Your FIRE number is driven primarily by spending. That makes financial independence partly a geography and lifestyle decision—not only an investment-return problem.
OUR METHODSources → assumptions → European context → verdict
The formula
A simple 4% starting estimate is monthly spending × 12 × 25. A more conservative 3.5% estimate divides annual spending by 0.035.
Illustrative city targets
The published comparison used comfortable urban budgets and a 3.5% withdrawal assumption.
- Zurich: about €1.89 million
- Amsterdam: about €1.30 million
- Munich: about €1.20 million
- Paris: about €1.10 million
- Berlin: about €960,000
- Barcelona: about €789,000
- Lisbon: about €686,000
- Warsaw: about €549,000
- Budapest: about €446,000
Use the table correctly
These are educational scenarios, not personal targets. Housing choices, healthcare, family structure, tax, inflation and travel can materially change spending.
The decision behind the number
You can work on both sides of the equation: grow the portfolio and intentionally design the lifestyle it needs to support.
Educational illustration only—not personal financial, tax or investment advice. Tax, salary, broker and market figures change; verify current local information before acting.