United States vs Portugal
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Portugal is approximately 43% less expensive than United States based on cost of living including rent. This makes Portugal a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Portugal has a FIRE Score of 59/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 66.7, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Portugal is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
Side by side
Best in rowWashington, D.C.
United States
Lisbon
Portugal
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 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.
Portugal costs roughly 43% less than United States, though United States has significantly faster internet infrastructure, making it one of the more financially compelling destinations for United States expats. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Portugal is approximately 43% less expensive than United States based on cost of living including rent. This makes Portugal a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Portugal has a FIRE Score of 59/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 66.7, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Portugal is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
United States
Washington, D.C.
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.
$155/mo
Not sure which United States 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
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
Not sure which Portugal 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
Scroll to compare
| Metric | United States | Portugal |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | N/A | Level 1: Normal Precautions |
| Quality of Life Index | 184.7 +15.2 | 169.5 |
| Healthcare Index | 66.9 | 72 +5.1 |
| Safety Index | 50.8 | 66.7 +15.9 |
| Cost of Living Index | 69.7 | 48.8 +20.9 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $1,176 | $775.7 +400.3 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $4,239 | $2,805.2 +1,433.8 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1,668.61 | $1,039.76 +628.85 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1,355.41 | $823.97 +531.44 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2,688.4 | $1,755 +933.4 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $2,228.12 | $1,328.84 +899.28 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 314.35 Mbps +54.2 | 260.2 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
United States
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
Portugal
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.
Expat taxes filed by specialists
Greenback Expat Tax handles US taxes for Americans living in Portugal. File confidently from abroad.
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Get a quote →Compare visa routes
Income thresholds, fees, processing time and residency paths for United States and Portugal, side by side.
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