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Best Cities in Portugal to Live In 2026

5 cities ranked by Livability Score — affordability, safety, internet, democracy & climate.

Country at a Glance

96/100

Freedom House score

#8

Press freedom rank

78/100

Grid reliability

5yr

Path to PR

21%

Corporate tax

Living in Portugal — Common Questions

What is the best city to live in Portugal?

Based on our Livability Score, Porto ranks #1 in Portugal with a score of 82/100, and city-centre rent from around $1297/month.

What is the cheapest city in Portugal?

Faro has the most affordable city-centre rent in our Portugal data, at around $1077/month for a 1-bedroom apartment.

What is the safest city in Portugal?

By UNODC homicide rate data, Porto is the safest city in Portugal in our database, with a rate of 0.7 per 100,000 people.

Should I move to Porto or Lisbon?

Porto scores 82/100 on our Livability Score vs 79/100 for Lisbon. Rent is $1297/mo in Porto vs $1616/mo in Lisbon. See the full comparison at the bottom of this page.

How do I get long-term residency or a visa to live in Portugal?

Portugal offers the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (moderate process). Duration: 2 years (renewable for 3-year periods). Key requirement: Proof of remote income ≥ €3,680/mo from non-Portuguese sources. Application via Portuguese consulate.. The process is moderate difficulty. Check individual city pages for full details.