Cost of Living in Lisbon
Portugal
Comfortable budget (single)
$2,826/month
Range $1,785–$2,826/month
Last updated: 2026-03
Can you afford to live in Lisbon?
Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).
Daily costs at a glance
Typical prices you'll pay in Lisbon for everyday essentials.
Coffee
$3.5
flat white at cafe
Beer
$4.9
pint at pub
Lunch
$15
meal at inexpensive restaurant
Groceries
$355
single-person monthly groceries
Transport
$79
monthly pass
Gym
$37
monthly membership
Full cost breakdown
Colors show how each category compares to the global average of our 100 tracked cities.
| Category | USD/month | vs global |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city center) | $1,338–$2,082 | ↓ -15% |
| Rent (1-bed, outside center) | $706–$1,115 | ↓ -15% |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | $56–$108 | ↓ -15% |
| Internet & Mobile | $22–$37 | ↓ -16% |
| Groceries (monthly) | $283–$424 | ↓ -15% |
| Eating out (per meal, mid-range) | $37–$67 | ↓ -16% |
| Coffee | $3–$4 | ↓ -12% |
| Public transport (monthly pass) | $71–$86 | ↓ -15% |
| Gym membership | $26–$48 | ↓ -16% |
| Cinema ticket | $10–$13 | ↓ -18% |
Housing market
Rent vs buy snapshot for Lisbon — useful if you're comparing long-term relocation options.
Rent (1-bed center)
$1,338–$2,082/mo
Buy center (per m²)
$10,900
Buy outside (per m²)
$6,000
Price-to-rent ratio
24×
Avg mortgage rate
3.9%
💰 Mortgage estimate: a 60 m² apartment in Lisbon center at ~$10,900/m² with a 25y loan at 3.9% would cost roughly $3,416/month — compare that to the rent range above.
Local salaries (monthly net, USD)
Typical take-home in Lisbon. A green badge means the salary covers at least 2.5× the max rent for a 1-bed in the center.
| Role | Monthly net | Covers rent? |
|---|---|---|
| Average net salary | $1,620 | ❌ No |
| Software engineer (mid) | $2,376 | ❌ No |
| Marketing manager | $1,944 | ❌ No |
| Teacher (secondary) | $1,296 | ❌ No |
| Nurse (RN) | $1,404 | ❌ No |
Local insider tips
Practical ways to cut costs that actually work in Lisbon.
Utilize the 'Viva Viagem' card for all public transport, including metro, buses, and trams, to save significantly on fares compared to single tickets.
Shop at local supermarkets like Pingo Doce or Continente for daily essentials and fresh produce, as they offer better value than smaller convenience stores.
Consider living in neighborhoods like Arroios or Penha de França for more affordable rent options compared to the highly central Baixa or Chiado districts.
Budget scenarios
Single
$1,785–$2,826/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,082/mo
- Groceries: ~$424/mo
- Transport: ~$86/mo
Couple
$2,826–$4,313/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,082/mo
- Groceries: ~$424/mo
- Transport: ~$86/mo
Family
$4,090–$6,321/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,082/mo
- Groceries: ~$424/mo
- Transport: ~$86/mo
Neighbourhood guide
Lisbon Center
CentralUrban core, transit access
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,673–$2,603/mo
Lisbon Midtown
CentralMixed residential
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,472–$2,290/mo
Lisbon Outer
SuburbanQuieter, family-friendly
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,070–$1,666/mo
Quality of life scores
Pros & cons
✅ Pros
- • Value
- • Weather
- • Digital nomads
❌ Cons
- • Rising rents
- • Salaries lower
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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.