Cost of Living: Faro vs Perth (2026)

Portugal vs Australia — relocation comparison

TL;DRFaro is 41% cheaper on rent ($1077/mo vs $1821/mo). English is much more widely spoken in Perth. You can get by in English in both — your Duolingo streak can wait.
74
Livability Score
🇵🇹 Faro
Portugal
Full profile
66
Livability Score
🇦🇺 Perth
Australia
Full profile
Faro edges ahead 74 to 66. Perth isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you.
💰
Cost of Living
Faro
$745/mo cheaper on rent alone
🗳️
Democracy
Perth
8.7/10 EIU index
🗣️
English
Perth
higher proficiency score
Faro
Metric
Perth
$1077/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1821/mo
$509/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$428/mo
$5,148
🧳
Cost to land
$11,432
0.7 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.8 / 100k
30 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
28°C
☀️
Summer high
29°C
9°C
❄️
Winter low
9°C
49 Mbps
Internet speed
7.8 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.7 / 10
Very High (86/100)
🗣️
English ease
Very High (95/100)
$52k
💼
GDP per capita
$72k
2.4%
📈
Inflation
3.2%
74 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
66 / 100
78/100 — Mostly stable
Grid reliability
96/100
🗽
Freedom House
5 years
📋
Time to PR

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

478
PISA
country avg
497
10
Intl schools
1
Yes (Portuguese)
Public school
Pediatric care included in SNS; free for children under 18
Pediatric care
4–12 weeks public
Specialist wait
$483/mo
Childcare
full-day
$2347/mo

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable
tourismreal-estateagricultureservices
Industries
nascent
Startup ecosystem
78/100
Grid reliability
5 yrs
Time to PR
Easy
EU visa
Complex
RU visa
Moderate
UA visa
Your partner can also work
Spouse works

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 41% cheaper in Faro ($1077/mo vs $1821/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Perth (29°C vs 28°C).
  • Perth scores higher on democracy (8.7 vs 7.8 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Perth (95/100 vs 86/100 English proficiency).

Faro vs Perth — Common Questions

Is Faro cheaper than Perth?

Faro is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1077/month in Faro vs $1821/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Faro or Perth?

Faro is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Faro has a rate of 0.69 per 100,000 and Perth has 0.83 per 100,000.

Should I move to Faro or Perth?

Faro edges ahead 74 to 66. Perth isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Faro or Perth?

Faro: Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (moderate requirements, 1 year (renewable to 5)). Perth: no specific remote work visa. See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Can I live in Faro or Perth without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in Perth (EF EPI score: 95/100) than in Faro (86/100). In Perth, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Faro, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

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