FIRE Number for Austin, United States
United States
Live Music, No State Income Tax, and Year-Round Sunshine
Austin combines a vibrant cultural scene with zero state income tax, making it a compelling domestic FIRE destination. The city offers world-class dining, outdoor recreation along the Colorado River, and a booming tech economy if you ever want to un-retire. While housing costs have risen sharply, Austin still undercuts coastal cities and rewards careful budgeting with an exceptional quality of life.
Lean FIRE, FIRE, and Fat FIRE for Austin
Needed to retire here is the portfolio that, in a historical backtest, would have lasted your retirement at your chosen confidence and length. Status is the verdict for your portfolio. The 4% rule benchmark is shown underneath each figure for reference only.
Enter your real monthly healthcare cost and we'll use it across all lifestyle tiers — handy for VA/TriCare (enter 0) or when your ACA cost differs from our estimate.
| Lifestyle | Needed to retire here | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Lean FIRE | $1.29M | $4,300/mo |
| FIRE | $2.16M | $7,200/mo |
| Fat FIRE | $5.61M | $18,700/mo |
Cost of Living Breakdown for Austin
All cost and FIRE figures assume a single adult.
Lean FIRE Lifestyle
$1.29MA one-bedroom apartment in East Riverside or North Loop. You need a car, and summer electric bills spike from A/C, which squeezes the budget. You cook most meals and eat at taco trucks a few times a week. The major advantage is Texas's zero state income tax -- every dollar of your $3,333 withdrawal stays with you. Free live music on 6th Street and swimming at Barton Springs keep entertainment costs low.
FIRE Lifestyle
$2.16MA three-bedroom house in Travis Heights or Zilker, or a modern condo downtown. You dine regularly at top restaurants like Uchi and Emmer & Rye, take weekend trips to Fredericksburg wine country, and rent boats on Lake Travis. At $10,000 a month with no state income tax, Austin is comfortably affluent. The city's music scene, outdoor recreation along the Colorado River, and growing food culture are all easily accessible.
Fat FIRE Lifestyle
$5.61MA large estate in Barton Creek or a waterfront property on Lake Austin. You have a full-time housekeeper, a cook who comes in several times a week, and a personal assistant. You dine wherever you want, travel first class, and keep a boat on Lake Travis. Texas's zero state income tax means the full $33,333 monthly budget is available for spending. You support local institutions as a donor and live very comfortably in a city with a relaxed pace and strong food and music culture.
Retirement Confidence
The 4% rule is a great starting point. Here we go a step further and test your plan against real market history.
Enter your portfolio on the homepage to backtest a retirement in Austin against market history.
Backtest detail
How this is calculated
This is a real historical backtest. We run your plan through every retirement-length window in US market history (1871–2022): a 75% stock / 25% bond portfolio, rebalanced annually, with withdrawals raised each year for that period's actual inflation. The success rate is the share of those historical start years in which the money lasted the full length without running out.
Your confidence level sets the bar: at Balanced (90%), a survival rate of 90% or more reads "You can retire here", within 10 points below is "Close — worth a closer look", and lower is "Not quite yet". The same level sizes the "Needed to retire here" target. Retirement length also drives it — early retirees planning 40–50+ years see lower survival than the 30-year baseline.
Healthcare, Visa & City Overview
CST (UTC-6)
USD
English
68°F / 20°C
200+ Mbps average
Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS)
Frequently Asked Questions About Retiring in Austin
What is the FIRE Number for Austin, United States?
The FIRE Number for Austin ranges from $1.29M (Lean FIRE lifestyle) to $5.61M (Fat FIRE lifestyle). A FIRE retirement requires a portfolio of approximately $2.16M, based on estimated monthly costs of $7,200 and a 4% safe withdrawal rate.
How much does it cost to retire in Austin?
Monthly living costs in Austin range from $4,300 (Lean FIRE) to $7,200 (FIRE), covering housing, dining, groceries, healthcare, transportation, entertainment, and utilities.
What is healthcare like in Austin for retirees?
Healthcare in Austin costs approximately $700 to $800/month depending on coverage level. ACA marketplace Silver plan; Texas has no state exchange so costs run higher.
What is the weather like in Austin?
Subtropical with hot summers and mild winters The average temperature is 68°F / 20°C.
How safe is Austin for retirees?
Moderate – typical mid-size US city
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