Westport vs Alges: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Alges costs roughly 50% less than Westport. Westport scores significantly higher on safety — worth weighing against the cost gap. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Alges is approximately 14% less expensive than Westport based on cost of living including rent. This makes Alges a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Alges has a FIRE Score of 86/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 82, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Alges is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Westport
Westport is a small town of 7 thousand people that punches far above its weight, with a safety index of 90/100, excellent healthcare, and an expat score of 78/100 that makes it a serious contender for retirees and remote workers alike. The rent math is the real story: a 3-bedroom in the city center at $1,514/mo costs barely more than a 1-bedroom at $1,402/mo, which is absurd value for a town 12 km from an airport. The catch is income, since the average monthly net salary of $2,990/mo does not comfortably clear the $4,350/mo minimum for Ireland Stamp 0, so this is a place you move to with money rather than to make it. If you have the means, Westport delivers a temperate, English-speaking base with a FIRE score of 75/100 and a retiree score of 78/100 that few towns its size can match.
About Ireland
A city center 1BR at $1,776.90 a month rivals rents in Boston or DC, with no digital nomad visa available. Retirees need USD 4,350/mo proof of income, a real barrier at 20-40% progressive tax plus PRSI and USC. English fluency and a clear citizenship path help, but the math only works if your retirement income clears that bar comfortably.
$1,035/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Alges
Alges is a small, safe, well-connected town of 22 thousand where a single adult can live on a budget tier of $1,053/mo, and the 8 km hop to LIS makes it an easy base for frequent flyers. The catch is the local average net salary of $1,240/mo against city-center one-bedroom rent of $1,234/mo, so unless you arrive with remote income or passive income, the math gets ugly fast. The Portugal D7 Passive Income Visa threshold of $1,031/mo fits the town's cost profile, but the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8) minimum of $3,900/mo prices out most freelancers. Come for the 86/100 expat score and excellent healthcare, not for local wages.
About Portugal
A one-bedroom in central Lisbon runs about $1,040/month, roughly a third of comparable Boston or DC rents. Combined with $776 in monthly living costs, a couple can live well under $2,500/month total, and the D7 visa only requires $1,031 income to qualify. The catch: Portuguese progressive tax hits 48% (top bracket), so this works best for retirees on fixed foreign income, not high earners staying tax resident.
$1,323/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Westport | Alges |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1401.78 | $1233.57 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1121.42 | $1065.35 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1513.92 | $2055.94 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1345.71 | $1551.3 |
| Safety Index | 90 | 82 |
| Internet Speed | 85Mbps | 90Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Westport | Alges |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,986/mo | $1,734/mo |
| Excluding rent | $865/mo | $669/mo |
| Rent | $1,121/mo | $1,065/mo |
| Groceries | $208/mo | $160/mo |
| Dining out | $213/mo | $157/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $125/mo | $91.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $319/mo | $216/mo |
| Transport | N/A | $45.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Westport vs Alges -- Frequently Asked Questions
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