Coast FIRE vs Regular FIRE: Which Path to Freedom? (2026)
Coast FIRE and regular FIRE both lead to financial freedom - but through very different paths. Here's how to decide which is right for you.
The Core Difference
Coast FIRE
Save $150-400k → stop saving, keep working → compound interest handles retirement. Freedom from saving.
Regular FIRE
Save $1M-2.5M+ → stop working entirely → live off withdrawals forever. Freedom from work.
Quick Comparison
| Coast FIRE | Regular FIRE | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Stop saving for retirement | Stop working entirely |
| Typical savings needed | $150k - $400k | $1M - $2.5M+ |
| Withdraw from investments? | No - let them grow | Yes - 3.5-4% annually |
| Still working? | Yes, but on your terms | No (optional) |
| Years to achieve (avg) | 5 - 10 years | 15 - 25 years |
| Best for | Career flexibility seekers | Those who want to stop working |
What is Regular FIRE?
FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) is the strategy of saving and investing aggressively - typically 50-70% of your income - until your portfolio can sustain your living expenses indefinitely through withdrawals.
The standard rule: save 25x your annual expenses. If you spend $50,000/year, your FIRE number is $1,250,000. At a 4% withdrawal rate, that portfolio provides $50,000/year forever (historically, with a 95%+ success rate over 30 years).
FIRE NUMBER FORMULA
FIRE Number = Annual Expenses × 25
Based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate from the Trinity Study
Regular FIRE Example
Marcus, 28, earns $85,000 and spends $40,000/year. His FIRE number is $1,000,000. Saving $45,000/year at 7% returns, he reaches FIRE at age 42. After that, he never needs to work again - his portfolio covers everything.
Learn more: Calculate your FIRE number
What is Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE is the milestone where your invested savings will compound to your full FIRE number by traditional retirement age - without adding another dollar.
The key insight: once your investments reach a critical mass, time does the heavy lifting. You stop saving for retirement and only earn enough to cover current expenses. The mental shift is profound - retirement is handled; you are just covering today.
COAST FIRE FORMULA
Coast FIRE = FIRE Number ÷ (1 + r)n
Where r = expected annual return (e.g., 0.07) and n = years until retirement
Coast FIRE Example
Sarah, 30, also needs $1,000,000 to retire. Her Coast FIRE number is $1,000,000 ÷ (1.07)30 = $131,000. If Sarah has $131,000 invested today, she can stop saving. At 7% annual returns, it grows to $1M by age 60. She still works, but only to cover current living costs.
Learn more: What is Coast FIRE? Complete Guide
Key Differences
1. What “freedom” means
Regular FIRE gives you freedom from work - you never need to earn another dollar. Coast FIRE gives you freedom from saving - you still work, but without the pressure to invest for retirement. These are fundamentally different types of freedom, and which matters more depends on your personality.
2. Timeline and accessibility
Coast FIRE is typically achievable in 5-10 years of aggressive saving. Regular FIRE takes 15-25 years for most people. This difference matters enormously - it is the difference between gaining flexibility at 30 vs. 45.
3. Risk exposure
With Coast FIRE, your money stays invested and compounds for decades. Market downturns have plenty of time to recover. With regular FIRE, you face sequence-of-returns risk - a market crash in your first few years of retirement can permanently damage your portfolio because you are withdrawing during the downturn.
4. Lifestyle during the journey
Pursuing regular FIRE typically means 15+ years of high savings rates (50-70% of income). Pursuing Coast FIRE means 5-10 years of aggressive saving followed by decades of spending more freely. Some people prefer the sprint-then-coast approach; others prefer grinding to full freedom.
Where do you stand?
Calculate both your Coast FIRE and full FIRE numbers to see which milestone is closer.
Try the CalculatorThe Numbers: Coast FIRE vs Regular FIRE by Age
Here is how much you need for each, assuming $50,000/year retirement expenses and 7% returns (retire at 60):
| Your Age | Coast FIRE Number | Regular FIRE Number | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | $116,000 | $1,250,000 | 91% less |
| 30 | $163,000 | $1,250,000 | 87% less |
| 35 | $229,000 | $1,250,000 | 82% less |
| 40 | $321,000 | $1,250,000 | 74% less |
| 45 | $450,000 | $1,250,000 | 64% less |
| 50 | $631,000 | $1,250,000 | 50% less |
Coast FIRE assumes 7% real returns and retirement at 60. Regular FIRE number stays constant at 25x expenses.
The younger you are, the bigger the gap. A 25-year-old needs 91% less for Coast FIRE than regular FIRE. This is the power of compound interest working in your favor.
Timeline to Achieve Each
Assuming you start from $0, earn $80,000/year, and save 40% ($32,000/year):
| Starting Age | Years to Coast FIRE | Years to Regular FIRE | Time Saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 3 years | 19 years | 16 years |
| 30 | 4 years | 19 years | 15 years |
| 35 | 6 years | 19 years | 13 years |
Assumes $80k income, 40% savings rate, 7% returns, $50k annual expenses, retirement at 60.
Starting at 25, you could hit Coast FIRE by age 28 and gain 16 years of career flexibility. That same person would not reach full FIRE until age 44.
Coast FIRE
Pros:
- + Achievable in 5-10 years
- + Much lower savings target
- + No sequence-of-returns risk
- + Immediate career flexibility
- + Accessible on average incomes
Cons:
- - Still need to work for living expenses
- - Dependent on long-term market returns
- - Full retirement is decades away
Regular FIRE
Pros:
- + Complete freedom from work
- + Full control of your time
- + No income requirement
- + True financial independence
Cons:
- - Takes 15-25 years to achieve
- - Requires high savings rate for years
- - Sequence-of-returns risk
- - Often needs high income
- - Years of deferred gratification
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Coast FIRE if:
- You are in your 20s or 30s with decades of compounding ahead
- You enjoy working but want career flexibility
- You do not want to defer all happiness for 15+ years
- You are on an average income and full FIRE feels impossibly far away
- You want a meaningful milestone to celebrate sooner
Choose Regular FIRE if:
- You genuinely want to stop working as soon as possible
- You have a high income and can sustain a 50%+ savings rate
- You are already close to your FIRE number
- You have a clear vision for how you would spend your time without work
- You are disciplined enough for 15+ years of aggressive saving
The best answer: both
Most people pursuing FIRE hit Coast FIRE along the way. Treat it as a milestone, not a destination. Once you reach Coast FIRE, reassess. Some people discover the reduced pressure is all they needed. Others find that the momentum carries them to full FIRE faster than expected.
The worst strategy is having no milestones at all. A $1.25M target with nothing in between is demoralizing. Coast FIRE gives you a meaningful checkpoint that changes your relationship with work and money years before full FIRE arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Coast FIRE and regular FIRE?
Regular FIRE means you have saved enough to cover all expenses forever without working. Coast FIRE means your investments will grow to that amount by retirement age through compound interest - you still work to cover current expenses, but stop saving for retirement.
How much do I need for Coast FIRE vs regular FIRE?
Regular FIRE typically requires 25x your annual expenses ($1.25M for $50k/year spending). Coast FIRE requires far less - a 30-year-old might need only $200k that compounds to $1.25M by age 60. The exact amount depends on your age, expected returns, and target retirement date.
Is Coast FIRE easier to achieve than regular FIRE?
Yes, significantly. Coast FIRE numbers are typically 70-85% lower than regular FIRE numbers because you have decades of compound growth ahead. A 30-year-old might need $200k for Coast FIRE vs $1.25M for regular FIRE - making it achievable 10-15 years earlier.
Can I reach Coast FIRE first and then regular FIRE later?
Absolutely. Many people treat Coast FIRE as a milestone on the road to full FIRE. After hitting Coast FIRE, some people keep saving aggressively toward full FIRE. Others slow down and enjoy the reduced pressure, knowing retirement is handled either way.
Do I still need to work after reaching Coast FIRE?
Yes, but with a crucial difference. After Coast FIRE, you work only to cover current living expenses - not to save for retirement. This means you can switch to a lower-paying job you enjoy, go part-time, or take career risks you would not have considered before.
Which is better for someone in their 20s or 30s?
Coast FIRE is often the better first target because it is achievable much sooner. A 25-year-old saving aggressively could hit Coast FIRE in 5-7 years. Reaching regular FIRE typically takes 15-20 years even with a high savings rate. Hitting Coast FIRE early gives you decades of career flexibility.