Considering relocating to Lisbon? Expect rent from $1547/month, one of the safer cities in its region, English is widely spoken. This page covers cost of living, safety, weather, residency options, and everything else settlers want to know before signing a lease.
Total: 86.6 / 110 raw pts → normalized to 79/100
It's 5:03 PM in Lisbon
The seven hills glow at golden hour.
Scores derived from: Numbeo (cost of living) · UNODC (crime) · Economist Intelligence Unit (democracy) · EF EPI (English) · Ookla/Speedtest (internet)
Spring
20°C
62% sunny
Summer
27°C
84% sunny
Fall
22°C
60% sunny
Winter
15°C
53% sunny
Best: Summer, Spring, Fall.
Beer (0.5L)
$3.29
Cappuccino
$2.66
Cheap meal
$13.98
Fast food combo
$9.87
Bus/metro ticket
$2.19
Gym/month
$43
Internet/month
$41
Democracy index: 7.75 ↑(#31 globally)· Flawed democracy
Freedom House: 96/100
Press freedom rank: #8 of 180
Sources: EIU Democracy Index · Freedom House · RSF Press Freedom Index
Homicide rate: 0.7 per 100,000 (world average ~5.8)
Numbeo Safety Index: 67.4/100 (covers theft, property crime, perception)
Statistically one of the safest cities on Earth. You'll stop thinking about safety within a week.
People generally feel safe day-to-day. Petty crime exists but isn't a constant worry.
Primary language is Portuguese.
You can manage daily life, healthcare, and most bureaucracy in English. The language barrier is low.
For Russian/Ukrainian speakers: Very different — steep learning curve
Notable employers with offices in the city. Not exhaustive.
For
Visa difficulty, time to residency, and what it takes to stay.
Industries, employers, and how startup-friendly this place is.
Employment
Startup Scene
Corporate tax rate: 21%
Lisbon has a homicide rate of 0.7 per 100,000 people (source: UNODC), making it very safe. The world average is around 5.8 per 100,000. The Numbeo Crime Index is 32.6/100 (lower is safer), which reflects residents' self-reported concerns about property crime, theft, and everyday safety. As with any city, awareness of local neighborhoods is recommended before settling.
A 1-bedroom apartment in Lisbon city centre costs around $1547/month (Numbeo data). Day-to-day: a cheap restaurant meal: $13.98, monthly transit pass: $44. A single person can expect total monthly costs of roughly $1947–$2347 depending on lifestyle — covering rent, food, transport, and utilities.
Lisbon has Summers reach around 27°C, winters drop to around 9°C. Summers are warm and pleasant for most people.
Lisbon has Very High English proficiency (EF EPI data). Daily life, healthcare, and business can largely be managed in English.