Rome vs Lisbon

How to read the comparison chart

The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Rome leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Lisbon where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Lisbon's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.

Rome vs Lisbon: the short answer

Lisbon comes out ahead on overall livability (72/100), clearly above Rome (59/100). The two cities diverge most on cost of living. On affordability Lisbon is the cheaper base — a wide gap on our cost index (Rome 17 vs Lisbon 46, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Rome runs warmer in summer (about 24.4°C peak vs 22.4°C in Lisbon), while winter lows sit near 7.7°C in Rome and 11.1°C in Lisbon. On natural-disaster exposure Lisbon is the safer choice (safety 73/100); the dominant modelled hazard is wildfire for Rome and wildfire for Lisbon.

Which city should you choose?

• On a tight budget → Lisbon — lower everyday costs..
• You want warmth → Rome — hotter summers.
• Safety is the priority → Lisbon — lower disaster risk.
• Best all-rounder → Lisbon — highest overall livability.

Data & methodology

Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.

Compiled by the CityLivably data team from open public datasets (World Bank, USGS, climate normals).

FAQ

Is Rome or Lisbon better to live in?

Lisbon scores higher overall — 72 vs 59 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.

Which is cheaper, Rome or Lisbon?

Lisbon has the lower cost of living (cost index 46 vs 17; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).

Which is warmer, Rome or Lisbon?

Rome — summer highs reach about 24.4°C versus 22.4°C in Lisbon.

Which is safer from natural disasters, Rome or Lisbon?

Lisbon (disaster-safety 73/100). Main hazard: wildfire in Rome, wildfire in Lisbon.

What is the main natural-disaster risk in Rome?

wildfire is the dominant modelled hazard for Rome on our risk index.

How is the Rome vs Lisbon comparison calculated?

Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.