Stuttgart vs Lisbon
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Stuttgart is approximately 27% less expensive than Lisbon based on cost of living including rent. This makes Stuttgart a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Stuttgart has a FIRE Score of 70/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 65.52, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Stuttgart is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Best in rowGermany
Stuttgart
Portugal
Lisbon
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Stuttgart
Stuttgart is a quietly excellent pick for expats who want German engineering salaries without Munich or Frankfurt prices. A city center one-bedroom runs $1,252/mo, but moving outside the center drops that to $821/mo, and a $71/mo transit pass makes the tradeoff easy. With an 85/100 safety index, excellent healthcare, and widely spoken English, it is one of the most livable mid-size cities in Europe. The catch is the social scene: a medium expat community and cold winters mean you have to work for your friends here.
About Germany
Germany suits retirees with steady income and no rush toward citizenship shortcuts. A EUR 1,200/mo retirement visa threshold is trivial to clear, and $942.63 rent for a city-center 1BR beats most Western Europe. Healthcare scores 71.9 with English-speaking doctors widely available. The catch: progressive tax up to 45% and no digital nomad visa is currently offered.
Lisbon costs roughly 25% less than Stuttgart. 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.
Stuttgart is approximately 27% less expensive than Lisbon based on cost of living including rent. This makes Stuttgart a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Stuttgart has a FIRE Score of 70/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 65.52, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Stuttgart is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Stuttgart
Stuttgart is a quietly excellent pick for expats who want German engineering salaries without Munich or Frankfurt prices. A city center one-bedroom runs $1,252/mo, but moving outside the center drops that to $821/mo, and a $71/mo transit pass makes the tradeoff easy. With an 85/100 safety index, excellent healthcare, and widely spoken English, it is one of the most livable mid-size cities in Europe. The catch is the social scene: a medium expat community and cold winters mean you have to work for your friends here.
About Germany
Germany suits retirees with steady income and no rush toward citizenship shortcuts. A EUR 1,200/mo retirement visa threshold is trivial to clear, and $942.63 rent for a city-center 1BR beats most Western Europe. Healthcare scores 71.9 with English-speaking doctors widely available. The catch: progressive tax up to 45% and no digital nomad visa is currently offered.
$1,152/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?
Compare income thresholds, fees and residency paths for routes in these countries.
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| Metric | Stuttgart | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1252.17 | $1595.62 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $821.44 | $1189.97 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1896.93 | $2828.55 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1512.66 | $1979.01 |
| Safety Index | 65.52 | 66.92 |
| Internet Speed | 120Mbps | 112Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Stuttgart | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,852/mo | $1,867/mo |
| Excluding rent | $1,031/mo | $677/mo |
| Rent | $821/mo | $1,190/mo |
| Groceries | $249/mo | $168/mo |
| Dining out | $202/mo | $168/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $135/mo | $102/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $374/mo | $194/mo |
| Transport | $71.00/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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