Lean FIRE Calculator

Lean FIRE is financial independence on a smaller spending level. If your expenses are lower, your FIRE number is lower—so you can reach FI faster.

FIRE calculator →Compare cities →

Inputs

Use after-tax income if you want the cleanest “years to FI” estimate.

Current age

Annual income

State (for taxes)

Filing status

401(k) contribution % (optional)

Monthly expenses

That’s about $0 / year

Current savings / investments (quick fill)

Yearly investment (quick fill)

Expected annual return (%) — Phase 1

Withdrawal rate (%)

Inflation (%) — expenses grow

Salary growth (%) — income grows

Phase 2 starts after (years)

Expected annual return (%) — Phase 2

Max years to simulate

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

Inflation-adjusted expenses ÷ 4%

Years to FI

0 years

Projected FI year: 2026

Age at FI

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%

—

20%

—

30%

—

40%

—

50%

—

60%

—

70%

—

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 counts as Lean FIRE?

There’s no official cutoff, but many people consider Lean FIRE to be a modest annual spending level (often under ~$40k–$50k for an individual).

Is Lean FIRE realistic long-term?

It can be, but it’s more sensitive to unexpected costs (healthcare, housing, family changes). Many people plan a buffer or use a conservative withdrawal rate.

How can moving help Lean FIRE?

Lower cost-of-living cities can dramatically reduce expenses, which lowers the FIRE number and can shorten the timeline.