Moving to Lisbon, Portugal in 2026

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.

🇵🇹 Lisbon, Portugal

Compare
0.5M peopleLivability: 79/100 · #5 of 6760% cheaper than NYC#3 fastest internet of 67 cities
How the Livability Score is calculated
Affordability
14/25 ptsNumbeo
Violent Crime
14.3/15 ptsUNODC
Perceived Safety
6.7/10 ptsNumbeo
Internet
15/15 ptsOokla
Democracy
11.6/15 ptsEIU
English
8.6/10 ptsEF EPI
Climate
8.8/10 ptsNumbeo
Stability
7.6/10 ptsWorld Bank

Total: 86.6 / 110 raw pts → normalized to 79/100

🌆

It's 5:03 PM in Lisbon

The seven hills glow at golden hour.

Affordability56/100
Safety84/100
Climate95/100
Connectivity100/100
Democracy78/100
English Ease86/100
Clear Days65%

Scores derived from: Numbeo (cost of living) · UNODC (crime) · Economist Intelligence Unit (democracy) · EF EPI (English) · Ookla/Speedtest (internet)

Weather in Lisbon

Spring

20°C

62% sunny

Summer

27°C

84% sunny

Fall

22°C

60% sunny

Winter

15°C

53% sunny

Best: Summer, Spring, Fall.

Cost of Living in LisbonNumbeo

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

Is it actually a democracy?

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

Is Lisbon Safe?UNODC + Numbeo

84/100

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.

Will the lights stay on?

Decent
71% electricity from renewables
Occasional outages

English in LisbonEF EPI

Very High

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

Will you have friends?

#11 expat city globally(InterNations 2024)

Who Has Offices in Lisbon?

FarfetchFeedzaiUnbabelTalkdeskMercedes Digital HubRevolutGoogleMicrosoftAmazon

Notable employers with offices in the city. Not exhaustive.

Is Lisbon Worth Moving To?

For

  • +Safe enough that you stop thinking about it, which is exactly the point.
  • +27°C summers with the sea nearby. This is not a drill.
  • +English gets you far here. You can settle in before tackling the local language.
  • +238 Mbps city internet. Your video calls will cooperate. For once.

Can you actually live here?

Visa difficulty, time to residency, and what it takes to stay.

EU citizenEasy
US citizenModerate
RussianComplex
UkrainianModerate
5 years to permanent residency
5 years to citizenship
Work permit: Moderate
Compare all countries by visa difficulty →

What you can actually do here

Industries, employers, and how startup-friendly this place is.

Employment

fintechhealthtechgreentechai

Startup Scene

Ecosystem: Active
VC: Some

Corporate tax rate: 21%

Lisbon — Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lisbon safe?

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.

What is the cost of living in Lisbon?

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.

What is the weather like in Lisbon?

Lisbon has Summers reach around 27°C, winters drop to around 9°C. Summers are warm and pleasant for most people.

Can you get by in Lisbon without knowing the local language?

Lisbon has Very High English proficiency (EF EPI data). Daily life, healthcare, and business can largely be managed in English.

Is Lisbon a good place to settle long-term?

Lisbon is in Portugal, which scores 7.8/10 on the EIU Democracy Index. Strong institutions and rule of law make it a stable choice for long-term settlement. Rent from $1547/month.

What is the job market like in Lisbon?

Portugal has an unemployment rate of 6.2%, indicating a moderate job market — competitive but accessible with the right skills. For settlers planning to work locally, research your industry before committing. Remote workers and self-employed expats are less affected by local employment conditions.

Which companies have offices in Lisbon?

Notable companies with offices in Lisbon include Farfetch, Feedzai, Unbabel, Talkdesk, Mercedes Digital Hub, Revolut. The city's job market spans tech, finance, and other sectors — check company career pages for current openings.

Is Lisbon good for expats?

Lisbon attracts expats looking for long-term relocation in Portugal. Key facts: rent from $1547/month; Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (moderate requirements); English is widely spoken, reducing the language barrier significantly. The Livability Score, safety data, and cost of living figures above give a data-driven picture of what to expect when settling here.

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

Portugal offers the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa program. Duration: 1 year (renewable to 5). Requirements: Proof of remote income ≥ €3,040/mo. Application via Portuguese consulate. The process is manageable but requires preparation and documentation. Check the official government portal for the most up-to-date application process.

Other cities in Portugal

See all →

🇵🇹 Lisbon
BeachHot summersVery safeFast internet

Expenses

$2,213 / mo

🍷 That's 158 bottles of wine/mo

winter

😊 15°C / ❄️ 9°C

summer

🌞 27°C / 😊 18°C

Internet · Ookla Speedtest

238 Mbps

PT: 183 Mbps

Portugal

Economics · World Bank / IMF

GDP per capita (PPP)2024

$51,680

GDP Growth2024

+2.1%

Inflation Rate2024

2.4%

Unemployment2025

6.2%

Gini Index2023

33.9 

Population2024

548,000

Politics · EIU Democracy Index

Democracy Index

7.7531st

Regime

Flawed democracy

Safety · UNODC

Homicide per 100K

0.7

Language · EF EPI

Languages

Portuguese (I)

English Proficiency

Very High8th

Data sources

Cost of living: Numbeo crowd-sourced data

Homicide rate: UNODC 2022

Crime perception index: Numbeo Crime Index

Democracy index: Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

Freedom House score: Freedom House Freedom in the World 2025

Press freedom rank: RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025

GDP per capita: World Bank / IMF

English proficiency: EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI)

Internet speed: Ookla Speedtest Global Index

Grid reliability & renewables: IEA / national grid operators

Residency & visa data: https://www.globalcitizensolutions.com/portugal-d7-visa/