Lisbon vs London for a high earner: tax, residence, cost, and life compared

	Lisbon	London
Effective tax at $300K	46%	37%
Effective tax at $1M	49%	43%
Effective tax at $3M	50%	44%
Kept at $1M	$512K	$574K
Capital gains	28%	24%
Cost index (Zurich 100)	62	96
Safety	9/10	7/10
Schools	7/10	10/10
Sun hours	2,800	1,630
Supercar street index	#68	#11
Routes in	Golden visa, Remote work visa, Founder & talent	Founder & talent
Net millionaire inflow 2025 (country, Henley)	+1,400	−16,500
Flight London	3	Home
Flight New York	7.6	7.8

Simplified marginal model, indicative 2026 brackets, non-US single filer, no social contributions, deductions, wealth taxes, or treaties.

Verdicts

Who should pick which.

For an executive on salary

London keeps more of a $1M salary, $63K a year on this model. Lisbon answers with safety.

For a founder with an exit

Capital gains: Lisbon 28%, London 24%. The order of operations, move then sell or sell then move, decides more than the rate. Neither city taxes wealth as such.

For a family

London leads on schools, Lisbon on safety, a lower cost and sun.

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Tax figures use a simplified marginal model with indicative 2026 brackets for a non-US single filer, ignore social contributions, most deductions, wealth taxes, and treaties, and are not advice. Residence rules change often. Verify before acting.