US Region · 56 cities · 10 states

FIRE in the Southeast

Lower taxes, lower costs, warmer weather.

The Southeast is one of the most FIRE-friendly regions in the US. States like Florida and Tennessee have no income tax, while cities like Memphis and Birmingham offer FIRE targets under $1M. Warm weather and a lower cost of living make this a top pick for early retirees.

Cities covered

Avg annual cost

$53,179

Avg FIRE target

$1,329,475

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	Baton Rouge, LA	Louisiana	$44,800	$1,120,000	Unavailable
2	Fayetteville, AR	Arkansas	$45,900	$1,147,500	Unavailable
3	Little Rock, AR	Arkansas	$46,700	$1,167,500	Unavailable
4	Mobile, AL	Alabama	$47,100	$1,177,500	Unavailable
5	Jackson, MS	Mississippi	$47,300	$1,182,500	Unavailable
6	Gulfport, MS	Mississippi	$47,300	$1,182,500	Unavailable
7	Birmingham, AL	Alabama	$47,500	$1,187,500	Unavailable
8	Montgomery, AL	Alabama	$47,700	$1,192,500	Unavailable
9	Macon, GA	Georgia	$47,800	$1,195,000	Unavailable
10	Columbus, GA	Georgia	$48,200	$1,205,000	Unavailable
11	Huntsville, AL	Alabama	$48,400	$1,210,000	Unavailable
12	Memphis, TN	Tennessee	$48,600	$1,215,000	Unavailable
13	Columbia, SC	South Carolina	$49,000	$1,225,000	Unavailable
14	New Orleans, LA	Louisiana	$49,400	$1,235,000	Unavailable
15	Athens, GA	Georgia	$49,500	$1,237,500	Unavailable
16	Augusta, GA	Georgia	$49,700	$1,242,500	Unavailable
17	Winston-Salem, NC	North Carolina	$49,700	$1,242,500	Unavailable
18	Chattanooga, TN	Tennessee	$50,000	$1,250,000	Unavailable
19	Tallahassee, FL	Florida	$50,100	$1,252,500	Unavailable
20	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	$50,100	$1,252,500	Unavailable
21	Greensboro, NC	North Carolina	$50,200	$1,255,000	Unavailable
22	Gainesville, FL	Florida	$50,400	$1,260,000	Unavailable
23	Myrtle Beach, SC	South Carolina	$50,600	$1,265,000	Unavailable
24	Pensacola, FL	Florida	$50,700	$1,267,500	Unavailable
25	Charlottesville, VA	Virginia	$50,900	$1,272,500	Unavailable
26	Norfolk, VA	Virginia	$51,800	$1,295,000	Unavailable
27	Richmond, VA	Virginia	$51,900	$1,297,500	Unavailable
28	Greenville, SC	South Carolina	$52,100	$1,302,500	Unavailable
29	Lakeland, FL	Florida	$52,300	$1,307,500	Unavailable
30	Jacksonville, FL	Florida	$52,800	$1,320,000	Unavailable
31	Savannah, GA	Georgia	$52,800	$1,320,000	Unavailable
32	Wilmington, NC	North Carolina	$52,800	$1,320,000	Unavailable
33	Durham, NC	North Carolina	$53,600	$1,340,000	Unavailable
34	Raleigh, NC	North Carolina	$53,900	$1,347,500	Unavailable
35	Nashville, TN	Tennessee	$54,000	$1,350,000	Unavailable
36	Charlotte, NC	North Carolina	$54,600	$1,365,000	Unavailable
37	Virginia Beach, VA	Virginia	$55,100	$1,377,500	Unavailable
38	Sarasota, FL	Florida	$55,300	$1,382,500	Unavailable
39	Asheville, NC	North Carolina	$55,300	$1,382,500	Unavailable
40	Orlando, FL	Florida	$55,500	$1,387,500	Unavailable
41	Fort Myers, FL	Florida	$55,800	$1,395,000	Unavailable
42	St. Petersburg, FL	Florida	$56,100	$1,402,500	Unavailable
43	Naples, FL	Florida	$56,100	$1,402,500	Unavailable
44	Atlanta, GA	Georgia	$56,300	$1,407,500	Unavailable
45	Charleston, SC	South Carolina	$57,200	$1,430,000	Unavailable
46	Clearwater, FL	Florida	$57,500	$1,437,500	Unavailable
47	Tampa, FL	Florida	$58,100	$1,452,500	Unavailable
48	Alpharetta, GA	Georgia	$58,500	$1,462,500	Unavailable
49	Cape Coral, FL	Florida	$59,900	$1,497,500	Unavailable
50	Franklin, TN	Tennessee	$60,000	$1,500,000	Unavailable
51	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Florida	$60,200	$1,505,000	Unavailable
52	West Palm Beach, FL	Florida	$61,100	$1,527,500	Unavailable
53	Alexandria, VA	Virginia	$61,800	$1,545,000	Unavailable
54	Miami, FL	Florida	$65,100	$1,627,500	Unavailable
55	Arlington, VA	Virginia	$65,600	$1,640,000	Unavailable
56	Boca Raton, FL	Florida	$67,300	$1,682,500	Unavailable