How much do you need to retire early in Australia? Uses AU-specific 3.5% safe withdrawal rate and accounts for the super preservation age.
Lean FIRE
$1,040,000
$36,400/yr
FIRE Number
$1,485,714
$52,000/yr
Fat FIRE
$2,228,571
$78,000/yr
At 40% savings rate, you reach FIRE at age
48
16 years from now
Two-Phase Retirement Required
Retiring at 50 means 10 years before super access at 60. You need a "bridge portfolio" of non-super investments (ETFs, shares, savings) to fund $520,000 in living costs before your super kicks in. This is an Australia-specific consideration that US FIRE guides don't address.
Sydney
$1,657,000
$58,000/yr
Melbourne
$1,486,000
$52,000/yr
Brisbane
$1,371,000
$48,000/yr
Perth
$1,429,000
$50,000/yr
Adelaide
$1,257,000
$44,000/yr
Hobart
$1,286,000
$45,000/yr
Regional AU
$1,086,000
$38,000/yr
Felix tracks your FIRE number in real-time — net worth, super, investments, and savings all in one view. See your retirement date update every time your balance grows.
Download Richify — Free for AustraliansFIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) means accumulating enough investments to live off passive income permanently. In Australia, FIRE works differently than in the US because: (1) super is locked until 60, requiring a 'bridge portfolio' for early retirees, (2) a safe withdrawal rate of 3.5% is more appropriate than the US 4% rule due to Australian tax and market differences, and (3) the Age Pension at 67 acts as a floor income that reduces your required FIRE number.
If you retire at 50, you need two pools of money: (1) A 'bridge portfolio' of non-super investments (ETFs, shares, property, savings) to fund living costs from 50 to 60, and (2) Your super balance, which becomes accessible from age 60. This is unique to Australia — in the US, accounts like Roth IRAs have different access rules.
The 4% rule was developed using US market data. Australian conditions differ: higher dividend imputation (franking credits), different tax treatment of capital gains, and a smaller domestic market. Most Australian financial planners recommend 3.5% for a conservative FIRE plan, though the Age Pension at 67 provides a safety net that can justify a slightly higher rate.
The Age Pension at 67 provides ~$28,514/year (single) or ~$42,988/year (couple). If you expect to qualify (subject to assets and income tests), your FIRE number drops significantly because you only need to self-fund until 67 at full rate, then partially after. Even a partial pension supplements your income and provides a safety net.