Calculate your Coast FIRE number in Greece. Find how much to save now so your investments grow to your FIRE target by retirement without additional contributions.
Enter your FIRE target, current portfolio, expected return, and retirement age to find your Coast FIRE number and when you will reach it.
Coast FIRE number
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Gap to Coast FIRE number
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Years to retirement
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Projected value at retirement
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Already coasting?
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Your breakdown
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How Coast FIRE works in Greece
Once you reach your Coast FIRE number, compound growth at your assumed return rate will grow your portfolio to the full FIRE target by retirement age, without any additional savings. This frees you to work for only your current living expenses, pursue lower-paid but more fulfilling work, or move to part-time employment while still reaching financial independence on schedule.
Example calculation
Target FIRE: 500,000 EUR. Retirement in 20 years. Return: 7%. Coast FIRE number = 500,000 / (1.07)^20 = approximately 129,200 EUR. If current portfolio is 50,000 EUR, the gap to Coast FIRE is 79,200 EUR. Saving 400 EUR/month at 7% closes this gap in about 12 years, after which you can stop saving and still retire on track.
Tips and considerations
Factor in the EFKA state pension to reduce your FIRE target before calculating the Coast FIRE number. Also account for Greek inflation and consider a slightly conservative return assumption (5% to 6% real) to build a buffer. Tax on portfolio income and gains (15% on capital gains and dividends) slightly reduces effective returns, so model net-of-tax returns where possible.
Frequently asked questions
What is Coast FIRE and how does it work in Greece?
Coast FIRE is the point at which your invested assets are large enough that, left to grow at a market rate of return without further contributions, they will reach your full FIRE number by your target retirement age. At Coast FIRE you can stop saving aggressively, cover only your current living expenses through work, and let compounding do the rest. For Greece-based investors, the relevant return rate depends on your portfolio: Greek stocks, EU-listed ETFs, or a mixed portfolio. A real return of 4% to 6% is a common assumption for a globally diversified portfolio over a long horizon.
How do I calculate my FIRE number for Greece?
Your FIRE number is typically calculated as your expected annual retirement spending divided by your safe withdrawal rate (SWR). For Greece, a 4% SWR gives a FIRE multiple of 25x annual expenses. For example, if you expect to spend 20,000 EUR per year in retirement (a modest figure in Greece for a frugal lifestyle), your FIRE number is 500,000 EUR. For a more comfortable urban lifestyle in Athens at 35,000 EUR/year, the FIRE number is 875,000 EUR. The Greek state pension from EFKA reduces the private portfolio needed, as it replaces some spending in retirement.
What annual return rate should I use for Greece-based investments?
Greek investors with a globally diversified portfolio of EU-listed ETFs (MSCI World, S&P 500, or similar) have historically earned nominal returns of 7% to 10% per year over long periods. After inflation (targeting the ECB 2% goal), a real return of 5% to 7% is a reasonable assumption. For a conservative Greek-only portfolio of bank deposits and Greek bonds, real returns are lower, perhaps 1% to 2% after inflation. This calculator uses nominal returns; subtract your expected inflation rate to get the real return for purchasing-power analysis. Greek CPI has historically averaged 1% to 3% in normal periods.
How does the Greek state pension affect my Coast FIRE calculation?
The EFKA state pension is a guaranteed (if inflation-adjusted) income stream in retirement that reduces the private portfolio you need. If your EFKA pension covers 800 EUR per month (9,600 EUR per year) and your target spending is 20,000 EUR per year, your portfolio only needs to fund 10,400 EUR per year. At a 4% SWR, this gives a FIRE number of 260,000 EUR instead of 500,000 EUR. Your Coast FIRE number is correspondingly lower. Factor in your estimated EFKA pension using the EFKA pension estimator tool when setting your FIRE target.