Places · Lisbon Metropolitan Area
Living in Lisbon
The capital: the widest job market, the largest international community and the highest housing costs in the country.
Region
Lisbon Metropolitan Area
Population
548,000
Best for
Careers, startups and international schools
Single household
€1,805 / month (€1,501–€2,316)
Couple
€2,645 / month (€2,204–€3,387)
Couple with two children
€3,663 / month
Where the money goes each month
| Item | Single | Couple |
|---|---|---|
| Rent, 2-bedroom apartmentLong-term unfurnished lease outside the tourist core. | €1,150 | €1,550 |
| Electricity, water and gasAveraged across the year for an apartment; winter bills run higher because most homes have no central heating. | €110 | €110 |
| Internet and mobileFibre package with one or two mobile lines. | €45 | €45 |
| Home contents insuranceContents cover for a rented apartment. | €18 | €18 |
| GroceriesSupermarket shopping, counted per person; a child counts as roughly 60% of an adult. | €230 | €460 |
| 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. | €170 | €306 |
Rent is the whole story. Every other line in a Portuguese budget is modest by Western European standards; housing is not, and in Lisbon 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
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