Rome vs Lisbon for Expats
Cross-border city comparison — Italy vs Portugal — across 7 dimensions using granular city-level data.
Last updated: March 2026
Quick Verdict
- •Lisbon is more affordable (7 points lower cost index)
- •Lisbon scores 16 points higher on safety
- •Rome has stronger healthcare (+6 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 | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇵🇹 Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Index | 55 | 48 |
| Safety Index | 62 | 78 |
| Healthcare Index | 78 | 72 |
| Education Index | 72 | 68 |
| Career Index | 52 | 58 |
| Climate Index | 80 | 82 |
| Transport Index | 68 | 72 |
| Air Quality Index | 55 | 75 |
| Family Index | 65 | 70 |
Price Comparison (USD)
| Item | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇵🇹 Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent (City Centre) | $1,100/mo | $1,500/mo |
| 1-Bed Rent (Outside Centre) | $750/mo | $1,100/mo |
| Inexpensive Meal | $12 | $14 |
| Cappuccino | $2 | $2 |
| Monthly Transport Pass | $38 | $44 |
| Coworking (Monthly) | $250 | $220 |
| Internet Speed | 95 Mbps | 115 Mbps |
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: ISTAT (Italy), Eurostat / INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $1 | $1 | -7% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | -35% |
| Eggs (12) | $3 | $3 | -24% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $9 | $7 | -28% |
| Mozzarella (125g) | $1 | $1 | 0% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pizza margherita | $9 | $10 | +9% |
| Pasta primo (trattoria) | $11 | $8 | -30% |
| Espresso (bar) | $1 | $2 | +38% |
| Cappuccino | $2 | $3 | +94% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $5 | $1 | -80% |
Housing
| Item | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (Trastevere) | $1,100 | $1,200 | +9% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $750 | $800 | +7% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $2,100 | $2,100 | 0% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $1,300 | $1,400 | +8% |
Transport
| Item | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit pass (ATAC) | $38 | $44 | +16% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $2 | $4 | +105% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $170 | $120 | -29% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $28 | $35 | +25% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $40 | $40 | 0% |
| Cinema ticket | $10 | $8 | -20% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $16 | $15 | -6% |
The Expat Vibe
🇮🇹 Rome
Eternal, chaotic, breathtakingly beautiful, and infuriatingly bureaucratic — Rome rewards patience with unmatched history, food, and la dolce vita, but daily logistics can be maddening.
🇵🇹 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
🇮🇹 Rome
The rental market is opaque and often runs on personal connections. Idealista.it and Immobiliare.it are the formal platforms, but word-of-mouth is powerful. A 1-bed in the centre runs EUR 900-1,400. The codice fiscale (tax code) is required for everything. Many landlords evade taxes and prefer cash — be cautious.
Top neighborhoods: Trastevere, Testaccio, Pigneto, San Giovanni, Monteverde, Prati
🇵🇹 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
🇮🇹 Rome
Two metro lines (A and B, plus B1) are insufficient for a city this size. Buses are frequent but unreliable and chaotic. Walking is the best way to experience the centre. BiciRoma (bike-share) is limited. Bolt works well. A monthly ATAC pass is EUR 35.
🇵🇹 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
🇮🇹 Rome
Moderate by Western European standards but cheaper than Milan. A couple can live on EUR 2,500-3,500/mo. A supplì or slice of pizza al taglio costs EUR 1.50-3. A pranzo (lunch menu) at a trattoria costs EUR 10-15.
🇵🇹 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
🇮🇹 Rome
Mediterranean — hot, dry summers (28-35°C, brutal in July-August) and mild, rainy winters (5-12°C). Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-October) are perfect. August sees the city empty as Romans flee to the coast.
🇵🇹 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
🇮🇹 Rome
Supplì (fried rice balls) at Supplizio. Pizza al taglio at Bonci Pizzarium near the Vatican. Cacio e pepe at Felice a Testaccio. Carbonara at Roscioli (avoid cream — Romans will correct you). Testaccio Market for the best street food. Trapizzino (pizza pocket with stew fillings) was invented here. Never, ever put pineapple on pizza.
🇵🇹 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
🇮🇹 Rome
Rome's bureaucracy is legendary — budget 2-3x the time you think anything will take at the questura (immigration office) or ASL (health authority). Go at opening time with all documents in triplicate. Also, never order a cappuccino after 11am — locals consider it a breakfast drink only. Order a caffe macchiato instead.
🇵🇹 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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