Barista FIRE Calculator
Calculate your Barista FIRE number.
See when you can semi-retire with part-time work covering expenses while investments grow.
Barista FIRE is a semi-retirement strategy where you leave your full-time career but continue working part-time — just enough to cover basic living expenses while your investment portfolio grows undisturbed. The name comes from the popular example of working a part-time café job for income (and health benefits) while the portfolio compounds in the background.
Core formulas:
Annual Income Gap = Annual Expenses − Part-Time Income
Barista FIRE Number = Annual Income Gap × 25
Full FIRE Number = Annual Expenses × 25
Savings Required vs. Full FIRE = Full FIRE Number − Barista FIRE Number
The multiplier of 25 comes from the 4% Safe Withdrawal Rate — research showing a diversified portfolio can sustain 4% annual withdrawals indefinitely. Dividing 1 by 4% = 25.
Variable definitions:
- Annual Expenses: your total yearly spending, including housing, food, transport, healthcare, and fun
- Part-Time Income: reliable income from a flexible low-stress job
- Income Gap: the portion your portfolio must cover each year
- FIRE Number: the portfolio size needed to fund the gap indefinitely at 4% withdrawal
Worked example: Annual expenses: $52,000 Part-time barista job income: $18,000 Annual gap = $52,000 − $18,000 = $34,000 Barista FIRE number = $34,000 × 25 = $850,000 Full FIRE number = $52,000 × 25 = $1,300,000
By taking a part-time job, you need $450,000 less in the portfolio — which could represent 5–10 fewer years of full-time work.
FIRE strategy comparison:
| Strategy | Portfolio Target | Work Required |
|---|---|---|
| Full FIRE | Expenses × 25 | None |
| Barista FIRE | (Expenses − Part-Time Income) × 25 | Part-time |
| Coast FIRE | Enough to grow to Full FIRE by age 65 | Full-time (no extra saving) |
| Lean FIRE | Frugal expenses × 25 | None |
Key risk factor: Part-time income is not guaranteed. Barista FIRE portfolios should ideally be able to sustain a 3–5% withdrawal rate alone if the part-time job is unavailable — as a safety buffer.