Cape Town vs Lisbon — Cost of Living Comparison 2026
Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.
Cape Town
South Africa
COL Index
40
affordable
Lisbon
Portugal
COL Index
56
mid-priced
NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data
Cape Town edges out Lisbon on affordability with a NoodlePants COL Index of 40 vs 56.4 (affordable vs mid-priced). Lisbon scores higher on safety (75/100), and Lisbon wins on internet at ~230 Mbps. Overall, Lisbon takes the Nomad Score crown with 82/100 — best for remote worker and eu base.
* Some figures are country averages — full city-level data coming soon.Pro members get neighbourhood-level breakdowns.
Metric
Cape Town
Lisbon
Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)
$750
$1,450
Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)
$520
$1,050
NoodlePants COL Index
40
56
Safety Score
—
75/100
Internet Speed
—
230 Mbps
Nomad Score
—
82/100
Healthcare Score
—
79/100
Digital Nomad Visa
Not available
✓ Available
Who is each city for?
Cape Town is better for…
See the South Africa country profileAlso compare
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