If you are planning on either visiting Lisbon or moving to Lisboa, you’re probably making a budget (if you’re not, you should be). If not, you’re probably asking yourself ‘is Lisbon expensive’. Today, I’ll be discussing Lisbon prices so that you can figure out how much money to take to Lisbon for a week, a month, or how to budget if you are planning on moving to Lisbon.
This is a guide for you to know how much you’ll pay for all sorts of things in Lisbon.
I have now been living in Lisbon for over 5 years, so I just updated the article to show you the differences in prices for things starting 2017 to 2022. Here’s a breakdown of the changes in pricing:
- Housing, gas, and electricity are where we have seen the biggest increases.
- Food has remained pretty stable but is starting to rise due to the war in the Urkaine. The same applies to groceries.
- If you have questions about the price of a particular item in Lisbon, leave a comment below to ask.
What Is The Cost Of Things In Lisbon?
The articles linked to below are for specific types of items with examples, so go ahead and click thru for more detail and information in that particular sector:
And A Comparison Of Prices From 2017 to 2021
Lisbon was known as a very affordable city, but due to its popularity, prices have been increasing. In fact, Lisbon is now considered to be one of the most expensive cities to live in AND is now more expensive for tourists than Madrid, Budapest, and Athens.
Living in Lisbon as an expat/immigrant is not as affordable as it once was. It’s even tougher for locals.
That being said, if you do your research, you can still enjoy great value in Lisbon.
Let me give you an idea of how much things cost in Lisbon so you can plan for your vacation or Lisbon move.
What Is The Price of Lodging In Lisbon?
Lodging in Lisbon will be your biggest expense.
The average salary in Lisbon is quite low (€860 Euros in 2017, €1147 in 2022 in Lisbon) when compared to the cost of living here.
Foreigners who purchased homes as investments which increased the cost of homes in Lisbon. This means that local housing, vacation rentals, and hotels have all gone up in price.
Because of the city’s popularity after the last big COVID wave, hotel pricing has increased significantly.
If you are visiting during events such as WebSummit, prices will be higher around those events.
However, things have changed recently. There is a freeze in new alojamento local properties in historic neighbourhoods such as the Alfama. There is also a new law that discourages AL properties (like AirBnBs) in residential buildings (basically, if there is a complaint from a resident they are forced to shut down ). This has caused a shortage in AirBnB type properties. Add the attack of Russia on Ukraine, and prices have skyrocketed.
Let’s break it down by type of lodging for 2 people:
Price of Hostels In Lisbon
Hostels will be the cheapest option. They are a great choice if you are a single traveler because you get to meet others, but you give up privacy and comfort. Let’s take a look at hostel prices:
- Pre-Covid a private room in a hostel would cost you around €30. A shared room would cost you between €10-15.
- 2021, I checked prices and I was able to find shared rooms (2 people) at around €10, and single rooms at €42 per night.
- 2022 This year, prices for a single room run anywhere between €60-133 per night. Shared rooms run anywhere from €20 to 50€.
Price of Hotels In Lisbon
- Before Covid, your average hotel in Lisbon cost between €249-300 per night.
- 2021 I was able to find hotels starting at €130-300 on average.
- 2022 Prices are about the same as last year.
Price of AirBnBs In Lisbon
- Before Covid – We were able to find 2 bedroom Airbnbs between $84 and $150. Heck, in 2017, we were able to rent a cute 2 bedroom for $47 per night (we stayed 30 days).
- 2021 – I was able to find Airbnbs in Lisbon $150 – $200 per night.
- 2022 – Woah! Things have changed. The average price of a private AirBnB in June is €381 per night. You can get a camper for €80 per night. The cheapest private place was a 3.5 star studio at €130.
PRO TIP: Beware Craigslist. If you see something that looks to be too good to be true, it absolutely is. Here’s a little gem of a Craigslist scam I found there. Sure, there may be a few decent vacation rentals there, but I’d tell you not to waste your time.
How much Does It Cost To Eat At Restaurants in Lisbon?
Eating out in Lisbon is still one of the best values in Europe. Back in the day you could spend €10 for two people and leave completely full. Not so much nowadays, but there are still places that will do the same for €15.
There are places that will cheat you, especially in the more touristy areas (For an example google “Made in Correeiros”). My number one piece of advice when eating out is to get out of the Tourist traps or check review sites prior to committing to a meal.
PRO TIP: If you are on a budget, look for churrascarias, tascas, and leitarias. If you see locals or workers in there, this is a safe, cheap bet. Portions at these restaurants are HUGE. If you’re looking to save money, you can also check out all the different kiosks of Lisbon. They are tons of fun and very affordable.
Price of Restaurants in Lisbon
Here’s the breakdown of the different types of restaurants, what you can expect to find there, and the average price you will expect to pay:
Kiosks: The Kiosks of Lisbon offer quick snacks and drinks (beer, wine, coffee). This includes everything from empadas and pasteis to small sandwiches called toasts. There are a few kiosks that are a bit fancier and specialize in certain types of cuisine like seafood or Asian. Stick to your regular kiosks if you are looking to save money. At most €6 will get you a beer and a toast.
Churrascarias: These are Portuguese BBQ joints. If you’re a carnivore, you definitely want to hit these up. €10-15 should get you a meal and a beer with plenty of leftovers.
Tasca: Tascas serve homemade food (like a good Portuguese grandma would make) at super cheap prices. €10 should be enough to feed you well.
Leitaria: Although Leitaria means dairy, these restaurants pack on a punch. These serve typical Portuguese food at very low prices. Same as with churrascarias, €10 should be more than enough for the main course and a beer or wine.
Other Types of Restaurants: There are tons of other types of restaurants in Lisbon, and if you so wish, you can spend 500€ on a meal. That being said, you can get a deal even on Michelin-starred restaurants. For example, Eleven which has 1 star serves a 35€ lunch on weekdays. So just take the time to do your research before heading out.
My Fave Value Restaurants in Town: These aren’t all “cheap”, but the quality-value proposition is 100% there.
***The cost of restaurants in Lisbon during Covid has not changed much. At the moment, restaurants are not open for dine-in, only for pick up or delivery.
Transportation
Lisbon is a very walkable city, I’ve walked all the way from Avenidas Novas to Belem and loved it…however, if you don’t like to walk (or if you want to skip the hills), Lisbon has fantastic public transport. There are buses, subways, trams, taxis, and services such as Uber. Here’s the breakdown on cost:
Lisbon Metro & Bus System: You can get almost anywhere on the Lisbon metro system and there are tons of ticketing options to fit locals, ex-pats, and travelers:
2021 Lisbon Metro Prices
For Occasional Journeys (this will probably be best if you are coming for a quick visit:
- Carris/Metro Ticket 1,50€ (price stayed the same in 2021)
One ticket for one person that is valid for 60 minutes from its first use.
Cannot be used for consecutive journeys on the Metro. - 1 Day Carris/Metro Ticket 6,40€ (price stayed the same in 2021)
You can use this for 24 hours after its first use for unlimited rides on Carris and the Metro. - Carris/Metro/Transtejo (Cacilhas) 9,55€ (price stayed the same in 2021)
Good for unlimited rides on Carris, the Metro, and Transtejo (Cacilhas river connection), for 24 hours after the first use. - Carris/Metro/CP 10,60€ (price stayed the same in 2021)
Good for unlimited trips on Carris, the Metro, and Comboios de Portugal (Sintra, Cascais, Azambuja, and Sado train lines), for 24 hours after the first use. - Zapping 1,34€ per Metro ride but is purchased in bulk. (price stayed the same in 2021)
You buy a card and charge it with zaps (rides). Each zap is used for one ride on one system. You can purchase in amounts of 3€, 5€, 10€, 15€, 20€, 25€, 30€, 35€ or 40€.
Valid for a single journey on the Metro network
Tram: Just a heads up, I have never taken the tram. To me, it’s just too touristy so it is not something I am interested in. The 28 (that’s the most popular one) is just too crowded. If you want to ride the tram, pick another line, and save yourself the wait and aggravation. A ride on most trams costs €2.90.
Taxi: The minimum fare for a taxi is €3.25. That means as soon as you get in, you will be charged this. Then each additional kilometer costs €0.47 (1 km is .6 miles). You can hail taxis, but it is much easier to get them to pick you up in a taxi queue. A ride from el Corte Ingles to the Airport will cost you €10. While this option is cheap, there is a cheaper, more convenient option. (TBH – I no longer take taxis – Uber is definitely the way to go, so I don’t have a solid price for taxis in 2021).
Ride Share Apps: Uber is very popular in Lisbon (not with taxi drivers, of course). A ride from El Corte Ingles to the airport cost €6.74 (you can use my code to get a discount on your first ride with code nellyg235ue. (price stayed the same in 2021).
Cost of Daily Necessities
Now that we’ve discussed the more pressing items, here is the average cost of things you may purchase in Lisbon:
- Gum: €0.90
- Iceberg Lettuce: €1.13
- Canned tuna: €1.84 (this is really good tuna – not your Bumble Bee crap)
- Box of Ready to Eat Cooked Shrimp: €3.08
- Salted Butter €1.39
- Fresh Rosemary €1.25
- Sliced Ham €3.79
- Chicken Thighs €3.60
- Oreo cookies €1.99
- Chicken Stock €1.10
- Nivea Q10 with SPF 30 €9.74
- Bottle of white wine €4.74
- Pesto Sauce €2.29
- Mortadella €2.99 (this is the good Mortadella 5 slices per pack)
- Paper towels €1.49
- Captain Morgan Spiced Rum €11.99
- KitKat €1.99
- 1 bottle Franziskaner Beer €1.79
- 4 rolls of Toiler Paper €1.29
- 6 eggs €2.49
If you have questions about Lisbon, just ask. Wondering how much a car rental in Lisbon costs? Maybe you’re curious about how much a tour in Lisbon will set you back? Just ask in the comments and I’ll get back to you in a jiffy.
Cost of Housing in Lisbon
Housing is probably the most expensive thing in town. The bad news (as if that was not bad enough) is that prices are rising daily. An apartment that would have cost you €1300 per month for rent 6 months ago is being rented for €2200. The cost of rent in Lisbon will vary by neighborhood, but this will give you an idea as to the averages in town.
1000 Sq Ft apartment furnished in an upscale neighborhood (Avenidas Novas, Estrela, Chiado)
- 2017 €1,800 (furnished) €1,500 (unfurnished)
- 2018 €2,500 (furnished) €2,000 (unfurnished)
- 2019 – €2,500 (furnished) €2,000 (unfurnished) ***prices have remained the same as the previous year.
- 2020 – €1,700 (furnished) €1,400 (unfurnished)***prices have dropped during the COVID-19 epidemic
- 2021 – €1,500 (furnished) €1,300 (unfurnished)***prices are starting to stabilize again after a massive drop.
1000 Sq Ft apartment furnished in a good neighborhood (Anjos, Pena)
- 2017 €1,400 (furnished) €1,100 (unfurnished)
- 2018 €2,000 (furnished) €1,800 (unfurnished)
- 2019 – €1,600 (furnished) €1,400 (unfurnished)
- 2020 – €1,600 (furnished) €1,200 (unfurnished)
- 2021 – €1,400 (furnished) €1,200 (unfurnished)
Cost of Utilities in Lisbon
Electric: In 2017, it cost us around €78.23 for a 2 bedroom at 110 meters during the Summer. The price of electricity in Lisbon has significantly increased year-over-year. This year it doubled to €114,27. We work from home, so we use a lot more electricity than a regular person would, but we don’t normally use A/C (our house has an A rating, so the temperature is pretty good without it. Here’s a comparison of our electric bills in Lisbon Summer to Winter 2017 & 2018 (note – moved to Lisbon in April 2017, so we don’t have the price of electricity in the winter in Lisbon for that year).
- December 2020 – 99,15 €
- June 2020 – 115,05 €
- December 2019 – 134 €
- June 2019 – 114 €
- January 2019 – 118 €
- July 2018 – 114 €
- January 2018 – 374 €
- July 2017 – 77 €
Gas: The cost of gas is pretty good and has held up nicely. We have gas set up through Galp instead of EDP because there is a weird clause that would force us to pay €60 to get a new certificate and switch to EDP. Because prices are pretty low, there’s no incentive for us to do all the work and coordinate. Here is a comparison of gas prices in Lisbon from 2017 to 2018 (will add some more when I find my old invoices):
- December 2020 – €26.28 (we are down from 3- 2 people)
- June 2020 – €39.53
- December 2020 – €41.67
- June 2019 – €56.20 (we are now 3 people instead of 2 & we got a new dishwasher and a new washer/dryer – which may account for the higher difference)
- January 2019 – €38
- July 2018 – €27
- December 2017 – €39
Water: We do laundry at least 3 times per week and I love a good, long, hot shower. If you are more economical than I am, your costs could be lower. The invoices are for 2-month periods.
- December 2020 – $60.03 (we’re 2 people, but I find myself washing a lot more now that I am trapped at home)
- June 2020 – €58.59
- January 2020 – €62.30
- June 2019 – €157 (3 people in the house & a friend was here visiting)
- January 2019 – €89 (note – this is three people in the same house – before it was two)
- June 2018 – €64
- December 2017 – €125
- June 2017 – €24
Cable (phone and internet)
2018: €78 gets you a package from Vodafone that includes high-speed internet (200MB), basic cable, a phone line, and two cell phones with 5 gigas. I’ve heard MEO is cheaper, but we’re still quite happy with our service from Vodafone.
2019: We upgraded some, so now we are at €128 for cable, a phone line (we don’t use) the fastest internet available, and three phones with 9 gigs each).
2020: €105 – 3 mobiles with 9g, a landline, and cable.
2021: €105 – 3 mobiles with 9g, a landline, and cable (and they gave us HBO for free).
Heat
This depends on what kind of heating you use. If you use electricity, be prepared for a ridiculous bill. As you saw above, our electric bill went to almost €400 in the winter to heat a 2 bedroom 100-meter apartment. This year, we picked up a hotspot from Galp. It is a butane gas heater that cost us €125. We paid €30 for the deposit on the gas canister and the actual gas cost us €5. It heats up a 400-meter room quite well and will save money in the long run. So far, we are in love with ours.
Parking: €150 in a posh area. If you choose another neighborhood it will be cheaper. This year due to Covid, there is a lot of public parking, so this has stayed about the same in 2021.
Legal Services in Lisbon
Lawyer/Accountant: A good law firm with English speakers will charge on average the below amounts per hour:
- €280 for a partner (international work)
- €120 for a junior associate
- €65 for a paralegal
For projects that are not done on an hourly basis, (for example, procuring a NIF for an NRH residency) prices are by project and usually cost somewhere around €2500-4000.
If you are looking for English speaking lawyers in Lisbon, check out the article below:
Lawyers and Attorneys in Lisbon Portugal
Random Costs
I figured I should add a few more random costs. If there is something you don’t see here, ask in the comments so I can update the blog.
Dry Cleaning: depends on where you go, but on average, I pay €6 for dry cleaning a sweater. Pretty affordable compared to NYC.
If you have a question about the price of other things in Lisbon, ask in the comments & we’ll get back to you in a jiffy!
Thanks for this, some great info you’ve put forward 🙂
Thanks Matt! Glad you liked it. Lisbon is a city that can be quite affordable. I think that is why it is becoming so popular with expats.
Great info! Am planning to spend a few days in Lisbon after coming off a cruise. Also hoping to go to Albufeira for another two days. Seeing that my time is limited, can you suggest what I should do and where to stay in Albufeira. Not too much of a beach person…. do
Do I need to rent a car or will the public transport get me to places I need to visit. Thank you.
You’re going to have an amazing time. So…on Albufeira. The beaches are gorgeous, but the tourists that go there tend to be loud and drunk (totally fine, unless you’re looking for relaxation). If you’re not into the beach, why not hit up the Alentejo region. It’s beautiful and there are tons of wineries. It’s also very close to Lisboa. Within Lisbon itself you can get around without a car, but if you’re planning to go to Albufeira, I would 100% recommend that you rent a car.
How much do people earn typically in Lisboa per month? Are people usually paid per month, weekly, or bi-weekly? Thank you!
In Lisbon the average salary is around 850-900 Euros. I’ve heard pay here in Portugal is on a monthly basis, but I’m not 100% on that one.
How can people survive if housing rental costs are more than the average salary?
It’s a big issue here and us expats are not helping things. Many young Portuguese people will either:
1. Live at home
2. Share an apartment in Lisbon
3. Live outside of the city proper (used to be Benfica, but prices there are also getting high – Almada seems to be an affordable option).
This is causing many of Lisbon’s talented youth to move outside of Portugal to the rest of the EU. It’s something the government will have to deal with.
Hello Blanca, Can you recommend a paralegal in Lisbon? Thanks, Corazón
We have a private group where we vet and suggest the best lawyers, realtors, handlers, tax help, etc. If you are interested shoot us a private message and get an invite.
Hello!! Your post was very useful and helpful. I will be traveling to Lisboa on July 17th and staying in the Alfama area. I was curious if you can recommend a couple of things:
– if I am to bring a cell phone with me, are there places where I could set it up to use in Portugal? Any particular cellular carrier I should be looking for? (I will be coming from Canada)
– Also, do you have ANY advise on trying to navigate the toll roads system in Portugal? I am thinking about renting a car to drive from Porto to Lagos at the end of the trip.
Thank you! Again, great information and super helpful!
Congrats and welcome to Portugal Shannon!!!
If you’re just coming for a short amount of time, go to Vodafone. They sell SIM cards that last 2 weeks for 10 euros (data only). Easy to recharge too.
Renting a car is easy too. Just ask for the VIA Verde to be included in your package. That will make your life a lot easier. The highways tend to be pretty light on traffic, so it’s a nice ride, but the Portuguese drivers think they’re on the Autobahn…so just be careful driving. They also like to cut you off at the last minute.
Ah! Thank you! You are so helpful 🙂 I cannot wait to arrive.
xo
Dear
I will move to Lisbon in march as residential. I am Looking for a flat outside Lisbon cause my wage is only 50K EUR per year and I have a Family to be fed.
Do you knwo the Prices of the Motorway? As Example to cross the bridge coming from setubal? is there a resident solution with discounts? I have to calculate very sharp cause i have a house abroad which have to be Paid until ist sold.
If I remember correctly, last time we went to Setubal, it cost €7 each way. This is the via verde site (it’s like EZ pass) you can get direct info there
with 50k net you can afford in Lisbon and don’t have to bear daily traffic to Lisbon. The metropolitan area of Lisbon has 3 million inhabitants and many of them work in central Lisbon so you can picture the chaos that this city has. My question is rather why do you want to waste your time and hard-earned euros on this crazy city? The city is chaotic and overcrowded with tourists in the city centre.
I guess affordable has different meanings. Lisbon rents are more expensive these days than in Berlim or Copenhagen, which is crazy because salaries are 3 times lower. Lisbon used to be affordable but now everything is so expensive from housing to restaurants. I think you should revisit the tone of the post since a lot has changed over the past years.
Lisbon is more chaotic than other parts of Portugal, but for someone who comes from NYC, it’s quite calm here. Just like when I lived in NYC, I only went to Times Square if I absolutely had to. I lived on the UWS which was more family-friendly and quiet. For me and my previous life, Lisbon is calm. I don’t often go to Chiado, Principe Real, or the Rossio area. There are some great neighborhoods in Lisbon that tourists haven’t discovered yet (thankfully), where a calm life can be had. But then again, it depends on each person’s definition of calm.
Yeah, everything is relative. I can absolutely see the discrepancies between the average salary and rents here. It makes it very hard for Portuguese people to stay in the city. I haven’t seen food prices increase so much in the 2 years that I have been living here (I also visited Lisbon yearly 5 years before my move). That’s one of the reasons I try to update the price of different items year over year. My goal there is to give people an idea of how prices fluctuate in the city.
Hi Bianca,
This post is super helpful, thank you so much. We are in Lisbon for 4 nights and I was wondering how much it costs to rent a car here. We are planning to go to sintra, pena and algarve and I am wondering if that’s too much to pack in 4 days. Also are paid day trips or the train better if we aren’t comfortable driving a manual?
Hi,
So, you’re here in the middle of high tourist season, so your car rentals can get up there.
If you’re going to Sintra from Lisbon, just take the train. It takes about 30 minutes, the train is easy to take…and you don’t want to drive in those hills. They’re pretty scary.
Once you get to Sintra, you can either call an Uber to take you to the castles, or you can get a ticket for the on and off bus. It stops by most of the palaces and is not a bad value.
I’d skip the Algarve since you’re short on time. If you want a little beach, you can take the train to Cascais – the beaches there aren’t as large as the Algarve, but the city is just darling.
I take the train as often as possible (I don’t know how to drive stick, and renting automatic costs a ridiculous amount).
You will have plenty to do in 4 days just in Lisbon proper. Have a wonderful time here. Any other questions, just drop me a line 🙂
Blanca