Setubal vs Guarda
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Guarda is approximately 151% less expensive than Setubal based on cost of living including rent. This makes Guarda a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Guarda has a FIRE Score of 87/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 85, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Guarda is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Setubal
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Guarda
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Guarda
Guarda is a cheap, safe mountain town for people who want Portugal without the crowds, the coast, or much English. A one-bedroom in the center runs $393/mo and a single adult can live on $644/mo at the budget tier, which is why the FIRE score hits 87/100. The catch is the expat community is very few, English proficiency is limited, and the digital nomad score of 66/100 reflects that reality. Come for the low costs and 85/100 safety index, not for a social scene.
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.
Setubal costs roughly 48% less than Guarda. Guarda 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.
Guarda is approximately 151% less expensive than Setubal based on cost of living including rent. This makes Guarda a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Guarda has a FIRE Score of 87/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 85, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Guarda is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Setubal
Setubal is a small city of 10 thousand people where a one-bedroom outside the center runs $821/mo and the local average net salary is only $1,274/mo, so remote workers on foreign income will live well while anyone banking on a local job will feel the squeeze. The numbers tell a clean story: $650/mo in non-rent costs, $45/mo for transport, and a $1,321/mo mid-range budget make it genuinely affordable, and an 82/100 expat score with a safety index of 80 backs that up. The catch is scale and language, since English proficiency is common mainly in tourist areas and LIS sits just 12 km away, which helps for flights but also means Lisbon's gravity pulls hard. Come for the Mediterranean climate and the D7 visa at $1,031/mo, not for career ambition.
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.
$1,631/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Guarda
Guarda is a cheap, safe mountain town for people who want Portugal without the crowds, the coast, or much English. A one-bedroom in the center runs $393/mo and a single adult can live on $644/mo at the budget tier, which is why the FIRE score hits 87/100. The catch is the expat community is very few, English proficiency is limited, and the digital nomad score of 66/100 reflects that reality. Come for the low costs and 85/100 safety index, not for a social scene.
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.
$2,031/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Setubal | Guarda |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $987.05 | $392.5 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $821.21 | $280.36 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1612.42 | $728.93 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1164.52 | $560.71 |
| Safety Index | 60.04 | 85 |
| Internet Speed | 140Mbps | 70Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Setubal | Guarda |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,366/mo | $969/mo |
| Excluding rent | $545/mo | $689/mo |
| Rent | $821/mo | $280/mo |
| Groceries | $155/mo | $210/mo |
| Dining out | $123/mo | $129/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $71.00/mo | $90.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $151/mo | $260/mo |
| Transport | $45.00/mo | N/A |
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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