⚖️ City comparison
San Francisco vs Porto
Thinking of leaving San Francisco for Porto? Here is how life in Porto, Portugal compares with San Francisco on cost, weather, safety, internet, and what it takes to stay.
The short version
- Porto is 60% cheaper: $2,133 vs $5,272 a month all-in for one person.
- Rent is lower in Porto: $1,317 vs $3,643 for a 1-bedroom in the centre.
- Porto has more pleasant weather: 10 pleasant months a year vs 8.
- Porto is warmer: highs average 4°F more across the year (coldest-month high 58°F vs 57°F in San Francisco; hottest 77°F vs 71°F).
- Residents rate Porto safer: a safety index of 66 vs 40 out of 100 (Numbeo survey).
- The air is cleaner in San Francisco: PM2.5 of 4.6 vs 9.8 µg/m³ a year.
- To live in Porto you'd need a visa: Portugal offers the D8 Digital Nomad Visa ($4,228/mo), and 90 days visa-free to look around first.
Side by side
| Measure | 🇵🇹 Porto | 🇺🇸 San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| ⭐ Fit score (default weights) | 75 | 51 |
| 💰 All-in / month | $2,133 | $5,272 |
| 🏠 1BR rent, centre | $1,317 | $3,643 |
| 🛒 Living costs, no rent | $816 | $1,629 |
| ☀️ Pleasant months | 10 | 8 |
| 🌡️ Highs, coldest–hottest month | 58–77°F | 57–71°F |
| 🛡️ Safety | 66/100 (residents) | 40/100 (residents) |
| 📶 Internet, median download | 373 Mbps | 364 Mbps |
| 🌬️ Air, PM2.5 per year | 9.8 µg/m³ | 4.6 µg/m³ |
| 🗣️ English | Very high (EF) | Official language |
| 🏥 Healthcare access (WHO) | Very high | Very high |
| 👩 Women's safety & rights | Very high | High |
| 🏳️🌈 LGBTQ+ equality | Very high | High |
| ✈️ Flight to the US (est.) | ~7h to New York | In the US |
| 🕘 US work-hour overlap | 2 h | 6 h |
| 🗓️ Visa-free stay (US passport) | 90 days | You live here |
| 🛂 Nomad visa | D8 Digital Nomad Visa | Not needed |
| 🧾 Tax if resident | 🔴 Heavy · Worldwide income, top 48% | US tax as now |
Best months to be there
🇵🇹 Porto
6 best months
🇺🇸 San Francisco
3 best months
Colour is each month's typical temperature; ticked months are the most comfortable. Full detail: Porto climate · San Francisco climate.
Data last updated · Source: Numbeo cost data, measured climate history, Ookla, UNODC/Numbeo safety and curated visa research
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