FIRE Number for Denver, United States
United States
Mile-High Mountain Living, Craft Beer Culture, and 300 Days of Sunshine
Denver sits at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, offering FIRE retirees an unmatched combination of outdoor adventure, urban culture, and over 300 days of sunshine per year. The city has evolved far beyond its frontier roots into a sophisticated metro with a thriving craft beer scene, excellent farm-to-table dining, and world-class skiing just 90 minutes away. Housing costs have climbed significantly in recent years but remain well below coastal cities, and Colorado's flat state income tax keeps the overall tax burden moderate. For anyone who values hiking, biking, skiing, and an active lifestyle, Denver is hard to beat.
Lean FIRE, FIRE, and Fat FIRE for Denver
The portfolio you need to retire in Denver at each lifestyle level, based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate.
| Lifestyle | FIRE Number | 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 Denver
Lean FIRE Lifestyle
$1.29MA modest apartment in an outer neighborhood like Montbello or Aurora. You need a car, and housing plus transportation take up more than half the budget. The upside is that Denver's best asset -- hundreds of free hiking trails in the Front Range foothills -- costs nothing. Brewery taprooms offer affordable socializing, and the 300 days of sunshine help. Ski days are a stretch at this budget, but hiking and biking season runs most of the year.
FIRE Lifestyle
$2.16MA three-bedroom house in Wash Park or the Highlands, or a modern condo in LoDo. You dine regularly at the city's best restaurants, hold an Ikon Pass for skiing at Vail and Copper Mountain, and keep Broncos season tickets. A late-model SUV handles mountain trips year-round. At $10,000 a month, Denver is genuinely affluent -- the city's moderate cost of living compared to the coasts means this budget stretches well.
Fat FIRE Lifestyle
$5.61MA large estate in Cherry Hills Village with mountain views. 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 hold a private box at Empower Field. A second home in Aspen or Vail is feasible at this budget. You support Denver's arts and hospital institutions as a major donor. The combination of city amenities and immediate Rocky Mountain access defines the lifestyle.
Retirement Confidence
Enter your portfolio on the homepage to see Monte Carlo retirement confidence for Denver.
Important notes on retirement confidence
A 90% confidence level is widely considered a strong retirement plan — it means your portfolio survived in 9 out of 10 historically-modeled scenarios. A 95% or higher rate is extremely conservative. Reaching 100% is nearly impossible in any Monte Carlo model, because there will always be a few extreme worst-case market sequences that deplete any portfolio.
Early retirees may need portfolios to last 40-50+ years. The 4% rule was originally validated for 30-year retirements. Consider a more conservative withdrawal rate (3-3.5%) for very early retirement.
Healthcare, Visa & City Overview
MST (UTC-7)
USD
English
51°F / 11°C
200+ Mbps average
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Frequently Asked Questions About Retiring in Denver
What is the FIRE Number for Denver, United States?
The FIRE Number for Denver 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 Denver?
Monthly living costs in Denver range from $4,300 (Lean FIRE) to $7,200 (FIRE), covering housing, dining, groceries, healthcare, transportation, entertainment, and utilities.
What is healthcare like in Denver for retirees?
Healthcare in Denver costs approximately $700 to $750/month depending on coverage level. Connect for Health Colorado Silver plan; Colorado premiums are moderate.
What is the weather like in Denver?
Continental semi-arid with cold, dry winters and warm summers The average temperature is 51°F / 11°C.
How safe is Denver for retirees?
Moderate – typical for a mid-size US city, improving in many neighborhoods
How Denver Compares
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