Lean FIRE means retiring early on a minimalist budget, typically spending $25,000-40,000/year. You need 70% less savings than traditional FIRE by living frugally and cutting unnecessary expenses.

How much do I need for Lean FIRE?

Lean FIRE requires about 70% of a regular FIRE number. If your lean annual expenses are $30,000, you need $750,000 (using 4% rule). This is $321,000 less than regular FIRE at $43,000/year expenses.

What are typical Lean FIRE expenses?

Lean FIRE expenses range from $25,000-40,000/year. This includes modest housing (often in LCOL areas), home cooking, minimal travel, no car payment, and DIY lifestyle. Healthcare and basics are covered but with little luxury spending.

Is Lean FIRE sustainable long-term?

Lean FIRE is sustainable if you genuinely enjoy minimalism and have flexibility. Risks include healthcare cost increases, emergencies, and lifestyle creep. Many Lean FIRE people do part-time work (Barista FIRE) for extra buffer.

Where do Lean FIRE people live?

Most Lean FIRE retirees live in low cost of living (LCOL) areas or countries. Popular locations include Southeast Asia, Portugal, Mexico, and rural USA where housing and living costs are 50-70% lower than major cities.

Lean FIRE Calculator

Retire early on a minimalist budget with 30% less savings required

Lean FIRE Calculator

Calculate how much you need to retire early on a minimalist budget. Lean FIRE requires 30% less savings by embracing frugal living.

Current Age

Annual Expenses (Lean Budget)*

Typical Lean FIRE: $25,000-40,000/year

Current Savings

Total value of all retirement accounts and investments

Monthly Savings

How much you save each month toward FIRE

Expected Return

7% is historical average

Withdrawal Rate

4% is standard, 3-3.5% is conservative

What is Lean FIRE?

Lean FIRE is a minimalist approach to financial independence where you retire early by keeping expenses low, typically between $25,000-40,000 per year. This requires approximately 30% less savings than traditional FIRE.

The key to Lean FIRE is embracing frugality without feeling deprived. Most Lean FIRE adherents live in low cost of living areas, cook at home, minimize transportation costs, and find free or low-cost entertainment.

Example: With $30,000 annual expenses and a 4% withdrawal rate, you need $750,000 to achieve Lean FIRE. Compare this to $1,071,000 for regular FIRE at $43,000/year expenses - a savings of $321,000!

Is Lean FIRE Right for You?

Lean FIRE works best if you:

✓Genuinely enjoy minimalism and simple living
✓Can live in a low cost of living area or country
✓Have low-cost hobbies and entertainment preferences
✓Are comfortable with DIY and resourcefulness
✓Have healthcare covered (Medicare, ACA, or geographic arbitrage)

Consider Regular or Barista FIRE if:

⚠You have kids or dependents with higher expenses
⚠You prefer urban living in high cost of living areas
⚠You want flexibility for travel and dining out
⚠Healthcare costs are a major concern

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about this tool