Barista FIRE Calculator
Barista FIRE is a middle ground: you “retire” from full-time work but still earn part-time income to cover some expenses. Tonight we’ll use the main calculator as the engine; next we can add a Barista input for part-time income that reduces the portfolio needed.
Inputs
Use after-tax income if you want the cleanest “years to FI” estimate.
That’s about $0 / year
MOVE IMPACT
Compare your FIRE age in NYC vs Raleigh by changing expenses.
Savings rate (net income vs expenses):
0.0%
Net income: $0 • Select a state to estimate taxes
Results
FIRE number
$0
Inflation-adjusted expenses ÷ 4%
Years to FI
0 years
Projected FI year: 2026
Age at FI
0
Approximate
🔥 Your FIRE age if you moved
Same income and investing assumptions, different city cost profile.
New York City, NY
Enter inputs
Austin, TX
Enter inputs
Raleigh, NC
Enter inputs
Charlotte, NC
Enter inputs
Denver, CO
Enter inputs
Progress to FIRE
$0 / $0
0% funded
Portfolio projection
From age 0 → 2
Dashed line = your FIRE number.
Savings Rate → FIRE Timeline
Based on your current investing assumptions. Net income stays the same; expenses adjust to match each savings rate.
SAVINGS
EXPENSES
YEARS
FIRE AGE
10%
$0
—
—
20%
$0
—
—
30%
$0
—
—
40%
$0
—
—
50%
$0
—
—
60%
$0
—
—
70%
$0
—
—
Tip: This table becomes most meaningful after you set Income, Monthly Expenses, and either Yearly Investment or the advanced contribution fields.
Start investing toward FIRE
These are common platforms people use to invest for long-term goals. (Sponsored links)
Fidelity
Brokerage / 401(k)
Low-cost index funds + strong retirement tools. Great all-around choice.
Learn more →
Vanguard
Index funds
Classic FIRE favorite for low-fee index investing.
Learn more →
Betterment
Robo-advisor
Hands-off robo-investing if you want automation and simplicity.
Learn more →
Wealthfront
Robo + cash
Automated investing + cash management. Clean experience.
Learn more →
FAQ
What is Barista FIRE?
Barista FIRE is partial retirement: you rely on investments plus part-time income (and sometimes benefits) instead of fully living off a portfolio.
How do I approximate Barista FIRE with this calculator?
Reduce your monthly expenses by the amount you expect to cover with part-time income. Example: $60k expenses and $25k part-time income → model $35k of expenses.
Why is Barista FIRE popular?
It can reduce the portfolio required and give flexibility—especially in high cost-of-living areas where full FIRE may take longer.