Places · Lisbon Metropolitan Area
Living in Cascais & Oeiras
The coastal strip west of Lisbon: international schools, an established foreign community and the highest rents in the country outside central Lisbon.
Region
Lisbon Metropolitan Area
Population
241,000
Best for
Families who want the coast and international schools
Single household
€2,072 / month (€1,726–€2,651)
Couple
€2,930 / month (€2,443–€3,744)
Couple with two children
€4,060 / month
Where the money goes each month
| Item | Single | Couple |
|---|---|---|
| Rent, 2-bedroom apartmentLong-term unfurnished lease outside the tourist core. | €1,200 | €1,600 |
| Electricity, water and gasAveraged across the year for an apartment; winter bills run higher because most homes have no central heating. | €115 | €115 |
| Internet and mobileFibre package with one or two mobile lines. | €45 | €45 |
| Home contents insuranceContents cover for a rented apartment. | €20 | €20 |
| GroceriesSupermarket shopping, counted per person; a child counts as roughly 60% of an adult. | €240 | €480 |
| Car costs (fuel, insurance, tax)One shared car: fuel, insurance, road tax and servicing spread monthly. | €190 | €190 |
| Public transport passMonthly metropolitan pass, per adult who commutes. | €40 | €72 |
| Private health insuranceMid-range private plan on top of public healthcare; a child costs roughly half an adult. | €42 | €84 |
| Eating out and leisureCounted per adult, with a discount for a shared household. | €180 | €324 |
Rent is the whole story. Every other line in a Portuguese budget is modest by Western European standards; housing is not, and in Cascais & Oeiras it is what will decide whether your income is comfortable or tight.
Long-term unfurnished leases are far cheaper than the furnished, English-language listings aimed at newcomers. Arriving with three months of temporary accommodation booked and searching locally almost always beats signing remotely.
Compare with other cities
Get the rule changes that affect your move
One short email when something material changes: thresholds, appointments, deadlines. No advice, no selling.
We store your email only to send these updates. Unsubscribe at any time.