The Most Expensive US Cities & Their FIRE Numbers

High-cost cities demand larger portfolios. San Francisco requires $2.75M at the 25× rule, while New York City tops $2.37M. Even for high earners, controlling spending in expensive cities is critical to hitting your FIRE target on a realistic timeline. Here are the 20 most expensive US cities by annual cost of living.

Cities listed
20
Avg annual cost
$87,150
Avg FIRE target
$2,178,750

Ranked by annual cost of living

RankCityStateAnnual CostFIRE Target (25×)State Tax
1San Francisco, CACA$110,000$2,750,0007.2%
2Palo Alto, CACA$98,000$2,450,0007.2%
3San Jose, CACA$96,000$2,400,0007.2%
4New York City, NYNYC$95,000$2,375,00010.2%
5Bellevue, WAWA$90,000$2,250,0000%
6Greenwich, CTCT$90,000$2,250,0006.5%
7Los Angeles, CACA$88,000$2,200,0007.2%
8Bethesda, MDMD$88,000$2,200,0006.0%
9Irvine, CACA$88,000$2,200,0007.2%
10Oakland, CACA$84,000$2,100,0007.2%
11Long Beach, CACA$82,000$2,050,0007.2%
12Brooklyn, NYNYC$82,000$2,050,00010.2%
13Seattle, WAWA$82,000$2,050,0000%
14Cambridge, MAMA$82,000$2,050,0005.0%
15Santa Barbara, CACA$82,000$2,050,0007.2%
16Honolulu, HIHI$82,000$2,050,0007.5%
17Jackson, WYWY$82,000$2,050,0000%
18Berkeley, CACA$82,000$2,050,0007.2%
19Washington DCDC$80,000$2,000,0008.5%
20Hoboken, NJNJ$80,000$2,000,0006.3%

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