750	Cheyenne to Jackson $47,800–$58,500	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Minnesota	1 city	$53,200	$1,330,000	Minneapolis to Minneapolis $53,200–$53,200	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Delaware	1 city	$53,300	$1,332,500	Wilmington to Wilmington $53,300–$53,300	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Maine	2 cities	$54,350	$1,358,750	Bangor to Portland $49,900–$58,800	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Vermont	1 city	$54,800	$1,370,000	Burlington to Burlington $54,800–$54,800	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Nevada	4 cities	$54,950	$1,373,750	Reno to North Las Vegas $53,400–$56,500	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Alaska	2 cities	$55,050	$1,376,250	Anchorage to Fairbanks $54,500–$55,600	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Arizona	9 cities	$55,778	$1,394,450	Tucson to Scottsdale $48,800–$59,600	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Virginia	6 cities	$56,183	$1,404,575	Charlottesville to Arlington $50,900–$65,600	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Oregon	5 cities	$56,440	$1,411,000	Eugene to Hillsboro $53,100–$60,100	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Colorado	6 cities	$56,533	$1,413,325	Fort Collins to Boulder $54,300–$58,400	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Florida	17 cities	$56,724	$1,418,100	Tallahassee to Boca Raton $50,100–$67,300	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Illinois	1 city	$56,800	$1,420,000	Chicago to Chicago $56,800–$56,800	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Washington	8 cities	$57,675	$1,441,875	Spokane to Bellevue $51,500–$66,500	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Rhode Island	2 cities	$57,700	$1,442,500	Providence to Newport $55,300–$60,100	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
New Hampshire	2 cities	$58,100	$1,452,500	Manchester to Concord $56,600–$59,600	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Maryland	2 cities	$59,900	$1,497,500	Baltimore to Bethesda $53,100–$66,700	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
New Jersey	6 cities	$60,100	$1,502,500	Trenton to Hoboken $46,900–$77,800	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Hawaii	2 cities	$60,500	$1,512,500	Kailua-Kona to Honolulu $59,400–$61,600	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Massachusetts	4 cities	$61,075	$1,526,875	Springfield to Cambridge $49,600–$71,400	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
New York	9 cities	$61,100	$1,527,500	Syracuse to Huntington $48,000–$77,900	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Connecticut	4 cities	$61,475	$1,536,875	Hartford to Greenwich $50,700–$73,900	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
Washington D.C.	1 city	$62,200	$1,555,000	Washington DC to Washington DC $62,200–$62,200	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested
California	23 cities	$64,722	$1,618,050	Fresno to Palo Alto $55,100–$77,500	Unavailable Tax estimates are being tested

Methodology and sources

What the numbers measure

1. Measure city housing

For each sampled city, annualized housing starts with the 2024 ACS five-year median gross rent for the most recent mover cohort (B25113). When that value is suppressed, UntilFire falls back to the all-renter median (B25064). Gross rent includes utilities.

2. Add non-housing spending

Each city receives the same $34,000 annual non-housing planning baseline. This part is an estimate, not a local Census measurement, so the comparison is intentionally conservative where non-housing prices differ.

3. Build the state sample

A state baseline is the unweighted arithmetic mean of the city baselines listed for that state. It is not population weighted and should not be read as an official statewide household budget. New York City is grouped into New York here even though it keeps its own tax key in city calculations.

4. Apply the 25× guideline

The FIRE target is annual baseline × 25, equivalent to starting with a 4% withdrawal-rate guideline. Taxes, other income, portfolio fees, and personal spending can materially change an individual target.

Census B25113 recent-mover rents Census B25064 all-renter median ACS research and methodology Test the 25× assumption

Questions about the comparison

Is this a statewide cost-of-living average?

No. Each state figure is the unweighted average of the city planning baselines in UntilFire’s sample. It describes the cities listed for that state, not every household or community in the state.

How is each city baseline calculated?

UntilFire combines annualized Census ACS median gross rent for recent movers with a $34,000 national non-housing baseline. If the recent-mover rent is unavailable, the all-renter median is used.

How does the annual baseline become a FIRE target?

The reference multiplies annual spending by 25, which is the familiar 4% withdrawal-rate guideline. It is a planning shortcut, not a guarantee. The calculator lets you change the withdrawal rate, taxes, and other income.

Compare another US FIRE path

Living costs and the lifestyle you want can change the portfolio you need. Use the comparison that matches your next decision.

Best states for FIRE →Cheapest cities for FIRE →Most expensive FIRE cities →

Replace the sample with your spending

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