This Barista FIRE calculator shows how much you need invested to leave full-time work early and cover the rest of your spending with part-time income. It compares the result with full FIRE and shows how many years sooner you could downshift.
What is Barista FIRE?
Barista FIRE is a middle path between working full time and full financial independence. You save enough that your investments cover part of your spending, then switch to part-time or lower-stress work for the rest. The name comes from the idea of taking a part-time café job, often for the health benefits.
Barista FIRE formula
Barista FIRE number = (yearly spending − part-time income) ÷ withdrawal rate
With a 4% withdrawal rate, that is 25 times the gap between your spending and your part-time income.
Worked example
You plan to spend $40,000 a year and earn $20,000 from part-time work. At a 4% withdrawal rate, your Barista FIRE number is $500,000, half the $1,000,000 full FIRE number. Starting at 32 with $80,000 invested and adding $20,000 a year at a 5% real return, you reach it in about 13 years, around 9 years sooner than full FIRE.
Barista FIRE vs Coast FIRE
With Coast FIRE, you stop saving but keep earning enough to pay all your bills until a normal retirement age. With Barista FIRE, you start drawing on investments right away and use part-time income to cover the rest.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need for Barista FIRE?
Divide the spending your part-time income will not cover by your withdrawal rate. At 4%, that is 25 times the yearly gap.
Is Barista FIRE risky?
It depends on keeping some income. If part-time work ends, you would need to draw more from investments, so many people keep a cash buffer or aim a little higher.
Why do people choose part-time work for health insurance?
In the US, some employers offer health benefits to part-time staff, which can be a large saving before Medicare starts at 65.
Can I combine Barista FIRE with Coast FIRE?
Yes. Many people first reach Coast FIRE, then downshift once their portfolio can also cover part of their spending.
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Last reviewed: October 2026. For information only; not financial, tax or legal advice.