About PortfolioAtlas

PortfolioAtlas answers one simple question: "If I retire with $X, what kind of life can I actually live?" We break it down city by city, dollar by dollar.

How We Calculate

We use the widely-accepted 4% safe withdrawal rate (the "Trinity Study" rule) to determine the FIRE Number — the portfolio value needed to sustain a given lifestyle in a given city indefinitely.

For each lifestyle tier, we research and estimate realistic monthly costs for housing, groceries, dining out, healthcare, transportation, entertainment, utilities, and — at higher tiers — domestic help and luxury extras. The FIRE Number tells you the portfolio value needed to cover those costs using the 4% rule.

The FIRE Score

Each city receives a FIRE Score from 1 to 10 based on a weighted combination of four quality-of-life factors: safety (30%), healthcare quality (30%), infrastructure (20%), and expat friendliness (20%). Cost of living is intentionally excluded — it's already addressed through the affordability filters and lifestyle tiers.

A higher score means a better quality of life for retirees. Cities like Singapore, Tokyo, and Amsterdam score highest thanks to excellent safety, world-class healthcare, and strong infrastructure. The FIRE Score helps you answer: "If I can afford this city, how good is it to actually live there?"

Monte Carlo Simulation

The FIRE Planner uses a Monte Carlo simulation to stress-test your retirement plan against real-world uncertainty. Instead of assuming a single fixed return every year, we run 2,000 randomized scenarios where annual market returns vary based on the expected return and volatility you set.

For each scenario, we simulate two phases:

1. Accumulation — your portfolio grows (or shrinks) each year with random market returns plus your annual contributions, until you reach retirement.
2. Withdrawal — you draw down living expenses (adjusted for inflation each year) while the portfolio continues to experience random market returns. If the portfolio hits zero before the end of your retirement duration, that scenario "fails."

The Success Rate is the percentage of scenarios where your portfolio survived the full retirement duration. For example, 90% means your money lasted in 1,800 out of 2,000 simulated futures.

Because each scenario is randomly generated, reaching exactly 100% is nearly impossible — there will almost always be a few extreme worst-case sequences that deplete the portfolio. A success rate of 90–95% is considered very conservative and is widely used as a planning target in the FIRE community.

Important Disclaimers

The cost data on PortfolioAtlas is researched and estimated for informational purposes only. Actual costs vary based on personal lifestyle choices, exchange rate fluctuations, inflation, and individual circumstances.

This site does not provide financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with qualified professionals — a financial advisor, tax specialist, and immigration attorney — before making any relocation or retirement decisions.

Cost data reflects approximate values as of early 2026 and will be periodically reviewed.