Your guide to the cost of living in Lisbon (2025)

Curious about the cost of living in Lisbon? Uncover 2025 rent, food, and budget insights for students and expats—see how far your money goes!

Ellie

9 minute read

·

Updated on 16 Sep 2026

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Living

Meta title: Cost of living in Lisbon: your 2025 budget guide
Meta description: How much does it cost to live in Lisbon? See real monthly budgets for rent, food, transport, and more, plus what students and expats should plan for.
Slug: cost-of-living-lisbon

How much is the cost of living in Lisbon?

Curious about the cost of living in Lisbon? Uncover 2025 rent, food, and budget insights for students and expats—see how far your money goes!

Ellie

9 minute read

·

Updated on 16 Sep 2026

·

Living

Living in Lisbon costs about €1,778 a month on average, with rent as your biggest expense; expect anywhere from €1,267 a month if you rent a room to €2,317 a month for a 1-bedroom apartment on your own. Lisbon has quickly become one of the most popular European cities for expats wanting to relocate. Recent years have seen plenty of tech companies and startups opening new offices in the Portuguese capital. With such rapid growth, the cost of living in Lisbon has changed a lot in recent years, so what can you expect if you move to Lisbon? Let's explore the cost of living in Lisbon and find out!

If you're wondering what life is really like after you land, see what expat life in Lisbon is really like — cost is just one piece of the puzzle for students and young professionals.

Key takeaways:

• For students: a room in a shared flat costs around €550 a month, bringing your total monthly budget (rent plus daily expenses) to about €1,267.
• For young professionals living alone: a studio runs about €1,050 a month and a 1-bedroom apartment about €1,600, pushing your total budget to €1,767–€2,317.
• Everyone, regardless of accommodation: budget roughly €717 a month for groceries, leisure, utilities, transport, and a gym membership.
• The average salary in Portugal (€2,741) leaves real room in your budget once rent is sorted, even though rent in Lisbon has risen fast.
• Healthcare is cheap or free through the SNS once you're registered; private insurance adds €40–€100 a month if you want it.
• Booking your accommodation before you arrive gives you a head start on your tax number, bank account, and getting paid.

Living in Lisbon is affordable, especially compared to other European capitals like London and Paris. With the average salary in Portugal being €2,741 and a monthly cost of living of €1,778 in Lisbon, you'll find a lot of room in your monthly budget. The biggest living expense in Lisbon is the cost of your accommodation. Once you find a home in Lisbon that works with your budget, you'll find your daily expenses quite affordable.

Living expenses in Lisbon include accommodation, food, transport, and leisure activities. To give you an idea of your monthly living expenses while in Lisbon, here's a rough idea of what a typical monthly budget in Lisbon looks like for expats:

As you can see, without rent, you'll spend about €717 per month on your living expenses. Including rent, this ranges from €1,267 per month for a single person renting a room in Lisbon to €2,317 per month for a single person renting a 1-bedroom apartment in Lisbon. Rent is the single biggest variable in your budget, so let's break the costs down a little further so you can get an even better understanding of the cost of living in Lisbon.

Your biggest living expense in Lisbon will certainly be the cost of your rent. The amount you pay in rent while living in Lisbon will vary a lot depending on which Lisbon neighbourhood you decide to live in and the type of accommodation you go for.

If you want to dig deeper into the best areas for students, expats, and young professionals, compare Lisbon’s best neighbourhoods to see which fits your lifestyle and budget.

Average rent by accommodation type

Here's what you should expect in terms of the average rent in Lisbon, by accommodation type, according to the HousingAnywhere rent index:

Upfront costs when renting in Lisbon

Rent isn't the only cost you'll face when you sign a lease. Landlords in Lisbon typically ask for a security deposit worth 1 to 2 months' rent, on top of your first month's rent, before handing over the keys. If you go through a rental agency, you may also be charged a finder's fee equal to one month's rent.

Budget for this upfront cost before you start your search, so a good deal doesn't fall through because you're short on cash at signing. Renting through a platform with transparent pricing, like HousingAnywhere, means you see exactly what you owe before you book, with no surprise fees at the door.

If you're considering a specific neighbourhood or wondering about safety, it's smart to check if Lisbon feels safe for your lifestyle before you commit to an area.

Book your home before you arrive

The Lisbon market is still quite competitive, particularly as you get closer to the centre of Lisbon. Be sure to give yourself time, and if possible try to book your accommodation before you get to Lisbon. With HousingAnywhere, you can book your Lisbon accommodation online before you arrive. Doing so will give you a head start in getting your tax identification number, setting up your bank account and getting paid!

One of the bigger monthly expenses you'll have outside of your rent is your food bill. Lisbon has a variety of options in terms of groceries and restaurants, so your food budget will vary depending on where you go.

Grocery prices

Groceries in Lisbon will typically cost between €250 to €400 per month. Shopping in places like Aldi, Continente or Lidl will help keep your grocery budget down. Here's an idea of what some common groceries will cost you in Lisbon:

Eating out

Eating out in Lisbon is also pretty affordable, and there's a variety of cheaper and mid-range restaurants to choose from.

• Eating out for lunch will cost between €10 to €15.
• A 3-course meal for 2 in a mid range restaurant will cost about €50.
• A fast food restaurant will cost about €10.

Like many capital cities, the streets of Lisbon aren't very car-friendly. The best way to get around Lisbon is by using the incredible public transportation system in place across the city. If you plan to travel around Lisbon a lot using public transport, it's best to get a monthly subscription with a Navegante card.

Want to go deeper? Use our guide to work out your transport costs in Lisbon and make the most of buses, metro, trams, and more.

The price of the subscription depends on the area you live. If you think you'll mainly be travelling around Lisbon, Amadora and Odivelas, the municipal subscription, which costs €30 per month, is best for you. If you're going to be moving around the Lisbon metropolitan area, the metropolitan subscription, which costs €40 per month, is your best bet.

You can also get a pay as you go subscription and top up as you go, each journey will then cost €1.61.

Taxis in Lisbon are also pretty cheap with a base rate of €3.25 and an extra €0.47 per km. If you need to move in a hurry and a nearby scooter or bike rental is the best option, it usually costs less than €5 per journey.

You're an expat living in Lisbon, having fun is a mandatory part of the expat life in Lisbon! Lisbon has plenty of opportunities for fun, for all kinds of interests. Some typical entertainment costs in Lisbon include:

There're some less typical expenses that may need to factor into your monthly cost of living in Lisbon. For example, healthcare is not a monthly cost for most people living in Lisbon, but you should be aware of these costs regardless.

As Portugal has a national health service (SNS) which funds the majority of medical services, you'll rarely have to pay additional fees for healthcare in Lisbon, once you've registered with the SNS. You can only register with the SNS if you plan to live in Lisbon for longer than 90 days. You may occasionally pay between €5 and €50 fees for healthcare services you avail of, depending on your circumstances.

If you'd prefer to opt for private health insurance, you'll spend between €40 and €100 a month.

If you or your children will be attending school in Lisbon, you'll be glad to know that public schools in Lisbon are free, and public universities in Lisbon are very affordable. The average tuition fees in public universities are about between €750 and €1,500 per year for EU students and between €3,000 and €5,000 per year for non-EU students.

Comparatively to other European capital cities, even private school and university fees are fairly affordable in Lisbon. Private and international schools in Lisbon cost around €13,000 per year and private universities charge on average about €4,000 per year for all nationalities.

Yes. Lisbon is one of the more affordable European capitals for students, as long as you share accommodation. A room in a shared flat costs around €550 a month, and daily costs (groceries, transport, leisure, utilities, and a gym membership) add up to about €717 a month. That puts a realistic student budget at around €1,267 a month, well within reach if you're getting a Portuguese or EU-funded stipend, or working part-time.

Tuition adds relatively little on top of that. Public university fees run €750 to €1,500 a year for EU students, so spread over 12 months, that's only an extra €60 to €125 a month. Non-EU students paying €3,000 to €5,000 a year should budget an extra €250 to €415 a month for tuition.

To keep costs down, prioritise a shared room close to your university and public transport line. This cuts your commute time and your transport bill, and a shared flat means splitting utilities and internet with flatmates.

Use this table to quickly compare what different living situations cost in Lisbon:

So there you have it. Now that you've got an idea of how much it'll cost you to live in Lisbon, it's time to find your perfect accommodation in Lisbon and set your monthly budget. Book with a platform where landlords are ID-verified and your first month's rent stays protected until 48 hours after move-in, so you can plan your Lisbon budget with confidence before you even land.

Thinking beyond Lisbon? Compare Lisbon with the rest of Portugal for a country-wide look at living costs and alternatives.

If you're ready to make the leap, plan your move to Portugal step by step with our relocation checklist, covering visas, healthcare, and everything you need to settle in smoothly.

Is Lisbon expensive to live in? No, not compared to other Western European capitals like London or Paris. Expect a monthly cost of living around €1,778, with rent as your biggest expense.

How much is rent in Lisbon? Average monthly rent runs €550 for a private room, €1,050 for a studio, and €1,600 for a full apartment, according to the HousingAnywhere rent index.

How much does food cost in Lisbon? Groceries cost €250 to €400 a month. Eating out for lunch costs €10 to €15, and a 3-course meal for 2 at a mid-range restaurant costs about €50.

Do I need a car in Lisbon? No. Lisbon's public transport system covers the city and metro area well, and a monthly Navegante pass costs €30 to €40. Taxis and scooters are also cheap for occasional trips.

How much does health insurance cost in Portugal? Private health insurance costs €40 to €100 a month. If you register with the SNS after 90 days of residence, most public healthcare is free or low-cost (€5 to €50 per service).

Can you live in Lisbon on €1,000 a month? It's tight but possible if you share a room (€550) and keep daily expenses lean, though €1,267 a month is a more realistic minimum once you include groceries, transport, leisure, and utilities.