Lisbon vs Ubud

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.

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.

Ubud, Indonesia
🇮🇩Indonesia

Ubud

76Freedom Score#32Global rank$2,102Per month

Bali's spiritual heart — rice terraces, yoga, and a world-leading coworking scene set in lush jungle at low tropical prices.

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.

ExpenseLisbonUbud
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$2,500$2,102✓
Rent, 1BR city centre$1,500$945✓
Meal, mid-range$13$12✓
Coworking deskper month$250$189✓
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper52.946.7✓

Quality of life

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

MeasureLisbonUbud
Safety
85
49
Healthcare
80
45
Walkability
85
50
English spoken
85
60
Food & dining
80
75
Nightlife
80
55
Outdoors
72
92
Nomad community
90
85
Climate quality
80
84
Public transit
80
30

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureLisbonUbud
Freedom Score95/100✓76/100
Global rankof 100 cities#2✓#32
Internet200 Mbps✓30 Mbps
Average temperature63°F77°F
Air quality70/100✓45/100
Airport connectivity80/100✓70/100
Nomad visaD8 visaIndonesia visa
Headline tax rateon local income25%24%

Which should you choose?

Choose Lisbon if internet is faster at 200 Mbps, it scores higher on safety (85 vs 49), it is more walkable and English is more widely spoken.

Choose Ubud if runs $398/mo cheaper, rent is $555/mo lower, the climate scores better and the headline tax rate is lower.

What each city is known for

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

Ubud

  • Huge nomad & wellness community — instant social circle
  • Tropical jungle setting with rice terraces and temples
  • 0% tax on foreign income for most nomads
  • Coworking density rivals any island on earth

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Lisbon or Ubud?
Lisbon scores higher on the Freedom Score (95/100 against 76/100), 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: Lisbon or Ubud?
Ubud is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $2,102 against $2,500, a difference of $398 a month or about $4,776 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $1,500/mo in Lisbon versus $945/mo in Ubud.
Which is safer: Lisbon or Ubud?
Lisbon scores higher on safety, 85/100 against 49/100. Safety scores blend crime levels, political stability and healthcare access, and they describe a city as a whole — individual neighbourhoods vary far more than the headline number suggests.
How fast is the internet in Lisbon and Ubud?
Lisbon averages 200 Mbps and Ubud averages 30 Mbps, so Lisbon has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Lisbon or Ubud?
Lisbon sits in Portugal (D8 visa) and Ubud in Indonesia (Indonesia visa). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
Open the interactive comparison

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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.