Learn how much it cost to live in Lisbon, Portugal. Find out the cost of living in Lisbon for housing, groceries, transport, activites, and more!
Considering moving to Lisbon? From accommodation to daily expenses, this blog will help you know if you can afford living in Lisbon and give you an estimate of how much you can spend living in Portugal's capital city.
Contents:
Here is a breakdown of what I usually spend per month:
Total = ~1,000€ per month (approx.)
Other costs of interest:
Lisbon's housing market has seen significant price increases in recent years, driven by rising demand from both locals and international buyers. Here is a breakdown of what to expect:
Utilities like electricity, water, and internet typically add an extra €100 per month to housing costs.
Grocery prices in Lisbon are generally lower than many other major European cities. Chains include Continente, Auchan, and Pingo Doce. There are also international chains such as Aldi, Lidl, and neighbour country Spansih Mercadona.
A weekly shop for basic items like bread, milk, eggs, and produce can cost around €30-€50 per person.
Dining out is also relatively affordable, with a meal at a mid-range restaurant averaging €7-€15 per person.
Specialty and imported items may be more expensive.
A monthly public transport pass costs around €40 per month, making it a cost-effective option for getting around the city. If you plan to make more than 3 return trips per week consider getting a Navegante card.
Taxis and ride-sharing services are also available, with a typical 5km trip costing €5-€10. Owning a car in Lisbon can be more expensive due to high fuel prices and parking costs. I heard from locals parking is extremely hard.
There is also a lot of electric scooters located all around the city costing around 0.20€ per minute. Very fun to move around especially if the day is nice.
Lisbon offers a wide range of cultural, recreational, and entertainment options to suit various budgets. Here is a breakdown of popular acitivities:
Overall, Lisbon's cost of living is generally lower than many other Western European capitals, making it an attractive destination for both residents and visitors. However, housing and some imported goods can still be relatively expensive compared to the local average income.
In Portugal, while earnings might be comparatively lower than those in other Western European nations, the cost of living is also considerably reduced.
The current minimum wage in Portugal is 956€ per month (or 11,480€ per year). Lower than neighbour country Spain (~1,250€ per month), and other central and north European countries, but sligthly higher than some east European countries like Bulgaria, Romania and a few others (~500-700€ per month).
However, the average wage in Portugal is higher - around 2.2k€ per month (or 26,737€ per year) based on a Statista analysis.
Having said that, living in Lisbon with minimum wage job (e.g. waiter, cleaner, kitchen assistant...) will limit your options in terms of accomodation and savings, so I would not recommend it and instead try out other cities in Portugal with lower cost of living. However, with an average wage job (e.g. in tech, administrative, etc.) you will have a better time and be less stressed about the money and cost of living.
To help you find the perfect place to call home in this vibrant city, I've already created a blog about the Where to live in Lisbon? so check it out =). However, this is a summary of my recommendations:
Recommended platform for accomodation search:
Other useful platforms: Uniplace, Spotahome, Inlife, Idealista PT, Sapo PT, Facebook groups
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