Lisbon vs Madrid
A 2026 side-by-side comparison of Lisbon and Madrid across 17 lifestyle categories, from dated legacy snapshots.
At a glance
Lisbon
Portugal
#50
Population506K
Avg. Rent (1BR)$653.335
Cost of Living50.7
Internet Speed170.3 Mbps
Category Wins
7 / 17
Madrid
Spain
#29
Population3.2M
Avg. Rent (1BR)$994.813
Cost of Living71.8
Internet Speed120.3 Mbps
Category Wins
10 / 17
Key metrics
Key Metrics Comparison
Legacy figures, not verified current observations. Missing values are omitted. Cost of Living is inverted (150 − value); internet speed is divided by 10 for display.
Quality of Life
Category-by-category rankings
Category Rankings
| Category | Lisbon | Madrid |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | #50 | #29 |
| Affordability | #6 | #5 |
| AI & Innovation | #9 | #24 |
| Cost-Benefit Ratio | #1 | #47 |
| Dating Scene | #30 | #29 |
| Education | #56 | #58 |
| Family Life | #34 | #15 |
| Food & Culinary | #7 | #58 |
| Healthcare | #36 | #17 |
| Nightlife & Entertainment | #54 | #18 |
| Outdoors & Recreation | #36 | #29 |
| Pet-Friendly | #23 | #24 |
| Remote Work | #59 | #63 |
| Retirement | #3 | #50 |
| Safety | #51 | #44 |
| Sustainability | #51 | #37 |
| Tech Jobs | #63 | #20 |
Explore each city
Lisbon
A Mediterranean gem with ancient history and affordable living. Lisbon offers sunny weather, vibrant nightlife, and thriving startup scene.
View Lisbon profileMadrid
Spain's capital offers world-class museums, legendary nightlife, and warm hospitality. Madrid combines cultural richness with excellent public transit.
View Madrid profile