US Region · 30 cities · 11 states

FIRE in the Midwest

Underrated value. Quiet wealth-building.

The Midwest offers some of the lowest FIRE targets in the country. Cities like Columbus, Indianapolis, and Kansas City combine moderate incomes with low costs. If you can live on $45k–$55k per year, a $1.1M–$1.4M portfolio covers full FIRE.

Cities covered

Avg annual cost

$47,593

Avg FIRE target

$1,189,825

No-income-tax states

All cities ranked by cost of living

Cheapest first. Click any city for detailed FIRE calculations and retirement timelines.

#	City	State	Annual Cost	FIRE Target	Income Tax
1	Fargo, ND	North Dakota	$43,500	$1,087,500	Unavailable
2	Toledo, OH	Ohio	$43,600	$1,090,000	Unavailable
3	Bismarck, ND	North Dakota	$43,800	$1,095,000	Unavailable
4	Cedar Rapids, IA	Iowa	$44,400	$1,110,000	Unavailable
5	Topeka, KS	Kansas	$44,400	$1,110,000	Unavailable
6	Wichita, KS	Kansas	$44,500	$1,112,500	Unavailable
7	Springfield, MO	Missouri	$44,500	$1,112,500	Unavailable
8	Akron, OH	Ohio	$45,100	$1,127,500	Unavailable
9	Dayton, OH	Ohio	$45,200	$1,130,000	Unavailable
10	Des Moines, IA	Iowa	$45,400	$1,135,000	Unavailable
11	Lansing, MI	Michigan	$45,400	$1,135,000	Unavailable
12	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	$46,000	$1,150,000	Unavailable
13	Lincoln, NE	Nebraska	$46,200	$1,155,000	Unavailable
14	Columbia, MO	Missouri	$46,500	$1,162,500	Unavailable
15	Cleveland, OH	Ohio	$46,700	$1,167,500	Unavailable
16	Milwaukee, WI	Wisconsin	$46,800	$1,170,000	Unavailable
17	Green Bay, WI	Wisconsin	$47,100	$1,177,500	Unavailable
18	Omaha, NE	Nebraska	$47,500	$1,187,500	Unavailable
19	Cincinnati, OH	Ohio	$47,800	$1,195,000	Unavailable
20	St. Louis, MO	Missouri	$47,900	$1,197,500	Unavailable
21	Kansas City, MO	Missouri	$48,600	$1,215,000	Unavailable
22	Indianapolis, IN	Indiana	$48,800	$1,220,000	Unavailable
23	Detroit, MI	Michigan	$48,900	$1,222,500	Unavailable
24	Columbus, OH	Ohio	$50,300	$1,257,500	Unavailable
25	Overland Park, KS	Kansas	$51,500	$1,287,500	Unavailable
26	Madison, WI	Wisconsin	$51,600	$1,290,000	Unavailable
27	Grand Rapids, MI	Michigan	$51,900	$1,297,500	Unavailable
28	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	$53,200	$1,330,000	Unavailable
29	Ann Arbor, MI	Michigan	$53,900	$1,347,500	Unavailable
30	Chicago, IL	Illinois	$56,800	$1,420,000	Unavailable