City comparison

Barcelona vs Lisbon

Two popular expat cities compared head-to-head: salary, affordability, career outlook, and lifestyle score.

Overall verdict

Barcelona scores higher overall

Lisbon would cost you meaningfully more to live in

How they compare

If you want to save more

BarcelonaOverall fitLisbon
39 / 28+11 Barcelona
BarcelonaSavingsLisbon
37 / 30+7 Barcelona
BarcelonaCareerLisbon
48 / 42+6 Barcelona
BarcelonaLow pressureLisbon
37 / 10+27 Barcelona

If you want career growth

BarcelonaOverall fitLisbon
44 / 33+11 Barcelona
BarcelonaSavingsLisbon
37 / 30+7 Barcelona
BarcelonaCareerLisbon
48 / 42+6 Barcelona
BarcelonaLow pressureLisbon
37 / 10+27 Barcelona

If you want better balance

BarcelonaOverall fitLisbon
55 / 44+11 Barcelona
BarcelonaSavingsLisbon
37 / 30+7 Barcelona
BarcelonaCareerLisbon
48 / 42+6 Barcelona
BarcelonaLow pressureLisbon
37 / 10+27 Barcelona

Financial impact: moving from Barcelona to Lisbon

Based on a representative $80,000 USD salary. Not tax-adjusted.

-$1,237
Monthly
-$14,844
1 year
-$44,532
3 years

Moving from Barcelona to Lisbon: trade-offs

You lose

-$1,237/mo estimated net reduction — $14,844 over the first year
Higher cost pressure — rent will consume a larger share of your income

Barcelona

ES
Salary index
38
Cost index
52
Rent pressure
63
Opportunity
54

Lisbon

PT
Salary index
30
Cost index
50
Rent pressure
90
Opportunity
48

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