Compare Lean, Regular, Fat and Barista FIRE side-by-side — see the trade-off between lifestyle and time freedom.
Updated May 2026 · Reviewed against current market data
| Flavor | Target | Time | Age | Need / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lean FIRE Minimalist · low cost of living | $750 K | 9.3 yr | 43 | On track ✓ |
Barista FIRE Semi-retired · light part-time work | $875 K | 10.6 yr | 45 | On track ✓ |
Regular FIRE Today's lifestyle · 4% rule | $1.3 M | 14.0 yr | 48 | On track ✓ |
Fat FIRE Luxury · no compromises | $3.0 M | 23.9 yr | 58 | On track ✓ |
A FIRE strategy comparison dashboard. Calculate the target portfolio, FIRE age and required monthly savings for Lean FIRE ($25–35k expenses), Regular FIRE ($40–60k), Fat FIRE ($100k+) and Barista FIRE (part-time income offset) on a single screen — with a unified timeline chart and live what-if insights.
This calculator is a planning tool, not financial advice. Results are projections based on the assumptions below — actual market returns vary. See the Methodology page for full editorial standards and data sources.
Lean FIRE is financial independence with a minimalist budget — typically $25,000–$35,000 in annual expenses. At 4% SWR that's a portfolio of $625k–$875k. It's the fastest path to FIRE but requires a frugal post-retirement lifestyle.
Fat FIRE targets a premium, no-compromise retirement — typically $100,000+ in annual expenses and a portfolio of $2.5M+. It takes the longest to reach but funds international travel, premium healthcare, and no lifestyle restrictions.
Barista FIRE is Regular FIRE minus part-time income. The canonical example is a barista with employer-subsidised insurance: a smaller part-time paycheck (~$15k/yr) covers the gap so the portfolio only needs to fund the rest. At 4% SWR, $15k of part-time income reduces your target by $375k.
Regular FIRE means a portfolio large enough to fund your current lifestyle ($40k–$60k typical) at a 4% safe withdrawal rate — usually $1M–$1.5M. It's the middle path between Lean's frugality and Fat's luxury.
Most FIRE seekers don't have a fixed target; they have a budget for each lifestyle. Comparing all four on one screen shows the real trade-off: every $10k of lifestyle inflation costs you $250k of portfolio (at 4% SWR) and roughly 2–3 extra working years.
4% — the Trinity Study default, equivalent to 25× annual expenses. More conservative early retirees use 3.5% (≈ 28.6×); a leaner / shorter-horizon plan can use 5% (= 20×).
We simulate your portfolio month by month: your current savings grow at the return rate while monthly contributions are added. Years-to-FIRE for each flavor is the first month the portfolio crosses that flavor's target number.
Lifestyle inflation is the tendency for expenses to grow as income grows. The bigger your assumed retirement lifestyle, the larger your FIRE number — and every $1 of additional ongoing spend adds $25 to the portfolio you need.
All FIRE calculations on this site are grounded in peer-reviewed academic research and long-run historical data. See the Methodology page for full editorial standards.
Plan Financial Independence, Retire Early — your FIRE number, FIRE age, and a side-by-side view of Lean, Regular and Fat FIRE.
Track how close you are to financial independence — progress %, savings rate, FI ratio and whether you’re ahead or behind your target FIRE age.
Find the moment you can stop saving for retirement — and let compound growth carry you the rest of the way.
See your new salary after a raise — or the hike % you need to hit a target.
Plan monthly investments or a one-time lump sum and see the power of compounding over time.