Fukuoka vs Lisbon

Real cost of living, rent, internet, safety and visa terms for both cities, side by side — then open the interactive tool to weight them against your own priorities.

Fukuoka, Japan
🇯🇵Japan

Fukuoka

73Freedom Score#37Global rank$1,600Per month

Japan's most livable city — compact, green, and affordable by Japanese standards, with legendary ramen, a startup boom, and 90-day visa-free access.

Lisbon, Portugal
🇵🇹Portugal

Lisbon

95Freedom Score#2Global rank$2,500Per month

Europe's most affordable capital pairs golden-hour light, Atlantic seafood, and a D8 Digital Nomad visa with surprisingly low NHR tax.

The short answer

Compare these two in the full toolBoth cities pre-loaded — add your income and priorities to get a personal match score

Cost of living

Monthly figures for one person. Rent, meals and coworking are measured values, not shares of the total budget.

ExpenseFukuokaLisbon
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$1,600✓$2,500
Rent, 1BR city centre$500✓$1,500
Meal, mid-range$10✓$13
Coworking deskper month$180✓$250
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper64.052.9✓

Quality of life

Scored 0–100 on the same attributes the match engine weights, so these agree with the interactive tool.

MeasureFukuokaLisbon
Safety
85
85
Healthcare
90
80
Walkability
85
85
English spoken
42
85
Food & dining
90
80
Nightlife
65
80
Outdoors
58
72
Nomad community
58
90
Climate quality
60
80
Public transit
95
80

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureFukuokaLisbon
Freedom Score73/10095/100✓
Global rankof 100 cities#37#2✓
Internet100 Mbps200 Mbps✓
Average temperature63°F63°F
Air quality30/10070/100✓
Airport connectivity78/10080/100✓
Nomad visa90 days freeD8 visa
Headline tax rateon local income20%25%

Which should you choose?

Choose Fukuoka if runs $900/mo cheaper, rent is $1,000/mo lower and the headline tax rate is lower.

Choose Lisbon if internet is faster at 200 Mbps, English is more widely spoken, the climate scores better and the nomad community is larger.

What each city is known for

Fukuoka

  • Most livable big city in Japan
  • Legendary Hakata ramen scene
  • 90-day visa-free for Western passports
  • Growing startup and coworking hub

Lisbon

  • EU residency pathway with D8 Digital Nomad visa
  • NHR tax regime: flat 20% on remote income for 10 years
  • English widely spoken — easiest EU city for anglophone nomads
  • World-class food, wine, and Atlantic beaches nearby

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Fukuoka or Lisbon?
Lisbon scores higher on the Freedom Score (95/100 against 73/100), which makes it the stronger all-round base. That is an average, though — if cost, climate or community is what actually decides it for you, the tables above will point the other way as often as not.
Which is cheaper: Fukuoka or Lisbon?
Fukuoka is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $1,600 against $2,500, a difference of $900 a month or about $10,800 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $500/mo in Fukuoka versus $1,500/mo in Lisbon.
Which is safer: Fukuoka or Lisbon?
Both score 85/100 on safety. That blends crime levels, political stability and healthcare access, and it describes each city as a whole rather than any particular neighbourhood.
How fast is the internet in Fukuoka and Lisbon?
Fukuoka averages 100 Mbps and Lisbon averages 200 Mbps, so Lisbon has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Fukuoka or Lisbon?
Fukuoka sits in Japan (90 days free) and Lisbon in Portugal (D8 visa). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
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Cost, connectivity and quality-of-life figures come from the YourLifeMatch city dataset. Where a value is not confirmed it reads n.a. rather than an estimate. Figures are for planning, not professional advice.