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Cost of living in Lisbon

Cost of living

Lisbon is the most expensive city in Portugal, but the gap with northern Europe stays wide: a comfortable single-person budget runs roughly a third below Paris for the same quality of life. Housing is the whole story; groceries, transport and utilities are modest.

Watch the two rent series: Idealista asking prices (what landlords advertise, June 2026) run 10-20% above the INE median of signed contracts. Budget against asking prices; you will rarely sign below them on arrival.

Rent

ItemCostDetailsReviewedSource
1-bedroom apartment, city centreEUR 1,420 (USD 1,500)/moNumbeo crowd-sourced average, about 200 contributorsOct 2026Numbeo
1-bedroom apartment, outside centreEUR 1,067 (USD 1,200)/moNumbeo crowd-sourced average, about 200 contributorsOct 2026Numbeo
3-bedroom apartment, city centreEUR 2,526 (USD 2,800)/mo-Oct 2026Numbeo
Asking rent, 1-bedroom (by freguesia)EUR 1,170-1,650 (USD 1,300-1,800)/moIdealista asking prices, June 2026. Alcantara USD 1,280-1,560; Alfama and Baixa USD 1,470-1,800. Budget against asking, not the lower INE signed-contract median.Oct 2026Expat Daily

Groceries

ItemCostDetailsReviewedSource
Groceries, one personEUR 200-300 (USD 220-330)/moHome cooking with market and supermarket shoppingOct 2026Portugal Residency Advisors
Groceries basket estimateUSD 269/moCityCost modelled basket, updated 11 Oct 2026Oct 2026CityCost

Transport

ItemCostDetailsReviewedSource
Navegante Metropolitano monthly passEUR 40 (USD 44)/moUnlimited metro, Carris buses and trams, suburban trains and Tagus ferries across the metro area. A single-municipality pass is USD 33/mo.Oct 2026Access Portugal
Single ticket / Zapping fareEUR 1.90 (USD 2) / EUR 1.72 (USD 2)Single journey loaded on the Navegante card vs pay-as-you-go Zapping balance. Paying the driver costs more (USD 2.5 bus, USD 3.5 tram).Oct 2026HousingAnywhere

Utilities

ItemCostDetailsReviewedSource
Basic utilities, 85m2 apartmentEUR 110-150 (USD 120-160)/moElectricity, heating, water, garbage. Numbeo average is USD 120. Old flats without central heating cost more in winter.Oct 2026Portugal Residency Advisors
Internet, 60 Mbps+ unlimitedEUR 35-45 (USD 38-49)/moNumbeo average USD 41. Mobile plans with 10GB+ data around USD 21/mo.Oct 2026Portugal Residency Advisors

School fees

ItemCostDetailsReviewedSource
International school tuitionEUR 8,000-29,970 (USD 8,700-32,700)/yrBy school and year group. Registration, meals, transport and extras typically add 15-25% on top.Oct 2026Expat School Guide
Public schoolFreeFree and compulsory from age 6 to 18 for legal residents. Taught in Portuguese.Oct 2026Portugal Residency Advisors

Healthcare

ItemCostDetailsReviewedSource
Private health insuranceEUR 25-150 (USD 27-160)/moAbout USD 27-65 for basic cover, USD 87-160 for comprehensive plans. Depends on age and coverage.Oct 2026Global Citizen Solutions
SNS co-pays, registered residentsabout EUR 5 (USD 5.5) / EUR 15 (USD 16)Primary care visit / emergency visit. Children under 12, pregnant women and low-income households are exempt.Oct 2026Relocate Handbook
Travel medical insurance (visa stage)EUR 30,000 (USD 32,700) minimum coverageSchengen-standard requirement for the D8 application. Upgrade to full health insurance by the AIMA residency appointment.Oct 2026Relocate Handbook

Build your budget

Plan your monthly budget

Tap a city and a lifestyle. The bars move with you, so you can see exactly where lean ends and premium begins.

City
Household
Lifestyle

1 person · Comfortable · Lisbon

EUR 2,200/mo

EUR 2,200/mo per person

Where it goes

  • Housing50%· rent in expat-favored neighborhoods
  • Food20%· groceries plus a few restaurant meals a week
  • Transport & utilities15%· transit passes, phone, power, water
  • Buffer15%· visa fees, deposits, first-month setup

A typical split for a comfortable budget. Shares shift by city and neighborhood; housing is the biggest piece everywhere.

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