Frascati vs Lisbon
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Frascati is approximately 119% less expensive than Lisbon based on cost of living including rent. This makes Frascati a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Frascati has a FIRE Score of 69/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 51.47, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Frascati is best suited for digital nomads who prioritize experience over savings.
Side by side
Best in rowItaly
Frascati
Portugal
Lisbon
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Lisbon
Lisbon is the rare European capital where a single adult can live on a budget tier of $1,137/mo and still walk past tiled facades to a $3 cappuccino. The catch is the salary math: local net pay averages $1,572/mo while a city-center one-bedroom runs $1,596/mo, so remote workers and D7 retirees win here far more than job seekers do. With a cost of living index of 54/100, an expat score of 86/100, and excellent healthcare, the tradeoff is real but the value is undeniable. Come for the light and the $45/mo transport pass, stay if your income does not depend on Lisbon.
About Portugal
A one-bedroom in central Lisbon runs about $1,040/month, roughly a third of comparable Boston or DC rents. Combined with $776 in monthly living costs, a couple can live well under $2,500/month total, and the D7 visa only requires $1,031 income to qualify. The catch: Portuguese progressive tax hits 48% (top bracket), so this works best for retirees on fixed foreign income, not high earners staying tax resident.
Lisbon costs roughly 27% less than Frascati. Beyond cost, the two cities are closely matched — lifestyle fit and visa options are likely the deciding factors. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Frascati is approximately 119% less expensive than Lisbon based on cost of living including rent. This makes Frascati a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Frascati has a FIRE Score of 69/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 51.47, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Frascati is best suited for digital nomads who prioritize experience over savings.
About Frascati
Frascati is a small-town play for people who want Rome's airport and Rome's restaurants without Rome's noise, and the numbers mostly back it up: a $1,050/mo non-rent budget for one person, a $35/mo transit pass, and a cost of living index of 68 against NYC's 100. The catch is the rent curve, which runs backward from what you would expect, with a 1-bedroom outside the center at $896/mo costing more than the $728/mo you would pay in the center, so hunt in Centro Storico before you sign anything. At 23 thousand people and an average local net salary of $2,463/mo, this is not a place to arrive without remote work or retirement income, and the Italy Elective Residence Visa's $2,895/mo floor is a real gate. Come for the 320 m elevation, the 82/100 safety index, and the 77 Mbps internet; skip it if you need big-city anonymity or a deep expat scene.
About Italy
Retirees with steady income fare better here than remote workers chasing savings. Rent outside the center runs $660.88/mo, cheap by European standards, but income tax climbing to 43% erodes any freelance upside fast. The Elective Residence Visa requires $2,895/mo in passive income, and citizenship stays complex even after years of residency.
$1,017/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Lisbon
Lisbon is the rare European capital where a single adult can live on a budget tier of $1,137/mo and still walk past tiled facades to a $3 cappuccino. The catch is the salary math: local net pay averages $1,572/mo while a city-center one-bedroom runs $1,596/mo, so remote workers and D7 retirees win here far more than job seekers do. With a cost of living index of 54/100, an expat score of 86/100, and excellent healthcare, the tradeoff is real but the value is undeniable. Come for the light and the $45/mo transport pass, stay if your income does not depend on Lisbon.
About Portugal
A one-bedroom in central Lisbon runs about $1,040/month, roughly a third of comparable Boston or DC rents. Combined with $776 in monthly living costs, a couple can live well under $2,500/month total, and the D7 visa only requires $1,031 income to qualify. The catch: Portuguese progressive tax hits 48% (top bracket), so this works best for retirees on fixed foreign income, not high earners staying tax resident.
$1,110/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
Compare income thresholds, fees and residency paths for routes in these countries.
Compare visas for these countriesBattle of Lifestyles
Scroll to compare
| Metric | Frascati | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $727.83 | $1595.62 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $895.79 | $1189.97 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1203.72 | $2828.55 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1567.63 | $1979.01 |
| Safety Index | 51.47 | 66.92 |
| Internet Speed | 77Mbps | 112Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Frascati | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | N/A | $1,867/mo |
| Excluding rent | N/A | $677/mo |
| Rent | N/A | $1,190/mo |
| Groceries | N/A | $168/mo |
| Dining out | N/A | $168/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | N/A | $102/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | N/A | $194/mo |
| Transport | N/A | $45.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
Planning a move to Lisbon? Make sure you have the right visa.
Answer 11 questions and get a personalized visa match in under 2 minutes.
Find my visa →Compare any two visa routes.
Income thresholds, fees, processing time and residency paths, side by side. Search by country, including Portugal and Italy.
Compare visas →Related Comparisons
Explore Portugal
Frascati vs Lisbon -- Frequently Asked Questions
Click any question to expand the answer.
Resources for Moving to Lisbon
Find hotels in Lisbon
Search and compare hotel prices across hundreds of booking sites.
Search hotels →Short-term rentals in Lisbon
Browse vacation rentals while you scout neighborhoods for a long-term lease.
Browse rentals →EU health insurance for Portugal
Get comprehensive health coverage valid across Europe.
Get covered →eSIM for Lisbon
Get connected the moment you land. No physical SIM needed.
Get eSIM →VPN for secure browsing in Lisbon
Protect your data and access geo-restricted content while traveling.
Get NordVPN →