Athens vs Lisbon for Expats
Cross-border city comparison — Greece vs Portugal — across 7 dimensions using granular city-level data.
Last updated: February 2026
Quick Verdict
- •Lisbon is more affordable (10 points lower cost index)
- •Lisbon scores 13 points higher on safety
- •Lisbon has stronger healthcare (+7 points)
Overall, Lisbon edges ahead on aggregate scoring, but the best choice depends on your personal priorities.
Score Comparison
Affordability index -- lower cost of living scores higher
Crime rates, safety perceptions, and neighborhood security
Hospital access, quality of care, and insurance options
School quality, university access, and language programs
Job market, co-working spaces, and remote work infrastructure
Temperature, sunshine hours, and air quality
Public transit, walkability, and ride-hailing availability
Key Metrics
| Metric | 🇬🇷 Athens | 🇵🇹 Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Index | 62 | 52 |
| Safety Index | 65 | 78 |
| Healthcare Index | 65 | 72 |
| Education Index | 68 | 68 |
| Career Index | 42 | 58 |
| Climate Index | 82 | 82 |
| Transport Index | 68 | 72 |
| Air Quality Index | 52 | 75 |
| Family Index | 62 | 70 |
Price Comparison (USD)
| Item | 🇬🇷 Athens | 🇵🇹 Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent (City Centre) | $650/mo | $1,200/mo |
| 1-Bed Rent (Outside Centre) | $420/mo | $800/mo |
| Inexpensive Meal | $8 | $10 |
| Cappuccino | $3 | $2 |
| Monthly Transport Pass | $35 | $44 |
| Coworking (Monthly) | $180 | $220 |
| Internet Speed | 70 Mbps | 115 Mbps |
The Expat Vibe
🇬🇷 Athens
A chaotic, sun-drenched, deeply affordable Mediterranean capital experiencing a renaissance — digital nomads, artists, and retirees are discovering its raw energy, ancient history, and incredible food scene.
🇵🇹 Lisbon
The original European digital nomad capital — a sun-drenched, hilly melting pot of tech expats, surfers, and startup founders with an almost absurdly active international social scene.
Housing & Rentals
🇬🇷 Athens
Still very affordable by EU standards — a furnished 1-bed in Koukaki or Pangrati runs EUR 500-800. Spitogatos.gr and xe.gr are the main platforms. Airbnb conversions have tightened the rental market in central neighbourhoods. Many buildings have no central heating — portable AC/heaters are key.
Top neighborhoods: Koukaki, Pangrati, Exarcheia (alternative), Kolonaki (upscale), Petralona, Kypseli
🇵🇹 Lisbon
Extreme housing crisis since 2022. The 'fiador' (Portuguese guarantor) is practically mandatory for non-EU tenants; without one, expect to pay 6-12 months upfront. Golden Visa changes have cooled investor demand slightly, but rents remain brutal — a decent 1-bed in the centre runs EUR 1,200-1,800.
Top neighborhoods: Principe Real, Santos, Estrela, Parque das Nacoes, Alfama (touristy but charming)
Getting Around
🇬🇷 Athens
Expanding metro (3 lines), buses, trolleybuses, and tram to the coast. Monthly pass is EUR 30. Traffic is chaotic but the centre is walkable. Bolt works well. The coast (Vouliagmeni, Glyfada) is accessible by tram.
🇵🇹 Lisbon
Extremely hilly — electric scooters and Bolt/Uber are heavily relied upon. The metro is small but covers the core well. Viva Viagem card is essential. The suburban train to Cascais and Sintra is excellent and cheap.
Cost of Living Details
🇬🇷 Athens
Excellent value. A couple can live well on EUR 1,800-2,800/mo including rent. A souvlaki pita costs EUR 3-4. A freddo cappuccino costs EUR 2-3. Taverna meals are EUR 8-15 per person.
🇵🇹 Lisbon
No longer cheap by Southern European standards. A couple can live comfortably on EUR 2,500-3,500/mo excluding rent. Eating out is still reasonable — a lunch menu (prato do dia) at a local tasca costs EUR 7-10.
Climate & Weather
🇬🇷 Athens
Hot, dry summers (30-40°C, essentially no rain June-September) and mild winters (8-15°C with some rain). 300+ days of sunshine. The Meltemi wind provides some summer relief. Air pollution can spike in heat waves.
🇵🇹 Lisbon
300+ days of sunshine with mild winters (10-15°C) and warm, dry summers (28-35°C). Atlantic breezes keep it cooler than Madrid or Seville. Rain concentrates in November-February.
Food & Dining
🇬🇷 Athens
Souvlaki at Kostas near Monastiraki (cash only, tiny, legendary). Central Market (Varvakios Agora) for fresh seafood and patsa (tripe soup). Karamanlidika for pastourma and soujouk. Freddo espresso is the Greek coffee order (not frappe, which is the older generation's drink). Loukoumades (honey puffs) at Lukumades near Agia Irini Square.
🇵🇹 Lisbon
Pastel de nata from Manteigaria (not Pasteis de Belem — shorter queue, equally good). Mercado da Ribeira (Time Out Market) is touristy but genuinely excellent. Cervejaria Ramiro for seafood. O Velho Eurico in Alfama for cheap, authentic petiscos.
Insider Tips
🇬🇷 Athens
Greece's Digital Nomad Visa offers a 50% income tax reduction for qualifying remote workers — it's one of the best tax deals in Europe for high earners. Also, skip the touristy Plaka tavernas and eat where Athenians eat — Epirus and Karamanlidika in the Central Market area serve food that's worlds better at half the price.
🇵🇹 Lisbon
Get a NIF (tax number) before apartment hunting — landlords and banks require it for everything, and the Financas office queues are brutal. Book via the online portal or use a NIF service to save hours.
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