All Comparisons
Lisbon vs Medellín FIRE Retirement Cost Comparison
Which city is better for FIRE retirement? A data-driven comparison of portfolio requirements, monthly costs, and lifestyle factors.
🇵🇹
Lisbon
Portugal
Lean FIRE $336K
FIRE Number $845K
Fat FIRE $2.87M
Monthly Cost $2,815/mo
Mediterranean Good Widely spoken Very safe Easy
🇨🇴
Medellín
Colombia
Lean FIRE $311K
FIRE Number $606K
Fat FIRE $2.7M
Monthly Cost $2,020/mo
Warm Good Common Exercise caution Easy
More affordable: Medellín (saves $239K in required portfolio)
Healthcare: Even - both rated Good
Visa: Even - both rated Easy
Better safety: Lisbon (Very safe)
Detailed Comparison
| Category | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | 🇨🇴 Medellín |
|---|---|---|
| Lean FIRE Number | $336K | $311K 👑 |
| FIRE Number | $845K | $606K 👑 |
| Fat FIRE Number | $2.87M | $2.7M 👑 |
| Monthly Cost (FIRE) | $2,815/mo | $2,020/mo 👑 |
| Safety | Very safe 👑 | Exercise caution |
| Healthcare | Good Tie | Good Tie |
| Climate | Mediterranean | Warm |
| English | Widely spoken | Common |
| Visa | Easy Tie | Easy Tie |
Which City Is Right for Your FIRE Goals?
Choose Medellín if: you want to minimize your FIRE Number. At $606K, it's $239K cheaper to reach comfortable FIRE here compared to Lisbon.
Choose Lisbon if: healthcare access is a priority — it has Good healthcare infrastructure (both cities are comparable).
Choose Lisbon if: you want easier residency access — visa difficulty is rated "Easy" (both cities have similar visa requirements).