Lisbon
Lisbon is a sun-drenched capital built across seven hills, offering world-class food, a thriving startup ecosystem, and a laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle. Its colourful tiled buildings, historic trams, and riverside sunsets create an atmosphere that is hard to leave.
Planning a move to Lisbon? Rent from $1,100/mo, D8 visa basics, tax overview, and whether Lisbon fits your income, scored for your passport on Jonzy.
Best for: Expat families, Beach lifestyle, Startups.
- Rent from $950/mo, about $1,650/mo all-in for one person.
- Safety 82/100 · Internet 75/100 · excellent year-round weather.
- Visa: Moderate process, about 9 weeks (retirement option: Portugal D7 Visa).
- Local salaries average around $1,400/mo, with a large, well-established expat community.
Cost of living in Lisbon
| Rent (1-bed, typical) | $950/mo |
|---|---|
| Food & groceries | $320/mo |
| Transport | $80/mo |
| Healthcare | $90/mo |
| Utilities | $80/mo |
| Other essentials | $130/mo |
| Total (all-in) | $1,650/mo |
How Lisbon stacks up
- Rent eats about 58% of a one-person monthly budget in Lisbon — a rent-heavy split, so location choice moves your total the most.
- At ~$1,650/mo all-in, Lisbon runs about 18% pricier than the median Jonzy city ($1,400/mo).
- A local salary (~$1,400/mo) covers roughly 85% of one person's costs — most movers here rely on foreign or remote income.
- Its strongest catalog score is expat community (92/100); the weakest is internet (75/100).
Is Lisbon right for you?
Highlights
- Very safe by catalog scores (82/100).
- Excellent year-round weather.
- Large expat community — quick to plug into.
- Dedicated retirement route (Portugal D7 Visa).
Quality of life in Lisbon
- Safety: 82/100
- Internet speed: 75/100
- Climate: 85/100
- Healthcare: 78/100
- Expat community: 92/100
Taxes in Lisbon
20% flat IFICI (was NHR)
Living in Portugal
Portugal is a western European nation with a rich maritime history, stunning Atlantic coastline, and one of the most welcoming cultures on the continent. Its Non-Habitual Resident tax regime and D7 visa have made it a top destination for expats and remote workers.
Lisbon relocation FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon?
Budget roughly $1,650/mo all-in for one person in Lisbon — rent from $950/mo, plus food, transport, healthcare, utilities, and everyday extras. It has a large, well-established expat community, so ready-made shortcuts on where to live exist.
What is the monthly cost breakdown in Lisbon?
Typical monthly costs for one person in Lisbon: rent from $950, food $320, transport $80, healthcare $90, utilities $80, and other essentials $130 — about $1,650/mo all-in. Sign in to Jonzy for community-validated figures and a budget tuned to your lifestyle.
Is Lisbon a good place to relocate?
Lisbon has excellent year-round weather and a large, well-established expat community, with a moderate visa process (about 9 weeks). Those are catalog averages — Jonzy ranks Lisbon against 355 other cities for your specific income, passport, and priorities.
What visa do I need to live in Lisbon?
Long-stay relocation routes for Lisbon depend on your passport. For example, a US passport holder may see "D8 Digital Nomad / D7 Passive Income" (is catalogued in our catalog). Tourist entry is separate, confirm border rules on official sources before travel. Jonzy matches Portugal against 525+ visa programs in-app. Informational only, not legal advice.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon?
Core costs for one person run about $1,650/mo, so a comfortable budget with room for savings, travel, and irregular expenses is roughly $2,300/mo take-home. Local salaries average around $1,400/mo. Jonzy calculates your exact surplus after tax for your income and passport.
Who is Lisbon best for?
Lisbon tends to suit expat families, beach lifestyle and startups — based on its cost profile (about $1,650/mo all-in), 75/100 internet, 82/100 safety, and a large, well-established expat community. Jonzy scores it against your own income, passport, and lifestyle priorities so you can see whether it fits you specifically, not just the average relocator.
Is Lisbon expensive to live in?
At about $1,650/mo all-in for one person, Lisbon is a little pricier than average — roughly 18% above the median of the 356 Jonzy cities ($1,400/mo). Your own number depends on neighbourhood, lifestyle, and whether you rent short- or long-term.
Is Lisbon safe to live in?
Lisbon scores 82/100 on Jonzy's safety index, among the safer cities in the catalog. For families specifically it rates 80/100. Safety varies sharply by neighbourhood and time of day everywhere — treat the score as a city-level average, and use community threads for street-level reality.
Is Lisbon good for remote work?
Connectivity scores 75/100 — solid for everyday remote work, with coworking as backup. The expat and nomad scene rates 92/100, and work-life balance 76/100. Combined with ~$1,650/mo all-in costs, that is the core remote-work math for Lisbon; Jonzy re-ranks it against your own income and timezone needs.
What is the weather like in Lisbon?
Lisbon scores 85/100 for climate — one of the better climates in the catalog. It logs roughly 290 sunny days a year in the catalog. The city guide's seasonal data shows how the year actually feels; the climate planner tool maps it against your heat and daylight preferences.
What are taxes like in Lisbon?
Typical tax snapshot for Lisbon, Portugal: 20% flat IFICI (was NHR). Your actual liability depends on residency status, income source, and any tax treaty — Jonzy estimates take-home pay for your specific situation, and this is not tax advice.
What is the best neighbourhood in Lisbon to live in?
Neighbourhood choice depends on budget and commute style. Start with the rent figure on this page as a baseline, then use Jonzy's rent & neighbourhoods tool after sign-in for area-level notes and community tips in Threads.
How does Lisbon compare to other cities for my salary?
Use Jonzy's head-to-head comparisons and income-tier pages (e.g. living in Lisbon on $5,000/mo) to see surplus after tax and living costs. Your passport and employer change the answer, generic listicles won't.