FIRE Number Calculator
Find exactly how much money you need to retire early — and how many years away you are.
US mode: 4% rule → 25× your annual spending, shown in $.
Your numbers
Why 25× in the US but 33× in India?
The math is the same everywhere — FIRE number = annual expenses ÷ withdrawal rate — but the safe withdrawal rate isn't. Here's the honest reason the multiple is bigger for India.
- Backed by the Bengen & Trinity studies of US market history since 1926.
- US equities delivered ~7% real returns with relatively low, stable inflation (~2–3%).
- A 4% withdrawal survived every historical 30-year window — including 1929 and 1966.
- Higher inflation. India's CPI has run ~5–6% vs ~2–3% in the US — it erodes real returns and raises next year's spending.
- Shorter, choppier market history. Less long-run data and deeper drawdowns raise sequence-of-returns risk.
- Brutal healthcare inflation. With no universal coverage, medical costs compound far faster than general prices.
- Longer horizons. Indian FIRE skews young — a 40–50+ year retirement needs more cushion than a 30-year rule assumes.
Bottom line: a ~3% withdrawal (33×) is the more honest target for India. It's not that Indians save worse — it's that the same rupee has to survive a rougher ride.
Frequently asked questions
What is a FIRE number?
Your FIRE number is the total invested portfolio you need to retire early and live off withdrawals indefinitely. At the 4% rule, it's 25× your annual expenses. So if you spend $60,000/year, your FIRE number is $1,500,000.
How much do I need to retire early in India?
In India, plan on roughly 33× your annual expenses (a 3% withdrawal rate). Spend ₹12,00,000 a year and your FIRE number is about ₹4 crore. Switch this calculator to India mode to run it in rupees, with results in lakhs and crores.
Why 33× for India instead of the usual 25×?
The 25× (4%) rule comes from US market history with low, stable inflation. India runs higher inflation (~5–6%), has a shorter, more volatile market record, and faces steep healthcare costs with no universal coverage — so a safer 3% withdrawal (33×) builds in the margin those risks demand.
What withdrawal rate should I use?
If you plan to retire at a traditional age (60s), 4% is well-tested. If you're planning an early retirement lasting 40–50+ years, most FIRE practitioners use 3%–3.5% as a safety margin. The lower the rate, the larger your FIRE number — but also the safer your plan.
Does this account for inflation?
Use the "Expected Annual Return" field to enter a real (inflation-adjusted) return. The historical US stock market has returned ~10% nominally and ~7% in real (after-inflation) terms. Entering 7% here means your projections are already inflation-adjusted.
What about Social Security or pension income?
Reduce your "Annual Spending in Retirement" by any guaranteed income you'll receive. If you'll get $15,000/year from Social Security, and you spend $60,000/year, enter $45,000 as your annual spend — that's the gap your portfolio needs to cover.
This calculator is for educational purposes only. It does not account for taxes, investment fees, changing asset allocation, or individual financial circumstances. This is not financial advice.