All Comparisons
New York vs London FIRE Retirement Cost Comparison
Which city is better for FIRE retirement? A data-driven comparison of portfolio requirements, monthly costs, and lifestyle factors.
🇺🇸
New York
United States
Lean FIRE $1.12M
FIRE Number $2.71M
Fat FIRE $10.79M
Monthly Cost $9,050/mo
Four seasons Excellent Widely spoken Safe Easy
🇬🇧
London
United Kingdom
Lean FIRE $894K
FIRE Number $1.54M
Fat FIRE $6.8M
Monthly Cost $5,125/mo
Four seasons Excellent Widely spoken Safe Moderate
More affordable: London (saves $1.18M in required portfolio)
Healthcare: Even - both rated Excellent
Easier visa: New York (Easy)
Safety: Even - both rated Safe
Detailed Comparison
| Category | 🇺🇸 New York | 🇬🇧 London |
|---|---|---|
| Lean FIRE Number | $1.12M | $894K 👑 |
| FIRE Number | $2.71M | $1.54M 👑 |
| Fat FIRE Number | $10.79M | $6.8M 👑 |
| Monthly Cost (FIRE) | $9,050/mo | $5,125/mo 👑 |
| Safety | Safe Tie | Safe Tie |
| Healthcare | Excellent Tie | Excellent Tie |
| Climate | Four seasons | Four seasons |
| English | Widely spoken | Widely spoken |
| Visa | Easy 👑 | Moderate |
Which City Is Right for Your FIRE Goals?
Choose London if: you want to minimize your FIRE Number. At $1.54M, it's $1.18M cheaper to reach comfortable FIRE here compared to New York.
Choose New York if: healthcare access is a priority — it has Excellent healthcare infrastructure (both cities are comparable).
Choose New York if: you want easier residency access — visa difficulty is rated "Easy".