I’m in the U.S. and starting to think through FIRE numbers. Most of the 4% rule discussions seem very U.S.-centric, especially when it comes to healthcare, housing, taxes, and general cost of living.

Has anyone here actually retired, or seriously planned to retire, from the U.S. to Italy or somewhere else in Europe?

I’m wondering if you still planned around the traditional 4% rule, or if the number changed a lot because your expenses were lower. Part of me thinks the required portfolio could be dramatically lower, but I also know taxes, exchange rates, visas, healthcare access, and cross-border financial stuff can complicate things.

For anyone who has done it or modeled it out, did retiring abroad actually make FIRE much easier financially, or did the extra complexity offset a lot of the savings?

Not looking for perfect math, just real-world experience from people who have looked into this.