FIRE is not one-size-fits-all. Full FIRE, Lean FIRE, Coast FIRE, and Barista FIRE each change how much you need to save, when you can leave full-time work, and what your lifestyle looks like afterward.
Comparing strategies side by side is the fastest way to see which path fits your values, income, and risk tolerance, not just which one sounds most impressive online.
Full FIRE
Full FIRE means your portfolio covers your entire lifestyle now. You stop working for money and live off withdrawals, typically using a 3.5–4% safe withdrawal rate.
Best for: high savings rates, moderate-to-high spending targets, and people who want maximum freedom from employment. Requires the largest portfolio and usually the longest sprint of aggressive saving.
Lean FIRE
Lean FIRE targets a frugal lifestyle, often under $40,000 per year, which dramatically lowers the portfolio target. You retire early on less.
Best for: people comfortable with minimal spending, geographic arbitrage, and simple living. Tradeoff: less financial cushion and limited flexibility for lifestyle upgrades.
Coast FIRE
Coast FIRE means you have saved enough that compound growth will reach your retirement number without further contributions. You can ease off saving but typically keep working until traditional retirement age.
Best for: people who want financial security without extreme frugality or immediate retirement. You stop the savings sprint but not necessarily the career.
Barista FIRE
Barista FIRE uses part-time income to cover part of your expenses, so your portfolio only funds the remainder. Health insurance from a flexible job is a common motivator.
Best for: people who want to leave a demanding career soon but are open to enjoyable part-time work. Smaller portfolio than full FIRE, more freedom than coasting to 65.
How to choose your path
Start with your non-negotiable spending and work preferences. If you cannot imagine earning part-time income, Barista FIRE is a poor fit. If you love your career but hate the savings pressure, Coast FIRE may be ideal.
Run the same inputs, age, income, savings, return assumptions, through each model. Small changes in spending or part-time income can shift the optimal path.
You can also blend strategies: reach Coast FIRE first, then transition to Barista FIRE, then move to full FIRE as your portfolio grows.
Compare your paths
The FIRE comparison calculator models Full, Lean, Coast, and Barista FIRE with the same inputs so you can see timelines and portfolio targets on one screen.
Drill into each variant with the dedicated calculators linked from the comparison results.