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Lean FIRE calculator
Lean FIRE: retire on under $40,000/year spending. Smaller portfolio, faster path, frugal-but-free. See your Lean FIRE number and how soon you can hit it.
Lean FIRE numbers
| Annual spending | FIRE # (25×) | Safer FIRE # (28×) | Monthly withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | $500,000 | $560,000 | $1,667 |
| $25,000 | $625,000 | $700,000 | $2,083 |
| $30,000 | $750,000 | $840,000 | $2,500 |
| $35,000 | $875,000 | $980,000 | $2,917 |
| $40,000 (cap) | $1,000,000 | $1,120,000 | $3,333 |
How Lean FIRE folks actually live on $30k
- Housing: paid-off small home or low-COL area ($800/mo all-in)
- Food: mostly home-cooked, garden, bulk-buy ($400–500/mo for couple)
- Transportation: one paid-off used car, bike-heavy ($150/mo gas/insurance)
- Health: ACA subsidies (low MAGI qualifies for big subsidies); HSA + Healthshare ($300/mo)
- Everything else: ~$500/mo (utilities, internet, phone, fun)
Geo-arbitrage — the Lean FIRE multiplier
Earn US-level income, retire to a low-cost country: Mexico, Portugal, Thailand, Colombia. $30k/year in Lisbon or Chiang Mai buys what $80k/year buys in San Francisco. The portfolio required to support Lean FIRE shrinks proportionally. ACA and Medicare don't follow you abroad, so health planning is critical.
Lean FIRE Calculator FAQ
What's Lean FIRE exactly?
Retiring on under $40,000/year of expenses (some define <$25k strictly). Built on the same 4% rule as regular FIRE, just at a lower spending tier. The portfolio target is typically $500k–$1M, reachable significantly faster than full FIRE.
Is Lean FIRE realistic in the US?
Yes in low-cost-of-living areas, harder in HCOL cities. The math works on $25–35k of spending in most of the South, Midwest, Appalachia, and the rural West. Pairing with a paid-off home is almost essential.
What's the difference between Lean FIRE and just being poor?
Choice. Lean FIRE means a portfolio that funds your modest lifestyle indefinitely — you don't need to work, you choose your spending. Being poor means lacking choice. Lean FIRE folks often have $750k+ invested supporting $30k/year spending intentionally.
Can I do Lean FIRE with kids?
Possible but harder. Kids typically add $10–20k/year per child to base spending. Lean FIRE families often live in cheaper school districts, use FSA/HSA aggressively, leverage tax-advantaged 529s, and embrace homeschooling or open-enrollment public schools.
What if I get bored or want more money later?
Many Lean FIRE folks 'graduate' to Coast or Barista FIRE — picking up part-time work for extra income while their portfolio grows. Or they reverse-FIRE temporarily, working full-time for 1–2 years to upgrade lifestyle. Flexibility is built-in.
Lean FIRE vs Coast FIRE — which gets me out faster?
Lean FIRE = retire fully but live frugally. Coast FIRE = stop saving for retirement, work to cover current expenses, let compound do the heavy lifting. Coast usually arrives earlier in time but requires continued work. Lean is harder to reach but lets you stop entirely.