York vs Alges
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Alges is approximately 8% less expensive than York based on cost of living including rent. This makes Alges a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Alges has a FIRE Score of 86/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 82, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Alges is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Best in rowUnited Kingdom
York
Portugal
Alges
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Alges
Alges is a small, safe, well-connected town of 22 thousand where a single adult can live on a budget tier of $1,053/mo, and the 8 km hop to LIS makes it an easy base for frequent flyers. The catch is the local average net salary of $1,240/mo against city-center one-bedroom rent of $1,234/mo, so unless you arrive with remote income or passive income, the math gets ugly fast. The Portugal D7 Passive Income Visa threshold of $1,031/mo fits the town's cost profile, but the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8) minimum of $3,900/mo prices out most freelancers. Come for the 86/100 expat score and excellent healthcare, not for local wages.
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.
Alges costs roughly 2.4x less than York. York has significantly faster average internet speeds (120 Mbps vs 90 Mbps). Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Alges is approximately 8% less expensive than York based on cost of living including rent. This makes Alges a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Alges has a FIRE Score of 86/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 82, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Alges is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About York
York is a small, walkable city where a single adult can live on a $2,050/mo budget tier, with city center one-bedroom rent at $1,217/mo and a $112/mo transport pass that covers most of what you need. The trade-off is scale: 203 thousand people, a medium expat community, and a local net salary of $3,451/mo mean you are buying quality of life, not career velocity. Safety at 80/100 and an air quality index of 32 are genuinely excellent, and the $1,047/mo non-rent cost for one person keeps daily life predictable. If you want a big-city expat scene or a cheap flight hub, look elsewhere; if you want a compact, safe, English-speaking base with a 78/100 digital nomad score, York earns its place.
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.
$1,036/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Alges
Alges is a small, safe, well-connected town of 22 thousand where a single adult can live on a budget tier of $1,053/mo, and the 8 km hop to LIS makes it an easy base for frequent flyers. The catch is the local average net salary of $1,240/mo against city-center one-bedroom rent of $1,234/mo, so unless you arrive with remote income or passive income, the math gets ugly fast. The Portugal D7 Passive Income Visa threshold of $1,031/mo fits the town's cost profile, but the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8) minimum of $3,900/mo prices out most freelancers. Come for the 86/100 expat score and excellent healthcare, not for local wages.
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.
$1,266/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 | York | Alges |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1335.94 | $1233.57 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1013.04 | $1065.35 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2223.74 | $2055.94 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1568.53 | $1551.3 |
| Safety Index | 73.95 | 82 |
| Internet Speed | 120Mbps | 90Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | York | Alges |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,960/mo | $1,734/mo |
| Excluding rent | $947/mo | $669/mo |
| Rent | $1,013/mo | $1,065/mo |
| Groceries | $176/mo | $160/mo |
| Dining out | $264/mo | $157/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $133/mo | $91.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $262/mo | $216/mo |
| Transport | $112/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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