Florence vs Lisbon: Cost, Visas & Safety
Living in Florence vs Lisbon: Florence runs about $1,680/mo all-in vs $1,650/mo in Lisbon — Lisbon is cheaper. See visas, safety, internet, and climate…
Florence and Lisbon cost about the same to live in, Lisbon scores higher for safety, and internet is comparable in both. Which one wins depends on your income, passport, and what you value most.
How they compare
- Cost of living: near-identical — $1,680/mo in Florence vs $1,650/mo in Lisbon all-in for one person.
- Rent: lower in Florence ($900/mo vs $950/mo for a typical place).
- Safety: Lisbon rates higher (75/100 for Florence vs 82/100 for Lisbon).
- Internet: both solid for remote work (78/100 vs 75/100).
- Climate: Lisbon edges ahead (80/100 vs 85/100).
- Visa: both rated Moderate to enter — check long-stay and residency options for your passport.
- Retirement/long-stay: both have options — Florence via the Elective Residency Visa, Lisbon via the Portugal D7 Visa.
- Expat community: larger and more established in Lisbon (68/100 vs 92/100).
- Families: closely matched on family safety (78/100 vs 80/100).
- Local salaries: higher in Florence (~$2,100/mo vs ~$1,400/mo average) — relevant if you'd work locally rather than remotely.
- Work-life balance: better rated in Lisbon (70/100 vs 76/100).
- Sunshine: Lisbon logs about 290 sunny days a year vs 250 in Florence.
Frequently asked questions
Is Florence or Lisbon cheaper to live in?
Florence costs about $1,680/month all-in for one person; Lisbon costs about $1,650/month. They land within $30/mo of each other, so lifestyle and neighbourhood matter more than the city you pick.
How much cheaper is Lisbon than Florence?
Barely — the two cities are within $30/month of each other all-in, so the cheaper choice comes down to your neighbourhood and lifestyle, not the city.
Which is safer, Florence or Lisbon?
Lisbon scores higher on Jonzy's safety index (75/100 for Florence vs 82/100 for Lisbon). Both are catalog averages — feelings of safety also vary by neighbourhood and time of day.
Which is better for remote work and digital nomads, Florence or Lisbon?
For connectivity, both are solid (78/100 vs 75/100). On climate, Lisbon edges ahead (80/100 vs 85/100). Jonzy scores both against your income, passport, and priorities so you see which fits your setup.
Which is easier to get a visa for, Florence or Lisbon?
Florence's visa process is rated Moderate (about 8 weeks); Lisbon's is rated Moderate (about 9 weeks). Your passport changes the answer — run a visa check for both in Jonzy.
Can I compare Florence and Lisbon for my situation?
Yes, open Jonzy, enter your income and passport, and get personalised Life Upgrade Scores for both cities. You can also share a side-by-side comparison link with a partner.