FIRE Number for Tucson, United States

A one-bedroom casita near Midtown or Sam Hughes, cooking at home most nights supplemented by cheap and excellent taquerias, and a paid-off car. Tucson's low rents make this one of the more comfortable $1M cities in the US. Sabino Canyon and Saguaro National Park provide free outdoor recreation year-round. The main budget watch is summer A/C -- electricity bills spike from June through September -- but the rest of the year is utility-light.

A three-bedroom home with a pool in the Catalina Foothills or Oro Valley, regular fine dining at Tucson's best restaurants, and a late-model SUV. Premium health insurance, a resort or country club membership, and regular road trips to Sedona and the Grand Canyon are all within budget. Tucson's low costs mean $10K a month goes far here -- you live comfortably in a desirable area with real room for travel and hobbies.

A large desert property with guest house and mountain views, a cook who comes in several times a week, full-time domestic help, and top-tier concierge healthcare with access to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. You travel first class, keep multiple vehicles, and dine out without thinking about the bill. Tucson's low cost of living means this budget creates enormous margin -- enough for a second property, regular charitable giving to conservation and arts organizations, and travel throughout the year.