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 $1M
FIRE Number $1.74M
Fat FIRE $4.35M
Monthly Cost $5,800/mo
Mediterranean Good Widely spoken Very safe Easy
🇨🇴
Medellín
Colombia
Lean FIRE $720K
FIRE Number $1.26M
Fat FIRE $2.9M
Monthly Cost $4,200/mo
Warm Good Common Exercise caution Easy
More affordable: Medellín (saves $480K in required portfolio)
Better healthcare: Lisbon (Good)
Easier visa: Lisbon (Easy)
Better safety: Lisbon (Very safe)
Detailed Comparison
| Category | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | 🇨🇴 Medellín |
|---|---|---|
| Lean FIRE Number | $1M | $720K 👑 |
| FIRE Number | $1.74M | $1.26M 👑 |
| Fat FIRE Number | $4.35M | $2.9M 👑 |
| Monthly Cost (FIRE) | $5,800/mo | $4,200/mo 👑 |
| Safety | Very safe 👑 | Exercise caution |
| Healthcare | Good 👑 | Good |
| Climate | Mediterranean | Warm |
| English | Widely spoken | Common |
| Visa | Easy 👑 | Easy |
Which City Is Right for Your FIRE Goals?
Choose Medellín if: you want to minimize your FIRE Number. At $1.26M, it's $480K 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).