Cost of Living in Lisbon
Lisbon is the most expensive city in Portugal. A single expat needs €2,000-2,800/month for a comfortable life in a central neighborhood. Lower if you share, higher if you want Principe Real or Chiado.
Single adult
€2,000-2,800
per month
Couple
€2,800-4,000
per month
Family of 4
€3,500-5,500
per month
Housing
1-bed apartment, central (Principe Real, Chiado)
€1,500-2,500
1-bed apartment, inner suburbs (Graca, Alvalade)
€1,100-1,700
2-bed apartment, central
€2,000-3,500
Room in shared flat
€500-900
Utilities (electric + water + gas)
€80-150/month
Food & groceries
Bica (espresso) at a cafe
€0.80-1.50
Pastel de nata
€1.20-2.00
Lunch menu (prato do dia)
€9-14
Dinner out, mid-range restaurant
€18-35 per person
Weekly groceries, single person
€45-80
Pingo Doce / Continente basket of basics
€60-100/week
Transport
Navegante monthly pass (metro + bus + train + tram)
€40
Single metro ticket
€1.65
Uber across central Lisbon
€6-12
Petrol (per litre)
€1.75-1.95
Parking in central Lisbon
€1.80-3.00/hour (street)
Utilities
Fibre internet 200 Mbps
€30-40/month
Mobile plan with unlimited calls + 30GB
€15-25/month
Electricity (2-person apartment)
€40-80/month
Water
€15-25/month
Gas
€15-40/month
Leisure & lifestyle
Gym membership (Fitness Hut, Holmes Place)
€30-80/month
Cinema ticket
€8-12
Beer at a bar
€2.50-5.00
Ginja shot at A Ginjinha
€1.50
Salary you need
€2,500/month net as a single adult for comfort. D8 visa threshold is 4x minimum wage (~€3,480/month gross), which is the practical minimum for visa approval.
Is Lisbon right for you?
Bem-vindo generates a personalized settlement plan based on your visa type, city, and situation. Track every deadline, document, and tax obligation.