Cheapest Cities for FIRE — 2026 Rankings

Where does your FIRE number go furthest? Ranked by monthly cost of living for a single person.

Worldwide Rankings

FIRE Number = Monthly Expenses × 12 × 25 (4% withdrawal rule). Lower = cheaper to retire.

# City Country Monthly (Single) FIRE Number
Fukuoka Japan ¥140,000/mo ¥42,000,000
Osaka Japan ¥180,000/mo ¥54,000,000
Tokyo Japan ¥250,000/mo ¥75,000,000
Bangalore India ₹40,000/mo ₹12,000,000
Delhi India ₹45,000/mo ₹13,500,000
Mumbai India ₹50,000/mo ₹15,000,000
Glasgow United Kingdom £1,300/mo £390,000
Manchester United Kingdom £1,500/mo £450,000
London United Kingdom £2,500/mo £750,000
Leipzig Germany €1,400/mo €420,000
Berlin Germany €1,800/mo €540,000
Munich Germany €2,200/mo €660,000
Montreal Canada C$2,200/mo C$660,000
Toronto Canada C$3,000/mo C$900,000
Vancouver Canada C$3,200/mo C$960,000
Brisbane Australia A$2,800/mo A$840,000
Melbourne Australia A$3,200/mo A$960,000
Sydney Australia A$3,800/mo A$1,140,000
Singapore (suburbs) Singapore S$2,800/mo S$840,000
Singapore (central) Singapore S$4,000/mo S$1,200,000
Belo Horizonte Brazil R$3,500/mo R$1,050,000
Rio de Janeiro Brazil R$4,500/mo R$1,350,000
São Paulo Brazil R$5,000/mo R$1,500,000
Toulouse France €1,500/mo €450,000
Lyon France €1,600/mo €480,000
Paris France €2,200/mo €660,000
Valencia Spain €1,300/mo €390,000
Madrid Spain €1,600/mo €480,000
Barcelona Spain €1,700/mo €510,000
Palermo Italy €1,100/mo €330,000
Rome Italy €1,600/mo €480,000
Milan Italy €1,800/mo €540,000
Rotterdam Netherlands €1,700/mo €510,000
Utrecht Netherlands €1,800/mo €540,000
Amsterdam Netherlands €2,200/mo €660,000
Malmö Sweden kr14,000/mo kr4,200,000
Gothenburg Sweden kr15,000/mo kr4,500,000
Stockholm Sweden kr18,000/mo kr5,400,000
Bern Switzerland CHF3,000/mo CHF900,000
Zurich Switzerland CHF4,000/mo CHF1,200,000
Geneva Switzerland CHF4,200/mo CHF1,260,000
Incheon South Korea ₩1,400,000/mo ₩420,000,000
Busan South Korea ₩1,500,000/mo ₩450,000,000
Seoul South Korea ₩2,000,000/mo ₩600,000,000
Mérida Mexico MXN12,000/mo MXN3,600,000
Guadalajara Mexico MXN14,000/mo MXN4,200,000
Mexico City Mexico MXN18,000/mo MXN5,400,000
Durban South Africa R13,000/mo R3,900,000
Johannesburg South Africa R15,000/mo R4,500,000
Cape Town South Africa R17,000/mo R5,100,000
Sharjah UAE AED6,000/mo AED1,800,000
Abu Dhabi UAE AED9,500/mo AED2,850,000
Dubai UAE AED10,000/mo AED3,000,000
Krakow European Union €1,000/mo €300,000
Athens European Union €1,200/mo €360,000
Lisbon European Union €1,400/mo €420,000
Flint United States $1,600/mo $480,000
Youngstown United States $1,600/mo $480,000
Fort Smith United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Macon United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Evansville United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Bowling Green KY United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Shreveport United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Jackson MS United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Gulfport United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Grand Island United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Las Cruces United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Roswell United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Cleveland United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Toledo United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Canton OH United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Clarksville United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Amarillo United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Brownsville United States $1,700/mo $510,000
McAllen United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Huntington United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Wheeling United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Parkersburg United States $1,700/mo $510,000
Mobile United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Montgomery United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Auburn United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Little Rock United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Jacksonville FL United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Augusta GA United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Columbus GA United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Warner Robins United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Sioux City United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Peoria United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Fort Wayne United States $1,800/mo $540,000
South Bend United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Wichita United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Topeka United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Alexandria LA United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Lansing United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Springfield MO United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Southaven United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Great Falls United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Grand Forks United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Binghamton United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Utica United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Dayton United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Akron United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Scranton United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Erie PA United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Spartanburg United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Aberdeen SD United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Memphis United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Knoxville United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Johnson City United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Lubbock United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Appleton United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Charleston WV United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Morgantown United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Pueblo United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Bossier City United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Laramie United States $1,800/mo $540,000
Huntsville United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Fayetteville AR United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Tucson United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Fresno United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Bakersfield United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Gainesville FL United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Athens GA United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Cedar Rapids United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Davenport United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Twin Falls United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Springfield IL United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Rockford United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Bloomington IN United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Lafayette IN United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Covington KY United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Lafayette LA United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Bangor United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Detroit United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Kalamazoo United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Columbia MO United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Billings United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Fayetteville NC United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Fargo United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Bismarck United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Lincoln United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Syracuse United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Norman United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Broken Arrow United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Greenville SC United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Columbia SC United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Rapid City United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Chattanooga United States $1,900/mo $570,000
El Paso United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Corpus Christi United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Ogden United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Roanoke United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Green Bay United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Eau Claire United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Cheyenne United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Casper United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Warren MI United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Murfreesboro United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Janesville United States $1,900/mo $570,000
Modesto United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Dover DE United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Tallahassee United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Daytona Beach United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Savannah United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Idaho Falls United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Champaign United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Indianapolis United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Lexington United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Baton Rouge United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Springfield MA United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Grand Rapids United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Duluth United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Independence MO United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Greensboro United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Winston-Salem United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Omaha United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Albuquerque United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Buffalo United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Rochester United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Cincinnati United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Tulsa United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Pittsburgh United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Sioux Falls United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Waco United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Provo United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Newport News United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Rutland United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Spokane United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Kenosha United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Pensacola United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Dearborn United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Sterling Heights United States $2,000/mo $600,000
High Point United States $2,000/mo $600,000
West Valley City United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Kennewick United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Gillette United States $2,000/mo $600,000
Birmingham United States $2,100/mo $630,000
Des Moines United States $2,100/mo $630,000
Iowa City United States $2,100/mo $630,000
Meridian ID United States $2,100/mo $630,000
Kansas City KS United States $2,100/mo $630,000
Louisville United States $2,100/mo $630,000
Missoula United States $2,100/mo $630,000
Albany United States $2,100/mo $630,000
Oklahoma City United States $2,100/mo $630,000
Medford United States $2,100/mo $630,000
Harrisburg United States $2,100/mo $630,000
Richmond United States $2,100/mo $630,000
Norfolk United States $2,100/mo $630,000
Bethlehem PA United States $2,100/mo $630,000
Waukesha United States $2,100/mo $630,000
Stockton United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Greeley United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Wilmington DE United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Melbourne FL United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Boise United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Aurora IL United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Rochester MN United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Kansas City United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Wilmington NC United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Manchester NH United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Paterson United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Las Vegas United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Carson City United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Columbus OH United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Salem OR United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Eugene United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Allentown United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Lancaster PA United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Myrtle Beach United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Garland United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Salt Lake City United States $2,200/mo $660,000
St. George United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Virginia Beach United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Milwaukee United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Port St. Lucie United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Olathe United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Denton United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Midland TX United States $2,200/mo $660,000
Mesa United States $2,300/mo $690,000
New Haven United States $2,300/mo $690,000
St. Petersburg United States $2,300/mo $690,000
Overland Park United States $2,300/mo $690,000
New Orleans United States $2,300/mo $690,000
Portland ME United States $2,300/mo $690,000
St. Louis United States $2,300/mo $690,000
Charlotte United States $2,300/mo $690,000
Durham United States $2,300/mo $690,000
Henderson United States $2,300/mo $690,000
Corvallis United States $2,300/mo $690,000
Warwick RI United States $2,300/mo $690,000
Charleston SC United States $2,300/mo $690,000
San Antonio United States $2,300/mo $690,000
Olympia United States $2,300/mo $690,000
Sandy UT United States $2,300/mo $690,000
Fairbanks United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Riverside United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Colorado Springs United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Hartford United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Tampa United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Orlando United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Lowell United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Traverse City United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Raleigh United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Asheville United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Nashua United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Trenton United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Reno United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Providence United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Houston United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Fort Worth United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Arlington TX United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Burlington VT United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Tacoma United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Madison United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Clearwater United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Marietta GA United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Schaumburg United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Rochester Hills United States $2,400/mo $720,000
Juneau United States $2,500/mo $750,000
Phoenix United States $2,500/mo $750,000
Chandler United States $2,500/mo $750,000
Lakewood CO United States $2,500/mo $750,000
Bridgeport United States $2,500/mo $750,000
Fort Myers United States $2,500/mo $750,000
Atlanta United States $2,500/mo $750,000
Worcester United States $2,500/mo $750,000
St. Paul United States $2,500/mo $750,000
Portsmouth NH United States $2,500/mo $750,000
Elizabeth NJ United States $2,500/mo $750,000
Santa Fe United States $2,500/mo $750,000
Irving United States $2,500/mo $750,000
Vancouver WA United States $2,500/mo $750,000
Bellingham United States $2,500/mo $750,000
Maple Grove United States $2,500/mo $750,000
Mount Pleasant SC United States $2,500/mo $750,000
Everett WA United States $2,500/mo $750,000
Anchorage United States $2,600/mo $780,000
Flagstaff United States $2,600/mo $780,000
Ontario CA United States $2,600/mo $780,000
Fort Collins United States $2,600/mo $780,000
Aurora CO United States $2,600/mo $780,000
Sarasota United States $2,600/mo $780,000
Naperville United States $2,600/mo $780,000
Columbia MD United States $2,600/mo $780,000
Frederick MD United States $2,600/mo $780,000
Ann Arbor United States $2,600/mo $780,000
Cary United States $2,600/mo $780,000
Nashville United States $2,600/mo $780,000
Dallas United States $2,600/mo $780,000
Chapel Hill United States $2,600/mo $780,000
Beaverton United States $2,600/mo $780,000
Round Rock United States $2,600/mo $780,000
Danbury United States $2,700/mo $810,000
Fort Lauderdale United States $2,700/mo $810,000
Baltimore United States $2,700/mo $810,000
Bloomington MN United States $2,700/mo $810,000
Philadelphia United States $2,700/mo $810,000
Oxnard United States $2,800/mo $840,000
Miami United States $2,800/mo $840,000
Hilo United States $2,800/mo $840,000
Evanston United States $2,800/mo $840,000
Annapolis United States $2,800/mo $840,000
Bozeman United States $2,800/mo $840,000
Newark United States $2,800/mo $840,000
Portland OR United States $2,800/mo $840,000
Bend United States $2,800/mo $840,000
Plano United States $2,800/mo $840,000
Palm Springs United States $2,800/mo $840,000
Sandy Springs United States $2,800/mo $840,000
Evanston IL United States $2,800/mo $840,000
Sugar Land United States $2,800/mo $840,000
Leesburg VA United States $2,800/mo $840,000
Minneapolis United States $2,900/mo $870,000
Sacramento United States $3,000/mo $900,000
Chula Vista United States $3,000/mo $900,000
Norwalk United States $3,000/mo $900,000
West Palm Beach United States $3,000/mo $900,000
Chicago United States $3,000/mo $900,000
Quincy MA United States $3,000/mo $900,000
Silver Spring United States $3,000/mo $900,000
Austin United States $3,000/mo $900,000
Scottsdale United States $3,200/mo $960,000
Long Beach United States $3,200/mo $960,000
Santa Rosa United States $3,200/mo $960,000
Denver United States $3,200/mo $960,000
Stamford United States $3,200/mo $960,000
Jersey City United States $3,200/mo $960,000
Alexandria VA United States $3,200/mo $960,000
Santa Clarita United States $3,200/mo $960,000
Anaheim United States $3,400/mo $1,020,000
Boulder United States $3,400/mo $1,020,000
Kailua United States $3,400/mo $1,020,000
Pasadena CA United States $3,400/mo $1,020,000
Oakland United States $3,500/mo $1,050,000
Naples FL United States $3,500/mo $1,050,000
Honolulu United States $3,500/mo $1,050,000
Princeton United States $3,500/mo $1,050,000
Arlington VA United States $3,500/mo $1,050,000
Jackson WY United States $3,500/mo $1,050,000
Somerville United States $3,500/mo $1,050,000
San Diego United States $3,600/mo $1,080,000
Thousand Oaks United States $3,600/mo $1,080,000
Seattle United States $3,700/mo $1,110,000
Los Angeles United States $3,800/mo $1,140,000
Cambridge United States $3,800/mo $1,140,000
White Plains United States $3,800/mo $1,140,000
Laguna Niguel United States $3,800/mo $1,140,000
Santa Barbara United States $4,000/mo $1,200,000
Boston United States $4,000/mo $1,200,000
Park City United States $4,000/mo $1,200,000
Bellevue United States $4,000/mo $1,200,000
Irvine United States $4,200/mo $1,260,000
Washington DC United States $4,200/mo $1,260,000
Redmond WA United States $4,200/mo $1,260,000
New York United States $4,500/mo $1,350,000
San Jose United States $4,800/mo $1,440,000
San Francisco United States $5,000/mo $1,500,000

Sort by country — cities listed cheapest to most expensive within each country. For a global sort across all cities, see our FIRE Data page.

Key Insights

  • Cheapest region: Eastern Europe (Krakow, €1,000/mo) and Southeast Asia offer the lowest FIRE thresholds
  • Most expensive: Switzerland (Geneva, CHF 4,200/mo) and US coastal cities
  • Geo-arbitrage between expensive and cheap cities can reduce your FIRE number by 80%+
  • A FIRE number of $500,000 is sufficient in Krakow, but only covers ~4 years in Zurich

Data source: Numbeo 2026. FIRE Number calculated using the 4% rule (expenses × 25). Monthly costs include housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare estimates for a moderate lifestyle.

View the full FIRE Data & Datasets page for downloadable JSON.