WhereCanIAfford › FIRE by town › Santa Cruz, CA

FIRE number for Santa Cruz, CA

$3,806,450 retires you early in Santa Cruz, CA — that's $152,258/yr to live × 25. At your $600,000 saved + $30,000/yr you reach it 27 years.

The math (shown)

$1,157,157 home × 5%/yr owner-equivalent housing cost = $57,858/yr
housing ÷ 38% (housing is ~38% of a typical U.S. budget, BLS CEX) = $152,258/yr to live here
$152,258/yr spend ÷ 4% safe-withdrawal rule = $3,806,450 portfolio needed (the 25× rule)
$600,000 now + $30,000/yr at 5% real return reaches $3,806,450 in 27 years.
Coast-FIRE: $600,000 alone compounding 5% for 30 yrs = $2,593,165 by 65 — short of the $3,806,450 needed.

against Zillow ZHVI 2026-05 (Zillow ZHVI (typical home value, smoothed, all-homes 33–67pct tier)). FIRE math = the 4% rule (×25). Cost of living derived from home value — a planning estimate, not a household budget.

Run your own numbers for Santa Cruz, CA

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FAQ

How much do I need to FIRE in Santa Cruz, CA?
About $3,806,450 ($152,258/yr × 25).
What's the cost of living based on?
Santa Cruz, CA's typical home value ($1,157,157, Zillow ZHVI 2026-05) → owner-equivalent + non-housing budget.
Is the 4% rule safe?
It's the Trinity-study baseline; many FIRE planners use 3.5%–4%. Lower withdrawal = bigger number.

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