---
title: "Lagos (Algarve) vs Sliema for digital nomads"
url: https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/lagos-portugal-vs-sliema
description: "Under balanced weights Sliema edges it, 76 to 74, winning 7 of the 9 factors. Lagos (Algarve) is stronger on air quality; Sliema on nothing outright. Change the weights in the ranker to see which one wins for you."
dataset: 2026.10.7 (2026-10-13)
license: CC BY 4.0
---

# Lagos (Algarve) vs Sliema for digital nomads

Under balanced weights Sliema edges it, 76 to 74, winning 7 of the 9 factors. Lagos (Algarve) is stronger on air quality; Sliema on nothing outright. Change the weights in the ranker to see which one wins for you.

## Factor scores (0–100, balanced weights)

| Metric | Lagos (Algarve) | Sliema | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cost of living | 33 | 31 | Lagos (Algarve) |
| Safety | 83 | 85 | Sliema |
| Healthcare | 85 | 85 | Sliema |
| Internet | 75 | 83 | Sliema |
| Visa ease | 75 | 76 | Sliema |
| Getting there & around | 65 | 67 | Sliema |
| Climate | 67 | 75 | Sliema |
| Air quality | 98 | 84 | Lagos (Algarve) |
| Quality of life | 87 | 93 | Sliema |

## Cost

| Metric | Lagos (Algarve) | Sliema | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly cost, one person | $2,000 | $2,101 | Lagos (Algarve) |
| Central one-bedroom rent | no data | no data | — |

## Safety and health (country-level)

| Metric | Lagos (Algarve) | Sliema | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Homicides per 100k | 0.71 | 0.93 | Lagos (Algarve) |
| Political stability (0–100) | 77.9 | 83.8 | Sliema |
| UHC service coverage (0–100) | 83 | 82 | Lagos (Algarve) |
| Life expectancy | 81.2 yrs | 81.8 yrs | Sliema |

## Internet (M-Lab measured medians)

| Metric | Lagos (Algarve) | Sliema | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Download | 47.6 Mbps | 87.3 Mbps | Sliema |
| Upload | 23.4 Mbps | 16 Mbps | Lagos (Algarve) |

## Visa

| Metric | Lagos (Algarve) | Sliema | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nomad visa | Digital nomad residence visa (D8) | Nomad Residence Permit | tie |
| Minimum income for the visa | $4,131/mo | $3,929/mo | Sliema |
| Entry, US passport | 90 days | 90 days | tie |
| Entry, EU passport | unlimited | unlimited | tie |
| Entry, UK passport | 90 days | 90 days | tie |

## Getting there and around

| Metric | Lagos (Algarve) | Sliema | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Non-stop airport destinations | 90 | 114 | Sliema |
| Walkability (1–5, editorial) | 4 | 4 | tie |
| Transit (1–5, editorial) | 2 | 2 | tie |

## Climate and air

| Metric | Lagos (Algarve) | Sliema | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Comfortable months per year | 8 | 9 | Sliema |
| Annual mean PM2.5 | 6.1 µg/m³ | 12 µg/m³ | Lagos (Algarve) |

## FAQ

### Which is cheaper, Lagos (Algarve) or Sliema?

Lagos (Algarve) is cheaper: about $2,000 per month versus $2,101 for one person.

### Is Lagos (Algarve) or Sliema safer?

Sliema scores higher on safety (85 vs 83), based on national homicide rates and World Bank political-stability scores.

### Where is the internet faster, Lagos (Algarve) or Sliema?

Sliema: a measured median of 87.3 Mbps versus 47.6 Mbps (M-Lab, 2024).

City pages: [Lagos (Algarve)](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/lagos-portugal) · [Sliema](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/sliema). Sources: Cost of Living Global 2026 (city rows); 2026 Cost of Living Index (country level); Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100); Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year); UHC service coverage index; Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes; M-Lab NDT statistics (city aggregates, 2024); Airport destinations (Wikipedia airline and destination tables); NASA POWER climatology (2001–2020 monthly means); SatPM2.5 satellite-derived annual PM2.5 (V6.GL.02.04); Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023); EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band); Walkability and transit ratings (editorial); Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations); WhereNext city cost estimates 2026 (city pages); OpenStreetMap restaurants (Overpass API); Nostos long-stay visa guides; Starlink availability map.

HTML page: https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/lagos-portugal-vs-sliema