Lisbon vs San Francisco — Cost of Living Comparison 2026
Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.
Lisbon
Portugal
COL Index
56
mid-priced
San Francisco
United States
COL Index
94
premium
NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data
Lisbon edges out San Francisco on affordability with a NoodlePants COL Index of 56.4 vs 94 (mid-priced vs premium). 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
Lisbon
San Francisco
Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)
$1,450
$3,300
Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)
$1,050
$2,400
NoodlePants COL Index
56
94
Safety Score
75/100
—
Internet Speed
230 Mbps
—
Nomad Score
82/100
—
Healthcare Score
79/100
—
Digital Nomad Visa
✓ Available
Not available
Who is each city for?
San Francisco is better for…
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