Comparisons across two regions
Comparing Lisbon with Bangkok is a different question from comparing Lisbon with Porto. These are the 435 comparisons where the two cities sit in different world regions, plus the regional medians they should be read against.
The short answer
There are 435 comparisons on this site between two cities in different world regions — an Asian city against a European one, an African city against an American one, and so on.
Ranked by the median city we score in each, Asia is the cheapest region at $1,100 a month and Oceania the dearest at $2,700. The gap between them is larger than the entire cost of living in most Asian cities on this site.
| Region | Cities | Median cost | Internet | Safety | Air quality | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 175 | $1,900 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 3.8 |
| Asia | 105 | $1,100 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| Americas | 115 | $1,400 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.6 |
| Africa | 60 | $1,200 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 3.5 |
| Middle East | 30 | $2,000 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 3.5 |
| Oceania | 15 | $2,700 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 3.8 |
Median values across every city we score in each region, 2026. Cost is monthly, for one person. The four score columns run 0-5 on our own scale.
One number in that table is worth stopping on. Africa has the highest median air quality of any region at 4.4, above Europe's 4.1 and Asia's 3.7, while sitting second-cheapest on median cost. That is a real pattern in the data and not one most cost-of-living tables surface, because it is driven by the smaller coastal and island cities rather than by Cairo or Nairobi.
How this page was built. Every comparison linked here is generated from one dataset of 500 cities in 100 countries, scored on the same seven-point scale for cost of living, internet, safety, walkability, weather, air quality and things to do. Costs are a single monthly figure for one person living, not holidaying — rent, food, transport and utilities — held in whole hundreds of US dollars because that is the precision the underlying sources support. The groupings and every count on this page are computed from that dataset at build time, not entered by hand. Read the full method on the methodology page.
All 435 cross-region comparisons
Asia ↔ Europe 196 comparisons
Bangkok vs AmsterdamBangkok vs BerlinBangkok vs BudapestBangkok vs FunchalBangkok vs IstanbulBangkok vs KrakówBangkok vs Las PalmasBangkok vs MálagaBangkok vs ParisBangkok vs PragueBangkok vs SplitBangkok vs TallinnBarcelona vs BangkokBarcelona vs CangguBarcelona vs Chiang MaiBarcelona vs Da NangBarcelona vs George TownBarcelona vs Ho Chi Minh CityBarcelona vs Kuala LumpurBarcelona vs SeoulBarcelona vs TaipeiBarcelona vs TbilisiBarcelona vs TokyoBarcelona vs UbudBerlin vs George TownBerlin vs SeoulBerlin vs TaipeiBerlin vs TokyoBudapest vs Da NangBudapest vs George TownBudapest vs Ho Chi Minh CityBudapest vs Kuala LumpurBudapest vs SeoulBudapest vs TaipeiBudapest vs TokyoCanggu vs AmsterdamCanggu vs BerlinCanggu vs BudapestCanggu vs FunchalCanggu vs IstanbulCanggu vs KrakówCanggu vs Las PalmasCanggu vs MálagaCanggu vs ParisCanggu vs PragueCanggu vs SplitCanggu vs TallinnChiang Mai vs AmsterdamChiang Mai vs BerlinChiang Mai vs BudapestChiang Mai vs FunchalChiang Mai vs IstanbulChiang Mai vs KrakówChiang Mai vs Las PalmasChiang Mai vs MálagaChiang Mai vs ParisChiang Mai vs PragueChiang Mai vs SplitChiang Mai vs TallinnDa Nang vs AmsterdamDa Nang vs BerlinDa Nang vs FunchalDa Nang vs IstanbulDa Nang vs KrakówDa Nang vs Las PalmasDa Nang vs MálagaDa Nang vs ParisFunchal vs George TownFunchal vs Ho Chi Minh CityFunchal vs Kuala LumpurFunchal vs SeoulFunchal vs TaipeiFunchal vs TbilisiFunchal vs TokyoFunchal vs UbudGeorge Town vs IstanbulGeorge Town vs KrakówGeorge Town vs Las PalmasGeorge Town vs LisbonGeorge Town vs MadridGeorge Town vs MálagaGeorge Town vs ParisGeorge Town vs PortoGeorge Town vs PragueGeorge Town vs TallinnGeorge Town vs ValenciaHo Chi Minh City vs AmsterdamHo Chi Minh City vs BerlinHo Chi Minh City vs IstanbulHo Chi Minh City vs KrakówHo Chi Minh City vs Las PalmasHo Chi Minh City vs MálagaHo Chi Minh City vs ParisIstanbul vs SeoulIstanbul vs TaipeiIstanbul vs TokyoKraków vs Kuala LumpurKraków vs SeoulKraków vs TaipeiKraków vs TbilisiKraków vs TokyoKraków vs UbudKuala Lumpur vs AmsterdamKuala Lumpur vs BerlinKuala Lumpur vs IstanbulKuala Lumpur vs Las PalmasKuala Lumpur vs MálagaKuala Lumpur vs ParisLas Palmas vs SeoulLas Palmas vs TaipeiLas Palmas vs TbilisiLas Palmas vs TokyoLas Palmas vs UbudLisbon vs BangkokLisbon vs CangguLisbon vs Chiang MaiLisbon vs Da NangLisbon vs Ho Chi Minh CityLisbon vs Kuala LumpurLisbon vs SeoulLisbon vs TaipeiLisbon vs TbilisiLisbon vs TokyoLisbon vs UbudMadrid vs BangkokMadrid vs CangguMadrid vs Chiang MaiMadrid vs Da NangMadrid vs Ho Chi Minh CityMadrid vs Kuala LumpurMadrid vs SeoulMadrid vs TaipeiMadrid vs TbilisiMadrid vs TokyoMadrid vs UbudMálaga vs SeoulMálaga vs TaipeiMálaga vs TbilisiMálaga vs TokyoMálaga vs UbudParis vs SeoulParis vs TaipeiParis vs TbilisiParis vs TokyoParis vs UbudPorto vs BangkokPorto vs CangguPorto vs Chiang MaiPorto vs Da NangPorto vs Ho Chi Minh CityPorto vs Kuala LumpurPorto vs SeoulPorto vs TaipeiPorto vs TbilisiPorto vs TokyoPorto vs UbudPrague vs Da NangPrague vs Ho Chi Minh CityPrague vs Kuala LumpurPrague vs SeoulPrague vs TaipeiPrague vs TokyoSeoul vs TallinnSeoul vs ValenciaSplit vs Da NangSplit vs Ho Chi Minh CitySplit vs Kuala LumpurTaipei vs TallinnTaipei vs ValenciaTallinn vs Da NangTallinn vs Ho Chi Minh CityTallinn vs Kuala LumpurTallinn vs TokyoTbilisi vs AmsterdamTbilisi vs BerlinTbilisi vs BudapestTbilisi vs IstanbulTbilisi vs PragueTbilisi vs SplitTbilisi vs TallinnTokyo vs ValenciaUbud vs AmsterdamUbud vs BerlinUbud vs BudapestUbud vs IstanbulUbud vs PragueUbud vs SplitUbud vs TallinnValencia vs BangkokValencia vs CangguValencia vs Chiang MaiValencia vs Da NangValencia vs Ho Chi Minh CityValencia vs Kuala LumpurValencia vs TbilisiValencia vs Ubud
Americas ↔ Europe 96 comparisons
Barcelona vs Buenos AiresBarcelona vs FlorianópolisBarcelona vs MedellínBarcelona vs Mexico CityBarcelona vs OaxacaBarcelona vs Playa del CarmenBerlin vs FlorianópolisBerlin vs OaxacaBerlin vs Playa del CarmenBudapest vs Buenos AiresBudapest vs FlorianópolisBudapest vs OaxacaBudapest vs Playa del CarmenBuenos Aires vs AmsterdamBuenos Aires vs BerlinBuenos Aires vs FunchalBuenos Aires vs KrakówBuenos Aires vs Las PalmasBuenos Aires vs MálagaBuenos Aires vs ParisFlorianópolis vs FunchalFlorianópolis vs IstanbulFlorianópolis vs KrakówFlorianópolis vs Las PalmasFlorianópolis vs LisbonFlorianópolis vs MadridFlorianópolis vs MálagaFlorianópolis vs ParisFlorianópolis vs PortoFlorianópolis vs PragueFlorianópolis vs TallinnFlorianópolis vs ValenciaFunchal vs MedellínFunchal vs Mexico CityFunchal vs OaxacaFunchal vs Playa del CarmenIstanbul vs Buenos AiresIstanbul vs OaxacaIstanbul vs Playa del CarmenKraków vs MedellínKraków vs Mexico CityKraków vs OaxacaKraków vs Playa del CarmenLas Palmas vs MedellínLas Palmas vs Mexico CityLas Palmas vs OaxacaLas Palmas vs Playa del CarmenLisbon vs Buenos AiresLisbon vs MedellínLisbon vs Mexico CityLisbon vs OaxacaLisbon vs Playa del CarmenMadrid vs Buenos AiresMadrid vs MedellínMadrid vs Mexico CityMadrid vs OaxacaMadrid vs Playa del CarmenMedellín vs AmsterdamMedellín vs BerlinMedellín vs BudapestMedellín vs IstanbulMedellín vs ParisMedellín vs PragueMedellín vs SplitMedellín vs TallinnMexico City vs AmsterdamMexico City vs BerlinMexico City vs BudapestMexico City vs IstanbulMexico City vs ParisMexico City vs PragueMexico City vs SplitMexico City vs TallinnMálaga vs MedellínMálaga vs Mexico CityMálaga vs OaxacaMálaga vs Playa del CarmenOaxaca vs ParisOaxaca vs PortoOaxaca vs PragueOaxaca vs TallinnOaxaca vs ValenciaParis vs Playa del CarmenPlaya del Carmen vs PortoPlaya del Carmen vs PraguePlaya del Carmen vs TallinnPlaya del Carmen vs ValenciaPorto vs Buenos AiresPorto vs MedellínPorto vs Mexico CityPrague vs Buenos AiresSplit vs Buenos AiresTallinn vs Buenos AiresValencia vs Buenos AiresValencia vs MedellínValencia vs Mexico City
Americas ↔ Asia 72 comparisons
Bangkok vs Buenos AiresBangkok vs FlorianópolisBangkok vs MedellínBangkok vs Mexico CityBangkok vs OaxacaBangkok vs Playa del CarmenBuenos Aires vs George TownBuenos Aires vs SeoulBuenos Aires vs TaipeiBuenos Aires vs TokyoCanggu vs Buenos AiresCanggu vs FlorianópolisCanggu vs MedellínCanggu vs Mexico CityCanggu vs OaxacaCanggu vs Playa del CarmenChiang Mai vs Buenos AiresChiang Mai vs FlorianópolisChiang Mai vs MedellínChiang Mai vs Mexico CityChiang Mai vs OaxacaChiang Mai vs Playa del CarmenDa Nang vs Buenos AiresDa Nang vs FlorianópolisDa Nang vs OaxacaDa Nang vs Playa del CarmenFlorianópolis vs George TownFlorianópolis vs Ho Chi Minh CityFlorianópolis vs Kuala LumpurFlorianópolis vs SeoulFlorianópolis vs TaipeiFlorianópolis vs TbilisiFlorianópolis vs TokyoFlorianópolis vs UbudGeorge Town vs MedellínGeorge Town vs Mexico CityGeorge Town vs OaxacaGeorge Town vs Playa del CarmenHo Chi Minh City vs Buenos AiresHo Chi Minh City vs OaxacaHo Chi Minh City vs Playa del CarmenKuala Lumpur vs Buenos AiresKuala Lumpur vs OaxacaKuala Lumpur vs Playa del CarmenMedellín vs Da NangMedellín vs Ho Chi Minh CityMedellín vs Kuala LumpurMedellín vs SeoulMedellín vs TaipeiMedellín vs TbilisiMedellín vs TokyoMexico City vs Da NangMexico City vs Ho Chi Minh CityMexico City vs Kuala LumpurMexico City vs SeoulMexico City vs TaipeiMexico City vs TbilisiMexico City vs TokyoOaxaca vs SeoulOaxaca vs TaipeiOaxaca vs TbilisiOaxaca vs TokyoOaxaca vs UbudPlaya del Carmen vs SeoulPlaya del Carmen vs TaipeiPlaya del Carmen vs TbilisiPlaya del Carmen vs TokyoPlaya del Carmen vs UbudTbilisi vs Buenos AiresUbud vs Buenos AiresUbud vs MedellínUbud vs Mexico City
Africa ↔ Europe 17 comparisons
Barcelona vs Cape TownBudapest vs Cape TownCape Town vs AmsterdamCape Town vs BerlinCape Town vs FunchalCape Town vs KrakówCape Town vs Las PalmasCape Town vs MálagaCape Town vs ParisIstanbul vs Cape TownLisbon vs Cape TownMadrid vs Cape TownPorto vs Cape TownPrague vs Cape TownSplit vs Cape TownTallinn vs Cape TownValencia vs Cape Town
Europe ↔ Middle East 17 comparisons
Barcelona vs DubaiBudapest vs DubaiDubai vs AmsterdamDubai vs BerlinDubai vs FunchalDubai vs IstanbulDubai vs KrakówDubai vs Las PalmasDubai vs MálagaDubai vs ParisLisbon vs DubaiMadrid vs DubaiPorto vs DubaiPrague vs DubaiSplit vs DubaiTallinn vs DubaiValencia vs Dubai
Africa ↔ Asia 12 comparisons
Bangkok vs Cape TownCanggu vs Cape TownCape Town vs George TownCape Town vs SeoulCape Town vs TaipeiCape Town vs TokyoChiang Mai vs Cape TownDa Nang vs Cape TownHo Chi Minh City vs Cape TownKuala Lumpur vs Cape TownTbilisi vs Cape TownUbud vs Cape Town
Asia ↔ Middle East 12 comparisons
Bangkok vs DubaiCanggu vs DubaiChiang Mai vs DubaiDa Nang vs DubaiDubai vs George TownDubai vs SeoulDubai vs TaipeiDubai vs TokyoHo Chi Minh City vs DubaiKuala Lumpur vs DubaiTbilisi vs DubaiUbud vs Dubai
Africa ↔ Americas 6 comparisons
Buenos Aires vs Cape TownCape Town vs FlorianópolisCape Town vs OaxacaCape Town vs Playa del CarmenMedellín vs Cape TownMexico City vs Cape Town
Americas ↔ Middle East 6 comparisons
Dubai vs Buenos AiresDubai vs FlorianópolisDubai vs OaxacaDubai vs Playa del CarmenMedellín vs DubaiMexico City vs Dubai
Africa ↔ Middle East 1 comparison
Common follow-up questions
Which world region is cheapest to live in?
Asia, on the cities we score: the median is $1,100 a month for one person. Africa is next at $1,200, then the Americas at $1,400, Europe at $1,900, the Middle East at $2,000 and Oceania at $2,700.
Which region scores best for air quality?
Africa, with a median air quality score of 4.4 out of 5 across the 60 cities we hold there — ahead of Oceania at 4.5 only on count, and above Europe at 4.1 and Asia at 3.7.
Does a dearer region buy better internet?
Partly. Median internet runs 4.5 in both the Middle East and Oceania, 4.4 in Europe, 3.9 in Asia, 3.8 in the Americas and 3.6 in Africa, so it does track cost — more closely than air quality does.