What’s the cost of living in Lisbon, Portugal?

Lisbon is one of Europe’s most appealing capitals, with sunny weather, great food and a relaxed pace. It is also now one of Portugal’s most expensive places to live. Everyday costs such as public transport and eating out remain moderate. Housing is the exception, and it drives almost every budget in the city.

Quick answer: in 2026, the national minimum wage is €920 gross a month. Average gross pay per worker reached €1,835 in the second quarter, according to INE data reported by DN. Meanwhile, the median rent for new leases in Lisbon was €17.79 per m² in the same quarter, per ECO, citing INE. That puts a 60 m² flat at roughly €1,070 a month before bills.

We checked the figures below in October 2026 against INE, the tax authority and the other sources named in each section.

So, if you are planning to settle, here are some highlights on the cost of living in Lisbon, Portugal.

Education and study costs

Public schools charge no tuition, so families living in Portugal legally can enrol their children at no cost. Private and international schools are a different story. Published 2026/27 fee schedules for several Lisbon international schools range from about €11,500 to more than €24,000 a year, depending on school and grade (see this comparison of Lisbon international schools). Check each school’s own schedule, because building fees and bus services can cost extra.

Public universities are far cheaper. Tuition for bachelor’s degrees was capped at €697 a year in 2025/26. A planned rise of the cap to about €710 for 2026/27 was contested in Parliament, so confirm the current figure with your institution.

Healthcare costs

Portugal has a national health service, the SNS. Residents register at their local health centre (centro de saúde) to receive a user number and, when one is available, a family doctor. Moderator fees no longer apply to primary-care consultations. Today they are charged mainly for hospital emergency visits made without a referral. Some residents add private insurance for faster access.

The table below is an older, indicative comparison. Treat it as a rough guide only. Private prices vary widely by clinic, specialty and insurer, so always ask for a quote.

Income tax and social security

Portugal taxes employment income progressively through IRS. These are the general 2026 brackets for mainland residents, as listed by Caixa Geral de Depósitos. They apply to taxable income after deductions, not to gross salary:

• Up to €8,342: 12.5%
• €8,342 to €12,587: 15.7%
• €12,587 to €17,838: 21.2%
• €17,838 to €23,089: 24.1%
• €23,089 to €29,397: 31.1%
• €29,397 to €43,090: 34.9%
• €43,090 to €46,566: 43.1%
• €46,566 to €86,634: 44.6%
• Over €86,634: 48%

These are marginal rates: each rate applies only to the slice of income inside its bracket. On top of IRS, employees pay 11% of gross pay to Social Security. Minimum-wage earners stay exempt from monthly withholding in 2026, as idealista explains.

The rules are moving. In September 2026 the Government announced a further cut to the rates of the first six brackets, retroactive to January. Parliament has since authorised it, and withholding tables are expected to reflect the cut from November, according to APCMC. The final rates were not confirmed when we checked. Look at the Portal das Finanças before you file in 2027.

Housing, food and everyday costs

Official data covers rents and house prices. For everyday items we use Numbeo, a crowd-sourced database last updated on 28 October 2026 (see Numbeo Lisbon). Treat those prices as realistic guides, not exact quotes.

Rent per month

INE puts the median rent for new leases in Lisbon at €17.79 per m² in the second quarter of 2026, up 5.1% on a year earlier. The national median was €10.17 per m². Asking prices run higher, as the user-reported ranges below show.

• 1 bedroom apartment in the city center: about €1,450 (typical range €1,200 to €1,850)
• 1 bedroom apartment outside the city center: about €1,070 (range €900 to €1,400)
• 3 bedroom apartment in the city center: about €2,530 (range €2,000 to €3,500)
• 3 bedroom apartment outside the city center: about €1,810 (range €1,400 to €2,300)

Buying an apartment

• Lisbon municipality median: €5,192 per m² (INE, 12 months to June 2026), the highest in the country
• Portugal overall: €2,445 per m² in the second quarter of 2026, up 18.4% on a year earlier (Forbes Portugal, citing INE)

Eating out

• Inexpensive restaurant meal: about €15 (range €11 to €20)
• Three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: about €55 (range €40 to €75)
• Fine dining costs far more: see our guides to the best restaurants in Lisbon and Michelin star restaurants in Portugal

Groceries and other basics

DECO PROteste tracks a weekly basket of 63 essential products. It hit a record €260.89 in April 2026 and stood at €253.47 at the end of July (see the April and July reports). Typical single items cost:

• Bottled water (1.5 l): about €0.68
• Fresh white bread (500 g): about €1.69
• White rice (1 kg): about €1.33
• Chicken fillets (1 kg): about €7
• Cappuccino: about €2.74
• Mid-range bottle of wine: about €5
• Utilities for an 85 m² flat: about €144 a month
• Broadband internet: about €30 a month

Salaries and the minimum wage in 2026

Portugal’s national minimum wage is €920 gross a month in 2026, paid 14 times a year (€12,880 annually). The rise was published in the Diário da República. After 11% Social Security, a single employee without dependants takes home about €819 a month.

INE reports that average gross monthly pay per worker, including supplements and bonuses, reached €1,835 in the second quarter of 2026. That is 5.1% more than a year earlier, or 1.8% after inflation. Average base pay was €1,342 (see DN).

Getting around: public transport

Lisbon’s monthly Navegante pass costs €30 for travel within one municipality and €40 for the whole metropolitan area. Prices stayed unchanged for 2026, according to ECO. Young people up to age 23 travel free, even if they are no longer students. Visitors with limited time, or travelers who need step-free access, often prefer a private transfer instead. Our guide to private transfers versus renting a car explains the trade-offs.

A rough monthly budget for a single renter

Here is an illustration built only from the figures above. A 60 m² flat at the INE median rent costs about €1,070. Add €144 for utilities, about €30 for broadband and €30 to €40 for a transport pass. The fixed costs alone come to roughly €1,270 to €1,280 a month. Groceries, dining and healthcare come on top.

For comparison, a minimum-wage employee nets about €819. Average base pay is €1,342 gross. This gap shows why housing dominates any Lisbon budget.

Visiting, relocating or buying: how Amiroad can help

If you are exploring Lisbon before you commit, a private chauffeur makes the research easier. Our team can take you between neighborhood viewings, the airport and the places you are considering for the longer term. Start with our guides to where to stay in Lisbon, living Lisbon like a local and Portugal real estate. Property buyers can also book a real estate tour with Amiroad. For short stays, see why guests hire a private driver in Lisbon.

Frequently asked questions

Is Lisbon expensive to live in?

Lisbon is affordable for daily spending but expensive for housing. A monthly transport pass costs €30 to €40, yet INE data puts the median new rent at €17.79 per m² and the median house price at €5,192 per m².

How much is rent in Lisbon in 2026?

The median rent for new leases in Lisbon was €17.79 per m² in the second quarter of 2026, according to INE. That is about €1,070 a month for a 60 m² flat. Listings in the city center are usually higher.

What is the minimum wage in Portugal in 2026?

The minimum wage is €920 gross a month in mainland Portugal, paid 14 times a year. After 11% Social Security, a single employee nets about €819 a month. The Azores and Madeira apply different, slightly higher rates.

Is healthcare free in Portugal?

Public healthcare is heavily subsidized but not entirely free. Residents register at a local health centre to use the SNS, and primary-care consultations no longer carry moderator fees. Fees still apply mainly to hospital emergency visits without a referral. Private care is paid directly or through insurance.

How much income tax do you pay in Portugal?

Portugal taxes income progressively, from 12.5% on the first slice of taxable income up to 48% above €86,634 under the general 2026 brackets. Employees also pay 11% to Social Security. A further cut to the first six brackets was announced in September 2026, so check the Portal das Finanças for final rates.