Gloucester vs Lisbon
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Gloucester is approximately 61% less expensive than Lisbon based on cost of living including rent. This makes Gloucester a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Gloucester has a FIRE Score of 72/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 75, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Gloucester is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
Side by side
Best in rowUnited Kingdom
Gloucester
Portugal
Lisbon
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Gloucester
Gloucester is a quietly sensible pick for expats who want a real English city without London prices: a 1-bedroom outside the center runs $849/mo, and the overall cost of living index sits at 67/100 against an average net salary of $2,818/mo. The tradeoff is scale and social life, since the expat community is small and largely clusters around the Quays, so you will need to work for your friendships. Safety is a genuine strength at a 75/100 index with crime at 25/100, and Bristol Airport is just 3 km away, which makes weekend escapes effortless. If you want a low-key base with excellent healthcare and a temperate climate rather than a buzzing international scene, Gloucester delivers solid value.
About United Kingdom
No retirement visa exists, and a difficult residency and citizenship path rules out anyone seeking a straightforward move. Rent near $1,344/mo plus 20% basic, 40% higher, 45% additional income tax bites hard. This fits Americans with UK ancestry, employer transfers, or high earners who value large expat networks and English-language ease over affordability.
Lisbon costs roughly 24% less than Gloucester. 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.
Gloucester is approximately 61% less expensive than Lisbon based on cost of living including rent. This makes Gloucester a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Gloucester has a FIRE Score of 72/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 75, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Gloucester is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Gloucester
Gloucester is a quietly sensible pick for expats who want a real English city without London prices: a 1-bedroom outside the center runs $849/mo, and the overall cost of living index sits at 67/100 against an average net salary of $2,818/mo. The tradeoff is scale and social life, since the expat community is small and largely clusters around the Quays, so you will need to work for your friendships. Safety is a genuine strength at a 75/100 index with crime at 25/100, and Bristol Airport is just 3 km away, which makes weekend escapes effortless. If you want a low-key base with excellent healthcare and a temperate climate rather than a buzzing international scene, Gloucester delivers solid value.
About United Kingdom
No retirement visa exists, and a difficult residency and citizenship path rules out anyone seeking a straightforward move. Rent near $1,344/mo plus 20% basic, 40% higher, 45% additional income tax bites hard. This fits Americans with UK ancestry, employer transfers, or high earners who value large expat networks and English-language ease over affordability.
$1,166/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?
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| Metric | Gloucester | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $989.98 | $1595.62 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $848.89 | $1189.97 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1745.62 | $2828.55 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1217.04 | $1979.01 |
| Safety Index | 75 | 70 |
| Internet Speed | 100Mbps | 112Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Gloucester | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,834/mo | $1,890/mo |
| Excluding rent | $985/mo | $700/mo |
| Rent | $849/mo | $1,190/mo |
| Groceries | $185/mo | $168/mo |
| Dining out | $218/mo | $168/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $113/mo | $102/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $370/mo | $217/mo |
| Transport | $99.00/mo | $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.
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