Lisbon vs Seoul: cost of living for digital nomads

Lisbon, Portugal and Seoul, South Korea, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Seoul is about 12% cheaper than Lisbon for a month of nomad living ($2,200 vs $2,500).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $1,000 in Seoul against $1,400 in Lisbon.
  • Both score 9/10 on safety.
  • Internet is faster in Seoul: 250 Mbps typical against 120 Mbps.
  • Lisbon is mediterranean; Seoul is continental.

Lisbon wins 4 of the measured lines; Seoul wins 3.

LineLisbonSeoul
Monthly total (USD)$2,500$2,200
Rent$1,400$1,000
Food$500$550
Transport$45$80
Coworking$150$170
Safety (out of 10)9/109/10
Internet (Mbps)120250
Climatemediterraneancontinental
City sizemetrometro
Settingcoastinland
Nomad score (out of 10)10/107/10

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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.