Perth vs Lisbon
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Perth is approximately 130% less expensive than Lisbon based on cost of living including rent. This makes Perth a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Perth has a FIRE Score of 61/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 85, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Perth is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
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Best in rowUnited Kingdom
Perth
Portugal
Lisbon
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Perth
Perth is a small Scottish city that punches above its weight on affordability, with a 1-bedroom city center flat at $695/mo and a cost of living index of 75/100 against a local average net salary of $2,418/mo. The trade-off is weather: a temperate maritime climate with mild summers, cold winters, and frequent rainfall year-round means you will wear waterproof clothing most of the year. Safety is genuinely excellent at a crime index of 15/100, and the digital nomad score of 70/100 reflects solid internet at 95 Mbps and widely spoken English. If you want a low-cost, low-crime base within 20 km of EDI and can tolerate the gray, Perth is a smart pick for remote workers and budget-conscious expats.
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 39% less than Perth. Perth scores significantly higher on safety — worth weighing against the cost gap. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Perth is approximately 130% less expensive than Lisbon based on cost of living including rent. This makes Perth a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Perth has a FIRE Score of 61/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 85, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Perth is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
About Perth
Perth is a small Scottish city that punches above its weight on affordability, with a 1-bedroom city center flat at $695/mo and a cost of living index of 75/100 against a local average net salary of $2,418/mo. The trade-off is weather: a temperate maritime climate with mild summers, cold winters, and frequent rainfall year-round means you will wear waterproof clothing most of the year. Safety is genuinely excellent at a crime index of 15/100, and the digital nomad score of 70/100 reflects solid internet at 95 Mbps and widely spoken English. If you want a low-cost, low-crime base within 20 km of EDI and can tolerate the gray, Perth is a smart pick for remote workers and budget-conscious expats.
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.
$1,172/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
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| Metric | Perth | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $694.61 | $1595.62 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $562.3 | $1189.97 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1212.81 | $2828.55 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1080.5 | $1979.01 |
| Safety Index | 85 | 70 |
| Internet Speed | 95Mbps | 112Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Perth | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,828/mo | $1,890/mo |
| Excluding rent | $1,266/mo | $700/mo |
| Rent | $562/mo | $1,190/mo |
| Groceries | $169/mo | $168/mo |
| Dining out | $238/mo | $168/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $110/mo | $102/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $663/mo | $217/mo |
| Transport | $86.00/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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