Data Analysis
FIRE Number by Country
How much does a person really need to retire early? It varies dramatically around the world. Explore FIRE numbers for countries on every continent.
- The index compares price levels across the whole economy (GDP), so actual living costs may vary
- Does not include visa, tax, or healthcare system differences
- Some low-cost countries may be experiencing instability or conflict
Key Findings
Based on 187 countries worldwide, here's what the data reveals about global FIRE numbers. These calculations use the 4% safe withdrawal rate and the World Bank price level index (GDP).
Complete Data Table
Search, filter, and sort to find FIRE numbers for any country. Download data for your own analysis.
| # | Country | FIRE Number | Annual Expenses | Cost Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigeria | $192,650 | $7,706/yr | 13 |
| 2 | Egypt | $229,100 | $9,164/yr | 15 |
| 3 | Afghanistan | $279,625 | $11,185/yr | 19 |
| 4 | Burundi | $281,025 | $11,241/yr | 19 |
| 5 | Iran | $298,825 | $11,953/yr | 20 |
| 6 | Laos | $335,850 | $13,434/yr | 22 |
| 7 | Sierra Leone | $341,525 | $13,661/yr | 23 |
| 8 | Bhutan | $343,950 | $13,758/yr | 23 |
| 9 | India | $345,050 | $13,802/yr | 23 |
| 10 | Pakistan | $364,175 | $14,567/yr | 24 |
| 11 | Myanmar | $371,500 | $14,860/yr | 25 |
| 12 | Gambia | $372,025 | $14,881/yr | 25 |
| 13 | Nepal | $373,075 | $14,923/yr | 25 |
| 14 | Bangladesh | $383,700 | $15,348/yr | 26 |
| 15 | Ethiopia | $386,300 | $15,452/yr | 26 |
| 16 | Rwanda | $404,775 | $16,191/yr | 27 |
| 17 | Tajikistan | $414,600 | $16,584/yr | 28 |
| 18 | Timor-Leste | $418,225 | $16,729/yr | 28 |
| 19 | Vietnam | $420,100 | $16,804/yr | 28 |
| 20 | Azerbaijan | $425,700 | $17,028/yr | 28 |
| 21 | Mauritania | $429,450 | $17,178/yr | 29 |
| 22 | Indonesia | $429,750 | $17,190/yr | 29 |
| 23 | Turkmenistan | $434,050 | $17,362/yr | 29 |
| 24 | Uzbekistan | $437,625 | $17,505/yr | 29 |
| 25 | Sri Lanka | $439,675 | $17,587/yr | 29 |
| 26 | Tanzania | $442,450 | $17,698/yr | 30 |
| 27 | Belarus | $444,150 | $17,766/yr | 30 |
| 28 | Zambia | $451,400 | $18,056/yr | 30 |
| 29 | Angola | $457,900 | $18,316/yr | 31 |
| 30 | Tunisia | $458,525 | $18,341/yr | 31 |
| 31 | Madagascar | $460,375 | $18,415/yr | 31 |
| 32 | Thailand | $460,375 | $18,415/yr | 31 |
| 33 | Ukraine | $465,425 | $18,617/yr | 31 |
| 34 | Suriname | $468,150 | $18,726/yr | 31 |
| 35 | Malaysia | $474,400 | $18,976/yr | 32 |
| 36 | Algeria | $488,350 | $19,534/yr | 33 |
| 37 | Eswatini | $491,850 | $19,674/yr | 33 |
| 38 | Georgia | $494,225 | $19,769/yr | 33 |
| 39 | Guyana | $496,650 | $19,866/yr | 33 |
| 40 | Philippines | $497,425 | $19,897/yr | 33 |
| 41 | Kazakhstan | $497,550 | $19,902/yr | 33 |
| 42 | Kyrgyzstan | $501,275 | $20,051/yr | 33 |
| 43 | Cambodia | $504,375 | $20,175/yr | 34 |
| 44 | Kenya | $505,175 | $20,207/yr | 34 |
| 45 | Togo | $508,875 | $20,355/yr | 34 |
| 46 | Mali | $511,000 | $20,440/yr | 34 |
| 47 | Cameroon | $511,175 | $20,447/yr | 34 |
| 48 | Guinea-Bissau | $511,875 | $20,475/yr | 34 |
| 49 | Mongolia | $512,675 | $20,507/yr | 34 |
| 50 | Nicaragua | $512,725 | $20,509/yr | 34 |
| 51 | Lesotho | $513,000 | $20,520/yr | 34 |
| 52 | Benin | $516,400 | $20,656/yr | 34 |
| 53 | Uganda | $518,800 | $20,752/yr | 35 |
| 54 | Congo | $520,400 | $20,816/yr | 35 |
| 55 | Paraguay | $522,250 | $20,890/yr | 35 |
| 56 | Brunei | $523,125 | $20,925/yr | 35 |
| 57 | Chad | $528,300 | $21,132/yr | 35 |
| 58 | Malawi | $530,325 | $21,213/yr | 35 |
| 59 | Russia | $530,975 | $21,239/yr | 35 |
| 60 | Niger | $534,175 | $21,367/yr | 36 |
| 61 | Senegal | $536,700 | $21,468/yr | 36 |
| 62 | Mozambique | $553,825 | $22,153/yr | 37 |
| 63 | Ivory Coast | $557,350 | $22,294/yr | 37 |
| 64 | Gabon | $557,850 | $22,314/yr | 37 |
| 65 | Burkina Faso | $560,400 | $22,416/yr | 37 |
| 66 | North Macedonia | $561,400 | $22,456/yr | 37 |
| 67 | Lebanon | $563,025 | $22,521/yr | 38 |
| 68 | Botswana | $563,700 | $22,548/yr | 38 |
| 69 | Colombia | $567,225 | $22,689/yr | 38 |
| 70 | Ghana | $567,425 | $22,697/yr | 38 |
| 71 | Iraq | $568,775 | $22,751/yr | 38 |
| 72 | Guinea | $570,625 | $22,825/yr | 38 |
| 73 | Armenia | $574,075 | $22,963/yr | 38 |
| 74 | Dominican Republic | $577,575 | $23,103/yr | 39 |
| 75 | Mauritius | $578,825 | $23,153/yr | 39 |
| 76 | Libya | $585,500 | $23,420/yr | 39 |
| 77 | Bolivia | $599,825 | $23,993/yr | 40 |
| 78 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | $603,250 | $24,130/yr | 40 |
| 79 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | $603,700 | $24,148/yr | 40 |
| 80 | Fiji | $609,825 | $24,393/yr | 41 |
| 81 | Namibia | $610,225 | $24,409/yr | 41 |
| 82 | El Salvador | $613,425 | $24,537/yr | 41 |
| 83 | Kosovo | $613,600 | $24,544/yr | 41 |
| 84 | Equatorial Guinea | $615,075 | $24,603/yr | 41 |
| 85 | Turkey | $616,025 | $24,641/yr | 41 |
| 86 | South Africa | $622,200 | $24,888/yr | 41 |
| 87 | Montenegro | $625,900 | $25,036/yr | 42 |
| 88 | DR Congo | $630,350 | $25,214/yr | 42 |
| 89 | Morocco | $630,750 | $25,230/yr | 42 |
| 90 | Central African Republic | $634,925 | $25,397/yr | 42 |
| 91 | Jordan | $635,050 | $25,402/yr | 42 |
| 92 | Ecuador | $637,825 | $25,513/yr | 43 |
| 93 | Bahrain | $646,425 | $25,857/yr | 43 |
| 94 | Moldova | $646,775 | $25,871/yr | 43 |
| 95 | Guatemala | $651,250 | $26,050/yr | 43 |
| 96 | Romania | $664,250 | $26,570/yr | 44 |
| 97 | Serbia | $675,125 | $27,005/yr | 45 |
| 98 | Panama | $676,150 | $27,046/yr | 45 |
| 99 | Honduras | $685,725 | $27,429/yr | 46 |
| 100 | Argentina | $685,775 | $27,431/yr | 46 |
| 101 | Brazil | $685,775 | $27,431/yr | 46 |
| 102 | Bulgaria | $685,975 | $27,439/yr | 46 |
| 103 | Albania | $690,875 | $27,635/yr | 46 |
| 104 | Liberia | $693,050 | $27,722/yr | 46 |
| 105 | Djibouti | $693,150 | $27,726/yr | 46 |
| 106 | Zimbabwe | $700,450 | $28,018/yr | 47 |
| 107 | Saudi Arabia | $702,125 | $28,085/yr | 47 |
| 108 | Oman | $707,425 | $28,297/yr | 47 |
| 109 | China | $708,850 | $28,354/yr | 47 |
| 110 | Chile | $714,550 | $28,582/yr | 48 |
| 111 | Cape Verde | $714,725 | $28,589/yr | 48 |
| 112 | Dominica | $725,725 | $29,029/yr | 48 |
| 113 | Comoros | $727,575 | $29,103/yr | 49 |
| 114 | Trinidad and Tobago | $766,425 | $30,657/yr | 51 |
| 115 | Maldives | $767,725 | $30,709/yr | 51 |
| 116 | Saint Lucia | $771,400 | $30,856/yr | 51 |
| 117 | Peru | $772,025 | $30,881/yr | 51 |
| 118 | Hungary | $779,750 | $31,190/yr | 52 |
| 119 | Poland | $785,625 | $31,425/yr | 52 |
| 120 | Belize | $788,350 | $31,534/yr | 53 |
| 121 | Sudan | $796,800 | $31,872/yr | 53 |
| 122 | Croatia | $798,025 | $31,921/yr | 53 |
| 123 | Mexico | $805,375 | $32,215/yr | 54 |
| 124 | Seychelles | $813,700 | $32,548/yr | 54 |
| 125 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | $826,450 | $33,058/yr | 55 |
| 126 | Macau | $830,850 | $33,234/yr | 55 |
| 127 | Qatar | $844,075 | $33,763/yr | 56 |
| 128 | Grenada | $850,750 | $34,030/yr | 57 |
| 129 | Latvia | $855,450 | $34,218/yr | 57 |
| 130 | Kuwait | $858,350 | $34,334/yr | 57 |
| 131 | South Korea | $860,850 | $34,434/yr | 57 |
| 132 | Slovakia | $868,325 | $34,733/yr | 58 |
| 133 | Papua New Guinea | $868,550 | $34,742/yr | 58 |
| 134 | Lithuania | $869,800 | $34,792/yr | 58 |
| 135 | Costa Rica | $885,850 | $35,434/yr | 59 |
| 136 | Czechia | $890,700 | $35,628/yr | 59 |
| 137 | Greece | $893,025 | $35,721/yr | 60 |
| 138 | Jamaica | $903,175 | $36,127/yr | 60 |
| 139 | Portugal | $905,475 | $36,219/yr | 60 |
| 140 | Singapore | $907,350 | $36,294/yr | 60 |
| 141 | Samoa | $945,300 | $37,812/yr | 63 |
| 142 | Slovenia | $946,325 | $37,853/yr | 63 |
| 143 | United Arab Emirates | $950,425 | $38,017/yr | 63 |
| 144 | Palestine | $951,375 | $38,055/yr | 63 |
| 145 | Sao Tome and Principe | $959,000 | $38,360/yr | 64 |
| 146 | Spain | $967,825 | $38,713/yr | 65 |
| 147 | Cyprus | $970,575 | $38,823/yr | 65 |
| 148 | Japan | $973,025 | $38,921/yr | 65 |
| 149 | Kiribati | $974,950 | $38,998/yr | 65 |
| 150 | Uruguay | $987,175 | $39,487/yr | 66 |
| 151 | Estonia | $990,800 | $39,632/yr | 66 |
| 152 | Malta | $995,150 | $39,806/yr | 66 |
| 153 | Andorra | $1,023,500 | $40,940/yr | 68 |
| 154 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | $1,028,750 | $41,150/yr | 69 |
| 155 | Italy | $1,034,400 | $41,376/yr | 69 |
| 156 | Antigua and Barbuda | $1,038,975 | $41,559/yr | 69 |
| 157 | Hong Kong | $1,062,825 | $42,513/yr | 71 |
| 158 | Solomon Islands | $1,122,575 | $44,903/yr | 75 |
| 159 | Tonga | $1,132,125 | $45,285/yr | 75 |
| 160 | France | $1,148,550 | $45,942/yr | 77 |
| 161 | Germany | $1,203,400 | $48,136/yr | 80 |
| 162 | Belgium | $1,220,275 | $48,811/yr | 81 |
| 163 | Austria | $1,229,450 | $49,178/yr | 82 |
| 164 | Canada | $1,251,700 | $50,068/yr | 83 |
| 165 | Netherlands | $1,265,750 | $50,630/yr | 84 |
| 166 | Palau | $1,271,000 | $50,840/yr | 85 |
| 167 | Ireland | $1,272,750 | $50,910/yr | 85 |
| 168 | Finland | $1,278,350 | $51,134/yr | 85 |
| 169 | Haiti | $1,289,600 | $51,584/yr | 86 |
| 170 | New Zealand | $1,297,050 | $51,882/yr | 86 |
| 171 | Sweden | $1,305,675 | $52,227/yr | 87 |
| 172 | United Kingdom | $1,337,375 | $53,495/yr | 89 |
| 173 | Vanuatu | $1,338,725 | $53,549/yr | 89 |
| 174 | Tuvalu | $1,340,700 | $53,628/yr | 89 |
| 175 | Australia | $1,358,100 | $54,324/yr | 91 |
| 176 | Norway | $1,363,775 | $54,551/yr | 91 |
| 177 | Denmark | $1,387,375 | $55,495/yr | 92 |
| 178 | Luxembourg | $1,410,975 | $56,439/yr | 94 |
| 179 | Marshall Islands | $1,420,475 | $56,819/yr | 95 |
| 180 | Bahamas | $1,434,475 | $57,379/yr | 96 |
| 181 | Micronesia | $1,437,975 | $57,519/yr | 96 |
| 182 | United States | $1,500,000 | $60,000/yr | 100 |
| 183 | Israel | $1,515,575 | $60,623/yr | 101 |
| 184 | Nauru | $1,546,375 | $61,855/yr | 103 |
| 185 | Barbados | $1,643,150 | $65,726/yr | 110 |
| 186 | Switzerland | $1,679,325 | $67,173/yr | 112 |
| 187 | Iceland | $1,767,750 | $70,710/yr | 118 |
FIRE Numbers Around the World
FIRE number by country based on World Bank Price Level Index data. Hover over a country for details.
FIRE Numbers at a Glance
Top 10 Most Affordable Countries
Lowest FIRE numbers worldwide
Top 10 Most Expensive Countries
Highest FIRE numbers worldwide
Average FIRE Number by Continent
Comparing regional affordability
Regional Breakdown
Cheapest and most expensive in each region
Compare FIRE Numbers Between Countries
See how moving abroad could change your FIRE target. Compare your current location to potential destinations.
FIRE Number Comparison
United States
Cost: 100% of USPortugal
Cost: 60% of USMoving from the US to Portugal could reduce your FIRE target by approximately $595,000.
Popular FIRE Destinations
Regional Insights
Southeast Asia Sits Below the Median
Vietnam ($420K) and Indonesia ($430K) rank 19th and 22nd lowest of 187 countries, and Thailand ($460K) ranks 32nd. All three sit below the global median of $647K.
Europe Spans a Wide Range
European figures run from $444K in Belarus to $1.77M in Iceland. Romania ($664K) and Bulgaria ($686K) sit close to the global median, while Norway ($1.36M) and Denmark ($1.39M) are nearer the US figure of $1.50M.
Latin America Below the US Figure
Colombia ($567K), Ecuador ($638K) and Mexico ($805K) come in at 38%, 43% and 54% of the US FIRE number of $1.50M.
International Geo-Arbitrage: Retire Earlier by Relocating
Geographic arbitrage takes on a new dimension when considering international relocation. The cost differences between countries are far more dramatic than regional variations within a single country. Someone targeting FIRE in the US might need $1.5 million, while the same spending adjusted to Portugal comes to $905K and to Mexico $805K, about 60% and 54% of the US figure.
The strategy has gained popularity in the FIRE community because a lower target can mean fewer years of saving. Remote work has made this even more accessible, allowing people to earn in high-income currencies while spending in lower-cost economies.
The data in this index shows the size of the gap. Moving from the US to a country like Iran could reduce a FIRE target by $1.20M. That difference represents years of additional work that might not be necessary.
Things to Consider Before Relocating Internationally
International moves involve more complexity than domestic relocations. Some factors worth researching:
- Visa and residency: Each country has different requirements for long-term stays. Some offer retirement visas, digital nomad visas, or investor visas. Requirements vary from proving minimal income to making substantial investments.
- Healthcare: Health systems vary dramatically. Some countries have excellent public healthcare, others require private insurance. Pre-existing conditions and age can affect options and costs.
- Taxes: Tax treaties, residency rules, and local tax obligations can be complex. Some countries tax worldwide income, others only local income. US citizens face additional reporting requirements regardless of where they live.
- Currency risk: Living in a country with a different currency exposes a person to exchange rate fluctuations. A strengthening local currency can effectively increase the cost of living over time.
- Social connections: Distance from family and friends is a significant factor that doesn't appear in financial calculations. Some find expat communities fulfill social needs, others struggle with isolation.
- Infrastructure and safety: Quality of roads, internet, utilities, and personal safety varies. Research specific regions, as conditions within a country can differ dramatically between cities.
Lean FIRE vs. Regular FIRE vs. Fat FIRE - Global Edition
The three common FIRE categories take on different meaning in a global context. What's considered "lean" in Switzerland might be "fat" in Southeast Asia. These numbers use the same methodology but show how geography dramatically affects the target.
Lean FIRE
Global range: $154K - $1.4M
Lean FIRE internationally opens possibilities that don't exist domestically. In the lowest-cost countries, a lean lifestyle might cost under $15,000 per year - achievable with a portfolio under $400K. This enables FIRE at a much younger age.
The trade-off: living lean in a developing country may mean smaller apartments, local food, limited travel, and less access to familiar conveniences.
Regular FIRE
Global range: $193K - $1.8M
Regular FIRE targets vary by over 9x between the cheapest and most expensive countries. The global median of $0.65M reflects that most countries are significantly cheaper than wealthy Western nations.
For Americans considering relocation, the median global FIRE number is substantially below what's needed to maintain an equivalent lifestyle in the US.
Fat FIRE
Global range: $381K - $3.5M
Fat FIRE in a lower-cost country can mean genuine luxury - large homes, hired help, frequent travel, and premium services - at a fraction of what basic comfort costs in expensive cities.
This creates interesting optionality: the same portfolio that enables regular FIRE in the US might fund a fat FIRE lifestyle elsewhere with substantial margin.
What is a FIRE Number?
A FIRE number is the amount of money a person needs invested to achieve financial independence and potentially retire early. It's calculated by multiplying annual expenses by 25 (based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate).
The key insight: expenses vary dramatically based on location. Someone living in Iceland needs about 9.2 times as much invested as someone with an equivalent lifestyle in Nigeria. This index quantifies exactly how much location choice affects a financial independence target.
The 4% Rule Explained
The 4% rule comes from the Trinity Study, which analyzed historical market returns to determine a safe withdrawal rate for retirees. The research found that withdrawing 4% of a portfolio in the first year of retirement, then adjusting for inflation each year after, gave a high probability of the money lasting 30+ years.
To find a FIRE number using this rule, divide annual expenses by 0.04 - or simply multiply by 25. Someone spending $60,000 per year would have a FIRE number of $1,500,000. But that $60,000 buys very different lifestyles depending on location.
Understanding the Price Level Index
The World Bank's price level index (GDP) is "the ratio of a purchasing power parity (PPP) conversion factor to the corresponding market exchange rate", with the United States as the base country set to 100. It shows how general price levels in each country differ from those in the US.
A country with a PLI of 50 means goods and services cost about half what they do in the US. A PLI of 150 means they cost 50% more. These differences compound dramatically when calculating FIRE numbers - a 50% lower cost of living means 50% less needs to be invested.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate are these international FIRE numbers?
These numbers are estimates based on World Bank Price Level Index data from 2025. They reflect the relative cost of goods and services compared to the US. Actual expenses will vary based on lifestyle choices, housing situation, healthcare needs, and specific location within each country.
Do these numbers include visas, taxes, and healthcare?
The Price Level Index focuses on the cost of goods and services, not legal or tax considerations. Visa requirements, residency options, tax treaties, and healthcare systems vary significantly between countries and can substantially affect actual expenses and legal ability to relocate.
Which countries are most popular for expat FIRE?
Popular destinations include Portugal (EU access, golden visa), Mexico (proximity to US, established expat communities), Thailand (low cost, infrastructure), Colombia (climate, affordability), and Vietnam (very low cost, growing economy). Each has trade-offs in terms of visa options, healthcare quality, and cultural adjustment.
What's the baseline annual spending used in these calculations?
We use $60,000 as the US baseline for annual expenses, then adjust up or down based on each country's Price Level Index. The calculator above allows entering a custom spending amount to see personalized FIRE numbers.
Is the 4% rule valid internationally?
The 4% rule was developed based on US market historical returns. Some argue it may not apply in countries with different market dynamics or currency risks. For those retiring abroad but keeping investments in US markets, the rule remains relevant, though currency fluctuations add another variable to consider.
How often is this data updated?
The World Bank publishes the price level index (GDP) in its World Development Indicators. The file used here was last updated on October 8, 2026 and runs through 2025. We update this index when new data is released.
Cite This Analysis
Using this data in your work? Here are ready-to-use citations in common formats.
@misc{fire_number_by_2026_rv2,
author = {FinancialAha Data Team},
title = {FIRE Number by Country: How Much Is Needed to Retire Early Worldwide},
year = {2026},
url = {https://www.financialaha.com/data-analysis/fire-number-by-country/rv2/},
note = {Accessed: 2026-10-22, Revision 2}
} TY - ELEC TI - FIRE Number by Country: How Much Is Needed to Retire Early Worldwide (Revision 2) AU - FinancialAha Data Team PB - FinancialAha PY - 2026 DA - 2026/01/04 UR - https://www.financialaha.com/data-analysis/fire-number-by-country/rv2/ Y2 - 2026-10-22 N1 - Revision 2 ER -
This analysis is licensed under CC BY 4.0. You are free to share and adapt this work with attribution.
Revision History
This analysis is updated when the source survey is released. Every revision keeps a permanent URL, so figures quoted from an earlier version can still be checked.
-
Updated to the World Bank price level index (PA.NUS.GDP.PLI) with 2025 values; the earlier indicator PA.NUS.PPPC.RF was retired
-
Initial release with World Bank ICP 2021 Price Level Ratio data
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