Portugal vs Greece
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Portugal is approximately 10% less expensive than Greece based on cost of living including rent. This makes Portugal a more expensive option for expats considering a move.
Greece has a FIRE Score of 77/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 54, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Greece is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
Side by side
Best in rowLisbon
Portugal
Athens
Greece
Country-level averages. N/A or Not enough data means no figure is published for that country. * Women's inclusion scores are unverified.
About these countries
About Greece
Progressive tax brackets climbing to 44% will hit high earners hard, making Greece a poor fit for anyone still drawing a large US salary. Retirees living on the required USD 3,997/mo FIP visa income look past this easily, since $893.50/mo covers living costs before rent. A 1BR near the center runs around $560.16/mo, and high English proficiency smooths daily life despite the medium 53.6 safety score.
Portugal costs roughly 10% less than Greece. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Portugal is approximately 10% less expensive than Greece based on cost of living including rent. This makes Portugal a more expensive option for expats considering a move.
Greece has a FIRE Score of 77/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 54, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Greece is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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.
$1,185/mo
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
About Greece
Progressive tax brackets climbing to 44% will hit high earners hard, making Greece a poor fit for anyone still drawing a large US salary. Retirees living on the required USD 3,997/mo FIP visa income look past this easily, since $893.50/mo covers living costs before rent. A 1BR near the center runs around $560.16/mo, and high English proficiency smooths daily life despite the medium 53.6 safety score.
$1,546/mo
Not sure which Greece visa you qualify for?
Answer 11 questions and get a personalized match in under 2 minutes.
Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Portugal | Greece |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 1: Normal Precautions | Level 1: Normal Precautions |
| Quality of Life Index | 169.5 +28.9 | 140.6 |
| Healthcare Index | 72 +13.4 | 58.6 |
| Safety Index | 66.7 +12.7 | 54 |
| Cost of Living Index | 48.8 +4.7 | 53.5 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $775.7 +117.8 | $893.5 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $2,805.2 +351 | $3,156.2 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1,039.76 | $560.16 +479.6 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $823.97 | $442.05 +381.92 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1,755 | $952.28 +802.72 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1,328.84 | $759.56 +569.28 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 260.2 Mbps +168.3 | 91.85 Mbps |
Rights & Inclusion
Published indices. Legal protection and public attitudes are kept separate, and neither is folded into a single score.
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
Portugal
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
Greece
LGBTQ+ legal protection score
Attitudes
Scores run from 0 to 100. Women's inclusion scores come from the Georgetown WPS Index and are currently unverified. Sources: Equaldex, ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map, Spartacus Gay Travel Index and Georgetown's Women, Peace and Security Index. See the full inclusion ranking.
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Income thresholds, fees, processing time and residency paths for Portugal and Greece, side by side.
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