Bucharest vs Lisbon — Cost of Living Comparison 2026
Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.
NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data
Bucharest edges out Lisbon on affordability with a Cost of Living index of 45 vs 56.4 (US=100; affordable vs mid-priced). Lisbon scores higher on safety (75/100), and Bucharest wins on internet at ~245 Mbps. Overall, Lisbon takes the Nomad Score crown with 82/100 — best for remote worker and eu base.
Metric
Bucharest
Lisbon
Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)
US$500
US$1,450
Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)
US$350
US$1,050
Cost of Living (US=100)
45
56
Safety Score
72/100
75/100
Internet Speed
245 Mbps
230 Mbps
Nomad Score
70/100
82/100
Healthcare Score
70/100
79/100
Digital Nomad Visa
Not available
✓ Available
Who is each city for?
Also compare
See full city data — neighbourhood breakdowns, internet speeds & coworking scores
Pro unlocks 350+ nomad cities & neighbourhoods, district-level rent maps, live coworking inventory and PDF exports.