Toulouse vs Lisbon: Cost, Visas & Safety
Living in Toulouse vs Lisbon: Toulouse runs about $1,660/mo all-in vs $1,650/mo in Lisbon — Lisbon is cheaper. See visas, safety, internet, and climate…
Toulouse and Lisbon cost about the same to live in, both feel similarly safe, and Toulouse has the better-rated internet. Which one wins depends on your income, passport, and what you value most.
How they compare
- Cost of living: near-identical — $1,660/mo in Toulouse vs $1,650/mo in Lisbon all-in for one person.
- Rent: lower in Toulouse ($850/mo vs $950/mo for a typical place).
- Safety: closely matched (80/100 vs 82/100).
- Internet: Toulouse scores better for remote work (84/100 vs 75/100).
- Climate: Lisbon edges ahead (78/100 vs 85/100).
- Visa: both rated Moderate to enter — check long-stay and residency options for your passport.
- Retirement/long-stay: both have options — Toulouse via the France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur), Lisbon via the Portugal D7 Visa.
- Expat community: larger and more established in Lisbon (78/100 vs 92/100).
- Families: closely matched on family safety (80/100 vs 80/100).
- Local salaries: higher in Toulouse (~$2,700/mo vs ~$1,400/mo average) — relevant if you'd work locally rather than remotely.
- Work-life balance: better rated in Toulouse (82/100 vs 76/100).
- Sunshine: Lisbon logs about 290 sunny days a year vs 215 in Toulouse.
Frequently asked questions
Is Toulouse or Lisbon cheaper to live in?
Toulouse costs about $1,660/month all-in for one person; Lisbon costs about $1,650/month. They land within $10/mo of each other, so lifestyle and neighbourhood matter more than the city you pick.
How much cheaper is Lisbon than Toulouse?
Barely — the two cities are within $10/month of each other all-in, so the cheaper choice comes down to your neighbourhood and lifestyle, not the city.
Which is safer, Toulouse or Lisbon?
They're closely matched — 80/100 for Toulouse and 82/100 for Lisbon. Neighbourhood choice matters more than the city here.
Which is better for remote work and digital nomads, Toulouse or Lisbon?
For connectivity, Toulouse rates higher (84/100 vs 75/100). On climate, Lisbon edges ahead (78/100 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, Toulouse or Lisbon?
Toulouse's visa process is rated Moderate (about 10 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 Toulouse 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.