San Francisco vs Lisbon
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Lisbon is approximately 134% less expensive than San Francisco based on cost of living including rent. This makes Lisbon a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Lisbon has a FIRE Score of 78/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 70, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Lisbon is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Best in rowUnited States
San Francisco
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 66% less than San Francisco. San Francisco leads on digital nomad infrastructure, with faster average internet speeds. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Lisbon is approximately 134% less expensive than San Francisco based on cost of living including rent. This makes Lisbon a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Lisbon has a FIRE Score of 78/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 70, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Lisbon is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
San Francisco
United StatesAbout San Francisco
San Francisco is a beautiful, maddening bargain: a Mediterranean climate, excellent healthcare, a large and active expat community, and a cost of living index of 89 against New York's 100, all powered by 250 Mbps internet and salaries averaging $6,747/mo. But the rent is punishing, with a one-bedroom in the center at $3,735/mo and a three-bedroom outside it still $4,604/mo, and a safety index of 44 means you keep your wits about you. The comfortable tier runs $5,211/mo for a single adult, so come with a real job or a real nest egg, not a dream. It rewards the well-paid and punishes the hopeful, which is exactly the trade this city has always offered.
About United States
Best for families seeking high English proficiency and excellent air travel access, with no retiree or digital nomad visa available. Internet speed of 390.28 Mbps and a large expat community support remote work, but the cost of living index is 100 (global baseline). Key trade-off: no retirement or digital nomad visa, and a complex pathway to residency or citizenship limits long-term stays.
$-782/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.
$1,176/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | San Francisco | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $3735 | $1595.62 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $2618.75 | $1189.97 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $5624.62 | $2828.55 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $4604 | $1979.01 |
| Safety Index | 44 | 70 |
| Internet Speed | 250Mbps | 112Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | San Francisco | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $3,914/mo | $1,890/mo |
| Excluding rent | $1,295/mo | $700/mo |
| Rent | $2,619/mo | $1,190/mo |
| Groceries | $347/mo | $168/mo |
| Dining out | $272/mo | $168/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $229/mo | $102/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $352/mo | $217/mo |
| Transport | $95.00/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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