Rugby vs Lisbon
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Rugby is approximately 42% less expensive than Lisbon based on cost of living including rent. This makes Rugby a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Rugby has a FIRE Score of 69/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 80, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Rugby is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
Side by side
Best in rowUnited Kingdom
Rugby
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.
Rugby costs roughly 28% less than Lisbon. Lisbon scores higher for retirees on healthcare and overall livability. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Rugby is approximately 42% less expensive than Lisbon based on cost of living including rent. This makes Rugby a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Rugby has a FIRE Score of 69/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 80, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Rugby is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
About Rugby
Rugby is a small town that punches above its weight for expats who want safety and solid infrastructure without big-city rent. A 1-bedroom in the center runs $1,122/mo against an average net salary of $4,616/mo, and the safety index of 80 with a crime index of 20 makes it one of the easier places in the UK to feel secure. The catch is size: at 77 thousand people, the expat community is medium at best, so anyone craving a sprawling international scene will find Hillmorton, Dunchurch, and Bilton pleasant but quiet. For remote workers and retirees chasing a 74/100 digital nomad score and 71/100 FIRE score, the math works, provided you accept that Birmingham's airport 12 km away is your main escape hatch.
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.
$1,015/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 | Rugby | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1122.4 | $1595.62 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1036.4 | $1189.97 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1786.14 | $2828.55 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1852.29 | $1979.01 |
| Safety Index | 80 | 66.92 |
| Internet Speed | 82Mbps | 112Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Rugby | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,985/mo | $1,867/mo |
| Excluding rent | $949/mo | $677/mo |
| Rent | $1,036/mo | $1,190/mo |
| Groceries | $181/mo | $168/mo |
| Dining out | $199/mo | $168/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $145/mo | $102/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $331/mo | $194/mo |
| Transport | $93.00/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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