Cost of Living in Lisbon

Once you figure out housing (not an easy thing but doable, especially once you stop looking in the touristic areas), Lisbon is a very charming, safe (even though I'll admit this is getting worse in certain areas), and fun city to live in. In most neighbourhoods you have the feeling of living in a small town instead of an urban area. There's aways something to do or see so it's hard to be bored living here. I still find Lisbon (and Portugal in general), to be one of the most attractive places in Europe (especially if you care about the weather).

Excluding rent, cost of living is pretty much the same you'd pay for similar european cities, but with more bang for your buck imo. The stuff you find at the grocery store (I recommend shopping at the bigger Continentes, like the Telheiras one) or at your local butcher (your local butcher will always have the highest quality meat all around) is much much better than what you'd find at your average grocery store in the UK or Germany (in my experience).

The people can be incredibly nice, but interactions are often a hit or miss, and lots of times locals will be rude for no reason. Service-wise, I recommend learning to distinguish between the various flavors of Portuguese accents to increase chances of finding better customer-oriented places (eg.: Brazilian-owned or staffed places tend to have above average service, not always but it's noticeable).

The city is clearly going through the pains of growing (and becoming more of an alpha city), and conciliating that with everything else ain't easy. But if you enjoy this kind of environment, again, there's lots to do.

The things the gov needs to address here are some but very large, imo:
- Ease of building (no wonder you have a housing shortage when it's so damn hard to build anything)
- Simpler and more straightforward company/tax structures so us foreigners can move our companies here and fully assimilate
- Aggressively expand and modernize public transport especially in the outskirts of the city center.
- A new airport away from the city center (the current airport is a joke for the current demand. Again, pains of growth).

In short, if I can give a single tip to anyone moving here medium to long term, is be prepared to spend A LOT of your time looking for a place to live that suits you. Learn some Portuguese, take the bus to some random areas, walk around the neighborhoods you find charming, and don't be afraid to ask if they know anything for rent. Landlords on short-term websites like Uniplaces, Airbnb, etc might also be willing to rent long term, so ask them.

Also, learn some Portuguese! It'll completely change your experience and relationship with the people around.

Lisbon, used to be a vibrant and affordable city to live in, but is faceding significant challenges that have diminished its appeal in recent years. The soaring cost of living, particularly in housing, has made it unaffordable for many residents and non residents alike, Gentrification has changed the character of most neighborhoods. Traffic congestion and inadequate public transport have exacerbated the urban experience. Additionally, there are growing concerns about over-tourism and its impact on the city's infrastructure with social conflits, crime and drug trafficking in the rise. While Lisbon still has its charms, these issues make it less attractive for those seeking an affordable, safe, and stress-free life.

7 years ago Lisbon was amazing. Since it became trendy lost what made it unique. I will return when the hype is gone!

Lisbon has some charm, but it's buried under the super-touristic crap that has engulfed most of the city. Housing, in particular, is outrageously expensive for sad, substandard spaces - buildings with no elevators, no heat, no AC, so much mold, leaky roofs and windows, absent landlords, no soundproofing. These are the norm, especially when it comes to short-term or mid-term housing. Be prepared for prices to change based on how you look, too. Literally any major city in Europe is a better value than Lisbon right now.

Lisbon, the pulsating heart of Portugal, is an amazing and stunning city that caters to every nomad's whims and desires. A vibrant metropolis buzzing with energy, this place offers an endless array of activities and sights, from surfing the waves to diving in the azure waters of Cascais.

The city's striking beauty, with its blend of contemporary and classic architectural styles, sun-drenched streets, and panoramic views from its hilltops, never ceases to captivate. However, its allure might not be enough for a certain type of nomad – the 'slowmad'. If you’re seeking a slow-paced, quiet haven, Lisbon's incessant rhythm may prove too overwhelming.

Lisbon can get crowded, particularly in the summer months when tourists from around the globe descend upon the city. While it makes for a bustling, lively environment that can be exciting for a week or two, the constant stimulation might become a distraction for longer stays, unless, of course, you're a particularly social creature who thrives in such settings.

Lisbon isn't the most affordable destination for digital nomads, with living costs having increased over the years. Accommodation, especially, can take a toll on your wallet. Yet, the city compensates for this with a multitude of high-quality co-living and coworking spaces.

Lisbon - Very simple: either you have a load of money and you can afford to live in a house or you have to live under the bridge.
As a Portuguese born outside (my parents, fully retarded & ignorant people, born during the Fascist dictatorship) emigrated, but I have returned, so I can tell.
Lisbon is 10 times more expensive than London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Vienna, Zurique... I'd dare to say, all the cities in Europe! And I'm being optimistic! You cannot find a coffee anymore for 50 cents.
People are all unfriendly (differently from the image raised since ages).
Taxes, even for Nomads, are the highest in all EU.
Gastronomy is awful. I even lost 5kg in a single week.
Horrible weather. The portuguese climate change is making the weather even worse than in Morocco!
Cleanliness... Don't name it. Napoles is a shining paradise next to Lisbon!
Nothing like my lovely Manchester!
Portugal, here I go...... AWAY !!!

I stayed in Lisbon for 2 weeks in January and loved every minute of it. Food was fantastic. Lisbon has some of the best brunch/cafes I've ever been to. Weather was also amazing for January 17-20ºC everyday and mostly sunny. Locals were very friendly and everyone spoke fantastic English.

It's a simple matter: You are not welcome, and the city will make you realize that very quickly. Everything is expensive, the tourism is exploitative, and everything feels like a tourist trap. The local population will treat you poorly as soon as you open your mouth, but their opinion changes very quickly when you open your wallet. Currently, Portugal is very aggressive towards digital nomads despite all the government propaganda. The local salaries are extremely low, comparable to third-world rates, while the cost of living is that of a European capital, making it a socio-economically exclusionary experience.

At present, Portugal is facing a housing crisis, and you can directly contribute to it. We are part of the problem, and sooner or later, someone will make you realize this in a very negative and rude manner.

If you still wish to move to Lisbon, consider hiring a local real estate agent to negotiate prices with landlords. This can save you a lot of money, as they tend to raise prices significantly when they realize you are not a local.

I'm living in Portugal for 2 years now and what I can say is that I'm very disappointed.
Basically, the price to live a good life here is the same to live in other cities in Europe, but Portugal has an old and hostil population, very old buildings and houses, streets are very narrow, there's not much happening in the country, low possibilities of restaurants, parties, and events. Public services are very bad and slow, the workers treat people very badly. It's not worth the enconomy, I would recommend to invest a little more and search for other possibilities.

Very simple : either you have a load of money and you can afford to live well in Lisbon (as you can afford anywhere else in world and live a comfortable life no matter where) or Portugal overall is just overrated. It's a poor EU country, small and decadent economy, shrinking and ageing population, very high taxes, very low wages, the outskirts of larger cities are horrendous but all good if you are over 50 and come for golfing, to enjoy expensive restaurants, nice beaches and very expensive housing. That works well.

As a Portuguese born outside and with dual citizenship, I have lived some years of my life in Portugal, more recently in Lisbon, I am fluent in Portuguese and also have worked for Portuguese companies. My standpoint about Lisbon, and Portugal as whole is, the country is a facade, everything bad about it is hidden and people are extremely unreliable. Governance and Public Administration are extremely incompetent, negligent, unreliable and corrupt which reflexes on the population. Portugal is poverty disguised, inequality is very well creased with majority of the middle class relying on Public Administration jobs and few with some stability in the private sector, the majority of the population lives on very short income being dependent on the government for the majority of basic needs, such as transportation, infrastructure, legality, education and healthcare (did I mention that everything related to Public Administration is unreliable?). Young population has a hard time getting into the job market, spending a lot of time unemployed or on very low paid jobs, living with their parents until their middle thirties makes the majority of this generation unsatisfied and at the same time conformed (which is really hard for me to understand, maybe they don't know a different reality?). Throughout the years the very corrupt Portuguese politicians made the population slave of debt, and Portugal lives always on the financial redline of colapse, leading to the Republic of taxation (even the majority of taxes are hidden ones). Portugal has very nice landscapes, monuments, wines and gastronomy, but that isn't for sure any worth to move and make a living there, Portugal is great for relaxed vacation, full stop. Even from time to time you would see a famous person from abroad moving to Portugal, and you would always know it would be a matter of time until they undo this decision, or at least partially. Great for holidays, terrible to live in if you are looking for balanced quality of life, stability and reliability.

Too expensive. The housing prices are insanely high, the food is pricey and all the traditional restaurants are gone. The city was gentrified and disneyfied. You'll find no locals in the city center: they can no longer afford to live there. It's always packed with tourists and other nomads. No more typical places, food, customs or culture: everything was replaced with services that catter to tourists and that you find everywhere in the world. No surprise that the portuguese people, that used to be friendly and hospitable, now resent foreigners. They were expelled from their homes and they can't afford anything with their salaries, because the prices hiked and their salaries continue being one of the lowest in the EU.

Avoid Lisbon. Expensive, dirty, full of tourist, apartments are old, small with prices similar to New York.
Definitely had a bad time here and it is a warning for the digital nomads

As a portuguese, there's a lot of comments that I condemn, specially saying to nomads to go somewhere else like this last comment in Portuguese.

But there's also a lot that the digital nomad community should be taking onboard, Portugal has a really rich culture specially in terms of food. We are very proud of our country and we will say that everything is the best in our country (which like any country we think we are the best haha).

If you are living abroad in a different country, embrace the culture try to understand the people in it, learn a bit of our history and why we are where we are today. If you look at the stats currently 66% of portuguese people earn less than 1.1k a month and comments such as this one "Portuguese are careless in their appearance and look sad" which seem superficial are just a lack of knowledge and awareness of how we live, we have more things to worry about and even if it's true, why do you think Fado music exists?! google it.

If you come here to live make sure you try and integrate within the culture, learn portuguese, it will take you far. I know a few nomads that have been living a long time in Portugal but still don't make an effort to speak and just go to high end or trendy restaurants.

I know that Portuguese people can be difficult, but come embrace the culture and not just come and enjoy cheaper rents than perhaps at home. For the average portuguese the rents are insanely high and a lot of young people until 35 years of age still live with their parents because wage rent ratio is not feasible to live anywhere else.

Main reason for the housing crisis: lack of public construction. What public construction does is lowering the prices of the rest of the market by ie controlling those rents and enlarge the offer of housing available in the market. This is due to neoliberal practices. However, some (little) money has been fueled to public housing but the continuous portuguese corrupt governments use that money for themselves. And then, by giving tax exemptions to foreigners, it is obvious (though not right) that poor people will hold grudges against foreigners, which doesn’t make much sense as foreigners don’t set the rules but governments do. The government is creating divisions among portuguese people (blaming Abnb flats, which in turn renovated thousands of derelict flats) and among portuguese people vs foreigners, by offering tax exemptions to foreigners (DN and GVisas, pensioners). At the same time there are thousands of empty public (and private) houses! All they care about is numbers/money and blaming others. They are complete cowards. Now, regarding all the other “issues” stated on some reviews I’ve read here, get a grip! I suspect some of you are not making the slightest effort to live here. You see, in order to be a world citizen, there’s a word you need to “practice”: adaptation. For a start, learn your portuguese (like I did), and try to understand the local culture. You are the one that needs to adapt, not the other way around, and if you can’t do that, maybe you were not made to be a digital nomad. Cheers!

Far from being as cheap as it's often imagined to be.
Don't go there in the winter: you'll be miserable as most of the houses don't have proper insulation and are just very cold. Summers are very hot, houses are tiny and very uncomfortable to work in and cafes are small and crowded.
Lots of traffic, very noisy.
Lisbon is not a very safe city, lots of foreign people went missing during my stay here and that is becoming a real problem.
Lisbon is the 3rd most expensive European city, VIENNA is cheaper than Lisbon!

It used to be a great place. Good food, nice people, low rent and cheap to go out. Now you can not even have a nice place to live, old and expensive houses. So, time to move to another city.

Not only Lisbon, but Portugal were an amazing place to live. Locals were nice and happy to receive foreigners.
This all changed some years ago, I've been living in Portugal in many places for the past 10 years. So I can assure it's not like that anymore. Prices escalated quickly and most of the portuguese don't want tourists or nomads in their cities. The only portuguese that still make them feel welcomed his the ones that make money with them. Meanwhile they raise the prices for tourists year by year. I know several places now that have prices for locals and then they have absurd prices for tourists and nomads. People say all the time to go back to our country and they realy hate us living on their country or even visiting.
I'm going home, this was my home for some years while I was welcome and treated like the rest of the community. Just 1 month ago I called to rent an apartment and spoke portuguese the rent was 1200 euros when I got to the apartment they saw I was from another country they called me later saying the rent was 2000 euros because they have many offers. This kind of things happens quite often this days, I understand portuguese so many times I'm at a restaurant or café and I listen them saying, oh his a foreigner charge him double he can pay.
Good luck to live in a place were you are not welcome and the only people that treat you good is because they want to take the most money from you they can.

Digital nomads, as individuals, didn't ruin the city but as a community and everything that caters to them absolutely did.
Basically every small business (like little bakeries, coffeeshops, restaurants and many others) are closing down not only because landlords/corporations are kicking them out to give space to the next obnoxious copy cat vegan cafe (that will literally be no different from another one in NYC) but also because the people that would go there can't afford to live in the neighborhood.
It's ironic because that's the kind of place you could actually mingle and integrate in the culture (assuming you wanted to, unfortunately many DNs don't even care about that).
Now I see old people crying because they're either the only one permanently living in the building with no community around to help them or because they're being kicked out from the place they were literally born.

Congrats, you ruined the fairytale you were looking for.

Lisbon is not a good place to live, the rent is extremely high and the people are not very happy due to their low income. I do not recommend living here

Everything in Lisbon is so expensive and overrated!!
Not safe either :((
What a waste of time moving here…

I regret to admit that my time in Lisbon was far from ideal. Instead of a warm welcome, I encountered numerous challenges that left me feeling unsettled and disappointed.

Safety Concerns:
Ensuring personal safety is a primary concern for any traveler, and unfortunately, Lisbonfell short in this aspect. While it may be argued that Lisbon is generally safe, I found myself consistently on edge while navigating the streets. Incidents of petty theft and pickpocketing were distressingly common, with tourists and digital nomads often targeted. The constant need for vigilance and the potential threat to both personal belongings and well-being created a pervasive sense of insecurity.

Language Barrier:
One of the significant hurdles I encountered during my stay in Lisbon was the language barrier. While I understand and appreciate the importance of embracing the local language and culture, I was disheartened to discover that English proficiency was limited in many areas. Engaging in basic communication became a laborious task, impeding my ability to connect with the local community and fully immerse myself in Portuguese daily life.

High Cost of Living:
Another substantial disappointment stemmed from the unexpectedly high cost of living in Lisbon. Contrary to the perception of an affordable destination, I found myself grappling with inflated prices for everyday necessities. Accommodation, dining, and transportation expenses swiftly eroded my budget, resulting in financial strain. Balancing the desire to explore the country's offerings with maintaining a sustainable nomadic lifestyle proved to be a formidable challenge.

Unwelcoming Nomadic Community:
Anticipating a supportive and inclusive community of like-minded individuals, I was disheartened to encounter a lack of camaraderie among fellow digital nomads in Lisbon. The community appeared insular and closed-off, making it arduous to establish meaningful connections or access reliable information and resources. The absence of a welcoming environment left me feeling isolated and hindered my ability to fully embrace the potential benefits of living a nomadic lifestyle.

Departing Lisbon, I cannot help but reflect on the missed opportunities and the contrast between the envisioned idyllic nomadic lifestyle and the reality I encountered in this country.

Disclaimer: This review reflects my personal experience as a digital nomad in Lisbon, and it is essential to acknowledge that individual experiences may vary.

One of the European cities where I've seen more homeless people and drug users on the street. The city center is becoming Skid Row, lots of tents, cigarette butts and dog poop on the street, shady guys selling drugs in every corner... It's unsafe to travel after sunset in public transports with your computer or iPhone, but impossible to park a car within the city perimeter. Also locals are very unfriendly and take advantage of foreigners at every chance.

I moved out of Lisbon after living here for 6 months. It has become impossible. Dirty city, a lot of homeless and drug addicts, huge cockroaches in the streets and houses...
You pay 1k for a small studio in the attic of a house with zero sound or temperature insulation. Lisbon has below freezing temperatures in the winter and 43ºC in the summer. It's UNBEARABLE when inside your house is even worst than outside. The city air is dirty, the river and beaches even worst. Think greasy, dirty and smelly water. It's a no for me.

Lisbon has rubbish, noise and construction works everywhere. Too expensive. Avocato restaurants in each corner. Very uncharacteristic. I'm leaving next September!

Portugal is a country of low wages and high political corruption. for more than 1 year there has been a housing crisis. People don't have money to pay for housing, food, clothes. More and more tourists/migrants are seen as a real threat to their lives.

The city was transformed into a tourist trap. Too many tourists too fast gave rise to many opportunists. Ridiculous housing prices. Rising costs at a much lower quality everywhere in food and services. Unbelievable bureaucracy. Laws in general against innovation.

Lisbon is a city that could thrive, but is being deeply harmed by bad policies that favor digital nomads but harm the entire population, dragging them into a housing crisis and making locals hostile. The quality of public and municipal services is getting worse and worse. House prices don't make sense, they just aim to attract people with as much income as possible. Excessive tourism and tax benefits for foreigners are causing the Portuguese to see foreigners as invaders.

Positives: sun, good food, beach, decent wifi.

I went back to my country as I felt unwelcome, discriminated for being a DN. Lisbon people hate DN and they do everything to make that apparent - from rude interactions to scamming, even to random insults in the street.
Besides, the city is dirty and polluted, traffic is chaotic, rents are extremely high and taxes too. Bureaucracy just drives you nuts. Also, as a woman I never felt safe.

Would be curious to see how many DNs on this website and in general, are contrubuting to the city or country they are living in and consuming resources from. That is the main problem with DN in Lisbon or anywhere else, there is a colonialist attitude and a horrible sense of entitlement, very little to zero contribution to society, in smaller or bigger scale. Most DN only move in DN circuits act behave in patronising towards locals, its actually embarassing to witness and sad that the only thing you contribute towards is the degradation of public life, services and rise of living costs, then leave once prices are too high and look for another poorer city or country to mess up. Immigrants are welcome, digital colonialists are not.

After seven months living in this city I can honestly say it was a big disappointment compared to what I had heard. I have never been as cold in winter as I am indoors here, the temperatures are not as mild as they say, the buildings are old and of poor quality which makes the houses extremely humid and cold in winter with no central heating whatsoever. You can hear all the noise from the streets and from the other neighbours, even with double glazed windows. The streets are full of rubbish, poo, cigarette butts etc, people recycle little and are dirty. Everywhere you go there are many beggars, drug addicts, drug dealers and asian immigrants trying to get something from you. Most locals are ugly and sad, speak little or bad english, are noisy and poor. Everything is too expensive for what is on offer, rents are ridiculously expensive because everything has turned into tourist traps. Mass tourism has only brought expensive houses and bars or restaurants exclusively for foreigners, which makes it harder to meet locals. The nightlife is lame, for a European capital. There is a lack of quality discos and bars, with a mix of foreigners and locals and more accessible prices... women usually go out with very unkempt looks, they are very sloppy. In good weather you can go to the beaches that are close by but you spend so much time in traffic to get there and back and the amount of people on the beach is such, that you might as well stay at home. Also the food is nothing special, everything is always fried and not very original. Overall, it is an uncomfortable city to get around because of the excess of cars causing traffic and pollution, the lack of pavements to walk on, too many tourists everywhere, rubbish, bad smells and hills only make the experience worse. It is clearly an overrated city and too expensive for what it offers. I don't recommend it and I'm off to another country asap!

Finally Lisbon starts to fall in popularity in this class of barefoot tourism.
Tourism is important both economically, culturally and socially, but not at any cost.

Lisbon is a beautiful city and the first steps you take on its small, croked streets, is a wonderful experience. However, if you get to live here for more than a week or two, it gets in your nerves. First, it's dirty, noisy and polluted: Not enough cleaning, too many cars and lack of civil behavior (cigar butts are everywhere). If you're shopping around for a city to live, just stroll in the famous "Bairro Alto" and you'll get what I'm saying. True, "Bairro Alto" is where everyone goes to get a drink and a few more, but believe me, every neighborhood is dirty one way or the other. Then, public transportation. Well, I'll just ask this question: how can you have good public transportation if cars with only one person, the driver, are the norm? It's also an incredibly expensive city. Not only food has become too expensive, quality food is harder and harder to find. Also, forget about renting, prices have become outrageous, speculative. Generally, living expenses are out of the roof, utilities included. The good thing is free wifi access is good, every other coffee shop has it, but you won't be living in the coffee shop, will you? After living here for a few years, I can tell you that things were attractive before 2018. Not that public transportation was any better, or the streets more clean, but the city was truly much cheaper than any other capital city. Not now. I'm regretfully leaving this summer and probably not returning any time soon.

The average salary in Portugal is 1.3k before taxes (source: correio da manhã), a house in Lisbon is between 600k to 1 million. Nomads with 3k, 4k, 5k are struggling to live in a country were locals are living with less than 1k after taxes. That's why people don't like this kind of tourists. There are people living in the street because their rent was 400€ (the minimum wage is 760€ before taxes) and now their landlord wants 1200€ because he's gonna rent their house to 6 emigrants or to a digital nomad. Lisbon is unlivable for normal people. And the government don't understand why, young people are leaving the country

As any capital, Lisbon has a bit of everything, the good, the average and the bad. No different from any other capital of Europe.
Of course when Lisbon sells itself too much, expectations rise, local actors rise prices and if local authorities don't keep up, it backlashes.
As a lisboeta, I would just like to add my opinion - that everyone has to do its part, in order to make things as good as we want them. This way:
i) authorities - need to keep the city clean, safe, with better mobility and less polluted;
ii) landlords (and I am one) - need to keep their houses in shape and the prices according to the real value of what they are leasing. Need to be cordial and client-oriented;
iii)nomads - need to be polite, willing to integrate in the neighborhoods and keep the city clean.

I believe that the good things that attracted nomads to Lisbon are still there. We just need, like for any house, for any neighborhood, to do some proper maintenance, a bit of house-cleaning in summary, we need to take care of our town. All of us. Thank you. Joao

Nomads are less and less safe in the city. I've seen some tense situations, the majority of local people are not happy with the amount of nomads and it's quite noticeable already. No major harm will come to you, but the portuguese, either hate you or either want to take your money with the most overpriced housing, restaurants and services. Some minor heated discussions and "near-violence" is already happening.

In the last 10 years, the cost of living in Lisbon has skyrocketed. The cost of housing has become unbearable for residents, who have been forced out to the outskirts.
Every day, hundreds of thousands of cars enter the city, and the concentrations of NOx and SOx constantly exceed WHO limits. Starting at 7:00 AM, the noise from cars and honking horns is deafening. Additionally, we have the noise from airplanes whose approach route to the airport cuts through the city center. If you're looking for a quiet place to work, Lisbon may not be the best choice.
Public transportation is unreliable: the subway covers a small percentage of the city, buses are slow (stuck in traffic), and the company that operates medium and long-distance trains is almost always on strike (train cancellations are constant - you can't plan trips).
The main advantage of the country is the climate and the beaches, but to get there, you need to have a car, and on weekends, if you want to go to the best beaches, be prepared for two-hour queues.

If you are rich, there is no best place to be in the world. Warm and safe, the city is wonderful if you have lots of money to open doors and open smiles. I strongly recommend. But bring all the cash, I’m warning you…

Sendo portuguesa aspiro pelo dia em que todos estes nómadas digitais e outros investidores se desloquem para outro país. De facto Portugal é o Estado Nação mais antigo da Europa Ocidental e tem uma cultura e maneira de estar muito própria e pouco conhecida e compreendida pelos povos do norte da Europa. Toda a sua costa virada para o Oceano Atlântico é linda e o interior despovoado
Enquanto fomos ignorados internacionalmente e perdemos importância com a independência das 9 colónias em 1975 a nossa classe política corrupta depois da revolução do 25 de Abril 1974) ainda tentava desenvolver a indústria e a agricultura mas com as quantias fabulosas vindas da União Europeia e desviadas para os bolsos da classe política Portugal bateu no fundo
Todo este turismo e investimento só piora a situação
Os portugueses já não conseguem viver nas cidades, e no campo não há emprego, com a diminuição da população serão 5 milhões daqui a uns anos ( metade da população)
Será o fim de Portugal

I had no time to express then, so i went back to my country due to the following:
1- income to tax ratio ( tax are too high )
2- income to rent ratio ( rent too high )
3- service quality to tax ratio ( service are too low quality to the initial tax margin )
4- income to food ratio ( food too expensive )
5- income to energy ratio ( income is too low to afford energy (LPG, Petroleum extracts in general, electric)
6- income to water ratio ( water is expensive ) you might run out in summer times
7- Dark roads to tax ratio
8- Road quality to tax ratio
9- Public Health Care to tax ratio
10- Most plastic doesn't get properly recycled (Avoid plastic bottled water in Portugal )
11- Stray Dogs and Controlled Dogs Issue
12- Cars and transportation are expensive
13- Governmental paperwork and interactions are big concern
14- Lisbon is the 3rd most expensive European city ( Vienna is cheaper than Lisbon )
15- Diesel cars issue and pollution
16- Traffic and driving habits
17- Smoking issue
18- Drinking habits
19- Safety issues ( People went missing - Children went missing or kidnapped - Child abuse crimes in public schools ) as there are no Execution in the EU killers can live and thrive.
20- Illegal immigrants issue on the rising
21- if you have income below 5k/month you should worry, i have income of 4k/month (i was starving)
22- Language barrier
23- Bureaucracy and administrative procedures: Dealing with Portuguese bureaucracy can sometimes be complex and time-consuming, especially when it comes to obtaining residency permits, opening bank accounts, or navigating the healthcare system. It's advisable to be patient and prepared for lengthy administrative processes.
24- Tourist crowds: Lisbon has become an increasingly popular tourist destination in recent years, attracting large numbers of visitors, especially during the summer months. This can result in crowded tourist areas, longer queues at popular attractions, and increased prices in most establishments.
25- Petty theft: Pickpocketing and petty theft can occur in crowded tourist areas
26- Car break-ins: Opportunistic car break-ins, especially in popular tourist areas or parking lots, can happen.
27- Scams and fraud: As with any tourist destination, there is a possibility of encountering scams or fraudulent activities, particularly in tourist hotspots. Be cautious of individuals offering unsolicited help, overly aggressive street vendors, or unauthorized tour guides. Use reputable sources for booking accommodations, tours, and transportation services. (lawyers can scam you)
28- Traffic accidents: Portugal has a higher rate of traffic accidents compared to some other European countries. Exercise caution when crossing the streets, follow traffic rules, and be aware of reckless drivers, particularly in urban areas.
29- against Elderly people(Ageism and discrimination: Ageism, prejudice, and discrimination based on age can be prevalent in various aspects of society, including employment opportunities, access to services, and social interactions. Older individuals may face stereotypes or biases that can affect their self-esteem and overall quality of life.)
30- Elder abuse: Although not exclusive to Portugal, elder abuse is a concern that affects older individuals worldwide. It can involve physical, emotional, or financial mistreatment, often perpetrated by family members, caregivers, or in institutional settings. Awareness, prevention, and support services are crucial in addressing this issue.

Portugal have great terrains and nature, sea etc... but it wont compensate the above issues for me so i went back home, but i surely visit but not settle apparently.

Conclusion: life quality related issues as Per month: Good House (Rental): 2K - Water & Energy: 0.6k - Good Food: 0.5k - Outside Life (Restaurants-Bars-Concerts-Dating-Parks-Museums-Surfing-Offroading-Racing, Etc. Related) 1.35k as 45 Euros/Day- Health Related Issues (Doctors ?) 1k to obtain base life quality as A SINGLE MAN of things you can control and predict.

Pros:

Fast internet ;

Many many others digital nomads to hang;

Good food and wine;

Nice monuments to visit;

Good nigth life

Cons:

Not safe: theft in the public transports and drugs sellers everywhere selling in the streets;

Very expensive, tinny and old apartments;

Very crowded;

Dirty streets: papers, dog poop, beer bottles;

Many homeless people and beggars

Lots of traffic;

Portuguese are careless in their appearance and look sad

Lisbon is very overpriced and the general atmosphere was very disappointing. Most houses are poor quality, expecially in terms of isolation. It is difficult to sleep at night if you are in the center, you can hear everything from the street. The city is not enjoyable at all, due to crowds of tourists everywhere anytime. Around Martim Moniz (city center) it is very very dirty and there are a lot of drug dealers. The police don't care at all. Another thing to mention is that locals seem to hate foreigners, they think we are to blame for the housing crisis, so beware. In some bars or restaurants you will not be treated well, just because you are a foreigner. Honestly I wouldn't suggest going to Lisbon, spend your money elsewere.

My opinion to this person is:
- Please go home and be happy and cheerful!
Don’t live at “miserable and depressed (…) population” home.
- If you’re only use to eat potatoes + burgers, us, as the rest of the world, we have that too.
- Please post your photo, so Portuguese women know from whom they must running from.

“Pros:
- Plenty of great co-working spaces
- Lots of digital nomads
- Meetups, tech and crypto conferences

Cons:
- Everything is severely overpriced from food to rents (expect to pay northern European prices)
- Poor quality of the apartments (if you have allergies or sensitivity, bring plenty of antihistamines!)
- Its a dirty city overall with dog shit on the streets and poorly maintained houses and facilities
- Drug sellers offering drugs every 100 meters in the downtown areas
- Packed with tourists most of the year and a constant sense of claustrophobia
- Insane amount of parked cars everywhere filling up every street
- Insane amount of old diesel cars polluting the air all over the city
- Quite miserable and depressed Portuguese population overall
- Not much females or dating prospects imo
- Basic, tasteless food (one of the worst cuisine in the world imo)
- Sun is too strong in Lisbon area (not a subjective opinion, you can look this up)
- The Portuguese are mainly interested in your money, they overuse their vocal chords and forget that God gave them two ears to listen with

Well, I guess you can see where I'm going with this...”

Lisbon isn’t good. Unsafe, expensive, dirty, people are in general very smart but rude and everyone hates tourists and DN.

Digital nomads and massive tourism have destroyed the soul of the city, of course this could have not happened without the help of the neo-liberal politics of the Portuguese government. Still, plenty of people are coming to Lisbon to enjoy its skyline and sunshine but show little to no interest in understanding its culture and blending into the city. I guess other places around the world are suffering from the same as we now live in a digital dystopia, but please try to raise the bar. Be mindful of your surroundings, act responsibly and learn about what Portuguese people have to go through.

The dream is done. Time to pack up and move elsewhere.

Expensive as hell. Houses are unaffordable, and everything that was once local turned into a tourist trap.

I wouldn't blame the locals for wanting money from nomads, considering they helped wreck the local economy and create this monster.

If you go for a walk in the center, you will find 0 Portuguese people. Almost everyone around is a foreign visitor, you can’t feel the vibe of the city, it has no soul, it’s like walking inside a giant roofless shopping. Everything is made for tourists, the rents, the food, the transports, the way it becomes unlivable for locals since most Portuguese people are poor and living with minimum wages of 700€

It’s quite overpriced and right now it’s difficult to find a place to stay that is both well located and in good shape. Most appartments in nice locations are very old and have no elevators, insulation doesn’t exist so it’s cold in the winter and a furnace in the summer. Public transportation doesn’t work and traffic is just beyond terrible.

Honestly I would recommend everyone to try Porto instead, you’ll find nice houses/appartments, in good shape and afgordable, better food, better traffic, a still vibrant startup scene if you care about it, nicer architecture, and a better experience overall. I find Porto more cosmopolitan than Lisbon.

Unfortunately, due to digital nomads and massive tourism, Lisbon is now completely out of bonds for local inhabitants. Bear in mind the negative impacts of your decision to move into the city. It shouldn't be like this, it shouldn't be your fault, but it is what it is. Apartments, many of them in an urgent need of repair and upgrade, are completely overpriced. Supermarkets and restaurants as well. Lisbon is getting less and less Portuguese every day, so you better have no illusions about your visit.

Used to be a great place to live. Right now, it's extremely expensive and overhyped.

If you're looking to experience the Portuguese culture, good luck. Right now, 90% of businesses, restaurants etc are tailored to foreigners or with a "world" kind of vibe. I've lived in Lisbon some years ago and I was back now, and it's like a different city.

Houses are super expensive, like 900/1000€/month for a studio where you can barely move without bumping into something. And this is not in the center, that would be even more. And we're talking about houses that are really old, like 50/60 years old, poorly insulated and have no heating or cooling systems. Which is a problem, because the temperatures in Lisbon tend to range from -3°C to 48°C. Which is insane, really.

Food and everything else is expensive. Think "Having lunch in Berlin" kind of expensive. Buying a flat/apartment in Lisbon can easily cost you 1M+ for something older than me (I'm 30).

Finding a place to park is impossible, and if you do, you'll have to pay parking pretty much everywhere. Walking is also hard because there are hills everywhere, everything is either up or down. Public transportation exists and it's somewhat regular, but it's CROWDED! For real, I've seen people pushing crowds into the subway for the door to close.

The night life is meh. In day life, there are a lot of connections and networking you can make and Portuguese people seem to love conferences and whatnot, so Lisbon got that going for them.

Some years ago, I'd tell you "Go for it". Right now? There are waaaay better places.

It’s a nightmare now. Us nomads turned it into a living terror.. it used to be a picturesque city, it is now unliveable.

Nomads wrecked the city. There's no Lisbon locals in Lisbon, because nomads have overtaken the city. The portuguese avg wage can barely rent an appt in the suburbs, much less the city. Its overhyped and filled to the brim with expats and tourists, please leave Lisbon to the locals

I lived here for one year. Easily the most overhyped city, particularly for living here. It’s a great tourist city. Once you subtract the tourists it’s deader than dead. There’s very little to do because the Portuguese have little money and most of Lisbon is out of their price range, thanks in a large part to the digital nomads coming here. Outside the historic core, Lisbon is an ugly city. It’s okay expensive now even for foreigners. The nomad scene here is also not great either. The only recommendable thing about it outside of spending time here as a tourist is being tax free. I suspect that’s why everyone is here racking up the prices.
Come here on a holiday, not to live more than a month.

Overhyped af, therefore overpriced. You pay much more than what you get. Also it's quite miserable starting with November as there is no central heating everywhere and apparently it's considered normal to work in coworking spaces in jackets and sometimes even gloves.

Lisbon is not a fairytale of fine words, try the bureaucratic reality later tell me something, always remember the natives just want your money if you don't have it they are not there for you

I've ended up living in Lisbon for personal reasons after working remotely here a couple of times in the prior years. It has changed dramatically from a cost perspective. Rents match many large developed EU cities and quality of apartments is unfortunately poor in comparison. Lisbon is going through a housing crisis right now; digital nomads and tourists are not solely to blame for this but only some of the reasons in a complex situation that is going to take years to resolve. From a cost/benefit ratio, I think there are other cities on the list that exceed Lisbon and have large nomad communities and more things to do. I find Portuguese people pleasant (unlike some comments suggested here which I believe are unfair); like every nationality just make an effort in your interactions with people. Portugal as a country is charming in its people and smaller towns; Lisbon has some of the charm but it has a shelf life.

Someone said the pros are:
- Plenty of great co-working spaces
- Lots of digital nomads
- Meetups, tech and crypto conferences

Man, that's the worst of cons! This is not your backyard, go away!

if you have a 2000 euros per month you can save some money for other expenses good luck to the rents :-D

I'm currently in Lisbon and I must say that this city has been very overhyped in terms of cost, food and overall fun. There are a lot of issues where foreigners like myself are driving up the rent and we are solely blamed for this. The larger issue here is the Portuguese government is not using these tourism dollars towards their people. I'm staying in Alfama and there is 'fuck tourists' spray painted in a few places but in order to come and stay here we are being asked to provide our information and the government is well aware of this. I would urge the Portuguese to not solely be angry at foreigners for this. We are only doing what is allowed. I think it's a mostly beautiful city but it very expensive for locals and it's very pricey for tourists as well. Alfama area has a lot of mold everywhere. I can see mold on the outside of some of these buildings. Not enough people are discussing the mold issues that a lot of these apartments and rentals have. The older homes have no insulation and heat and the inside of the homes are very cold. Colder than outside. The locals haven't been friendly to me as other reviews have suggested. I completely understand why they are not nice. After visiting here, I can't consciously tell someone to go to Portugal and stay there long term. I'm even having a moral dilemma after being here for 3 weeks.

I enjoyed Lisbon but didn't get the hype. Rent is for sure pricey as the government look to gentrify (a lot of blame is placed on Airbnb and nomads, however). The city but It is vibrant and plenty to do. Many things within an hour away and easy to get to. I lived there for about a month and felt ready to leave and more excited by Porto. What really made this trip for me was the DN community and my connections that already live there. Overhyped seems to be a key word in these reviews and I agree. It's very good, it's just not amazing. Temper your expectations and you'll honestly have a nice time.

Can you afford insane rents? Good for you. But bear in mind that you're taking someone else's home. Portuguese people can't live in Lisbon anymore due to insane rents!

Please don’t come. Rent has doubled in price in a matter of 5yrs. Myself and other locals are being pushed out of the city and forced to move to places that are +1h commute from work. People are struggling and suffering. And yet it is all ok because rich foreigners want to “spice up” their life… I repeat, do not come, and if you do have to come, please try to do damage control.

Reviews are a little biased here. It's a great city to visit for a few weeks, worth checking out for sure & has great landscapes, some of the best sunsets I've seen were in Lisbon. Not the place to be longterm though, unless you like overpaying for shitty breakfast.

Please don't come. Housing prices are insane, too many tourists, locals working in Lisbon during the day are forced to move to places 50-100 km far from Lisbon. Please don't come.

Lisbon is not what it is cracked up to be. It has a jaded hipster vibe, at least in the foreigner area, and the food selections aren't great. There are much better places in Portugal, and I don't think Lisbon represents the country well. Locals say it's foreigners raising the prices of everything. In part, it could be that. However, the locals are also the ones voting in higher taxation with their socialist politicians when sales tax is already a ridiculous 23%. Portugal is a nice country and the people are good to deal with, but Lisbon is way overrated.

The city got overcrowded, really expensive, overhyped, can believe it is still the number one destination for remote workers. Where ever the hype or FOMO goes, you should go the oppositive!

Great city, but if you are a digital nomad and can afford higher rates, please don't drop insane amounts and pay what the locals do. I have heard of "nomads" coming here for a month and dropping 2k on a T1, while at most it shouldn't exceed 800 euros in the centre of Lisbon, which even like others have noted is an insane amount for locals.

Also, the government should really start constructing social housing and do something about subletting/vacation rentals.

for services you will have to be very patient and not lose your head Prices in Lisbon for 705 euros minimum wage in portugal in 2022 are very exaggerated with this price with you two houses in valencia or spain, Lisbon has good things but there are things that are not shown to the public world that need to improve for the good of all and never improve and this is the fate and attitude of portugal to hide and let go

Good:
- Great local food
- Portuguese people are amazingly friendly
- Vibrant DN community. It's like the city has been overtaken by remote workers. You will see everyone working on their laptop everywhere you go.
- Amazing views whenever you want; you can just get a beer and climb to one of the viewpoints to see the sunset. Easy and magical.
- Super cheap Ubers, easy subway

Bad:
- Housing prices. I'm not kidding, it's the worst I've ever seen. Ultra overpriced. I guess that's the problem when people from the US have no problem dropping 3-4k on something that is realistically 1k. It's a global problem, vastly exacerbated here. No wonder some locals are "fed up". Huge disconnect between local salaries/prices and what foreigners are willing to pay.
- Hills. If you don't like walking, prepare yourself.
- After a while it can feel small - it's a small, cute city after all.
- Nightlife is super limited in terms of clubbing
- Very poor insulated houses, so in the winter it's very humid and cold inside the houses.
- Super small airport, not good at all. It's not a hub like Barcelona or Madrid, and you can tell the moment you enter the airport. The local airline, TAP, is great tho.

Overall I feel it's a great place to be for a while, but really overhyped!

I don't know why some people here are so negative about Lisboa. It's far from the level the level of dirt as described. Only the area of barrio alto and pink street have some dealers, but they don't bother you and aren't aggressive. Lack of heating is something I have heard, however should be easy enough to buy a radiator. Besides Lisboa doesn't really get that cold, compared to other European cities. The climate is very pleasant for most of the year. A real con would be that the historic centre is dominated by foreigners as these apartments are mostly rented to expats who can afford a higher rent. This pushes the prices up for the locals, but compared with other European capitals, still very much affordable for digital nomads. I avoided these apartments and happily paid extra (since I could afford it)for hostels/hotels and student/co-live housing, that wouldn't contribute to the magnitude of the housing crisis. The deeper issue, however is the governments liberal policy on tentant rights, foreign ownership, airbnb rentals etc.

Far from being as cheap as it's often imagined to be.
Don't go there in winter: you'll be miserable as most of the houses around the city center don't have proper insulation and are just cold.
At the same time, it is beautiful (and trashy at the same time), there are lots of things to do and there are tons of digital nomads.

Pros:
-Great airport for connections to Africa and South America.
-Has some really beautiful views.
-Great fruit and fish.
-Native Portuguese people are generally friendly and helpful.
-Wonderful moderate climate (better than Spain)

Cons:
-The dirtiest major city I've seen in Europe. Filthy buildings and dog crap everywhere.
-Unsafe - most other women I spoke to said they feel unsafe walking alone here (being leered at, whistled at and followed by the mostly immigrant men is a common occurrence). In the centre, you will be offered drugs every 10 minutes.
-Property - the standard of accommodation in Lisbon is appalling. There's a real lack of decent apartments. Most are damp, with thin walls. As a result, to get a decent 1-bed European-standard apartment on a

poor signaling, disorientation, cleaning and disorganizing of the streets in Lisbon
is similar to Naples in my opinion

It's great if you're woke, young & artsy.
If you're just a regular guy in your 30's with no connections, you'll have a miserable time. Especially during the pandemic.

It's not inexpensive and you get offered cocaine every 200 meters in the city center.

Low-lifestyle, period, be AWARE of that. If you come with your miserly a*s for money and people working 24/7, you're definitely in the wrong place, stay in the your own country/culture, here is into quality of life, you have to adapt to the place and not him to please you as you wish, a plus if you can help to improve Portugal, but don't force it, respect the culture of others, respect Portugal!

Lisbon and portugal reality its not a fairytale locals tell to expats and tourist only good things all good and nice but the reality is hiding like many portuguese try to do about expats and tourists, unfurnoly many locals dont want progress and evolution they always want be the same year by year

Lisbon is the next remote work hub of Europe. There's many reasons why I think that:
1) it already has somewhat of a startup/tech scene because of the annual Web Summit conference
2) which means internet is fast, and there's lots of meetups and it's easy to make friends
3) it's relatively affordable for foreigners compared to Spain and the rest of Europe
4) Portuguese people are super friendly, a lot more friendly than in the rest of the Mediterranean and Europe
5) Lisbon is ideal to go on day/weekend trips to beach towns like Ericeira which is just 30 minutes away
6) Good airport with direct connections to Latin America, Europe and Asia

And in 2020 with COVID closing the borders in Asia, a lot of the nomads that would be there now, are in Portugal. And then once it gets cold here in December, they fly on to Tenerife. That seems to be the new game plan for European nomads.

Please stop going to Lisbon, stop telling people to go Lisbon. It is a beautiful city, yes. The Portuguese people are some of the nicest, warmest I've ever had the privilege to meet, yes. But the housing crisis in Portugal is real and terrible.
Airbnb and temporary accommodation for tourists / nomads, combined with rich foreigners who can afford exorbitant rents, are pushing locals out of their homes: literally. Search about the housing crisis, the police-enforced evictions of families and the elderly, the rising homelessness. The fact that the Portuguese are being driven out of their own towns and cities by a surge of foreign money and investment. There are stickers all around Lisbon that say, "Airbnb: your holiday, our eviction." As a Portuguese friend said: "Our average salary is 600-700€ per month, average rent is at least 800€ per month and climbing all the time thanks in large part to Airbnb, etc."
Look at those figures and think about what that means.
We lived in Portugal for six months in 2019 (staying with friends north of Lisbon). We left because we couldn't find anywhere to live long-term, even 1.5hrs from the city centre in any direction, and we didn't want to contribute to the unjust and truly inhumane situation we discovered once we looked deeper into the society. If you can afford insane rents and are happy that, in doing so, you may be taking someone else's home, go ahead. Otherwise, please, please think about the effect you're having.
Lisbon really is amazing, and Portugal is a wonderful country with some astonishingly nice people. To keep it that way though, maybe we all need to stop treating it like our playground and start treating it like the Portuguese people's home.
I'm sorry if this sounds harsh. But seriously, we're all in this world together. Please let's help to make it better.

Great city with a really welcoming atmosphere. Its really a tech hub. There is an app which allows you to go to a different co working space once per week for free. Im staying at a co working hostel here and everyone is super friendly and welcoming. Bars and nightlife is not bad considering the pandemic, if you want to drink after midnight, you can join the masses of people on the top of the hill, and the police dont mind.

I lived in many cities in both South and North Europe. I never found, until now, a better city for digital nomads than Lisbon.
My experience there has been incredibly inspiring. Besides the great food and the affordable cost of living, I liked the most because it was effortless to meet like-minded people. A week after I arrived, I was already part of a soccer team, met two other people working in the same industry that I ended-up being close-friend and business-partner with, and had insightful conversations about my passions. I was surprised by how much Lisbon and Portugal have been able to attract so many great people. I'll definitely be back there soon

Great vibe and lovely people (I was surprised at the number of foreigners even in January!), fun nightlife.
Didn't find great cafes to work in, thankfully my hotel had decent internet.
The only downside for me is the food, once you get tired of bacalhau (codfish), everything is very...beige especially when you don't eat meat. There are a couple of new cute vegan places but expect to pay a premium for those!

One of my favourite cities. Lisbon is getting busier but it is a still an amazing nomad destination. Finding an Airbnb in the summer can be challenging but during the cooler months you can get amazing deals. Also staying at Outsite - the Coliving space is a great option for short term rentals as well and to get into the community of Lisbon. Every Thursday they have a nomad meet up - you can find it on Meetup the website. The cafes are great for working, yes the close early but that’s what Lisbon is wonderful - a better work life balance than SEA where you can always be working essentially. My favourite cafes to work from are Dear Breakfast - lots of outlets, The Mill, Outside Cowork Cafe and Comoba. You can use the app Get Croissant (the class pass of coworking spaces) to use coworking spaces when you’re on here temporarily.

Overall I love Lisbon. Amazing food, nice people and ocean views from everywhere in the city. Absolutely love it!

Really fun, but not such a good city for getting work done imo. Cafe's close early, lack of outlets in many locations now due to influx of digital nomads.

Amazing place! Definitely one of the most underrated countries in western Europe.

Culture, weather, sea, people, co-working spaces. Haven't found a better combination anywhere else.

Definitely the place to be in western Europe. Great weather, solid food, pretty cheap, good internet, a lot of fun stuff to do, expats everywhere, English gets the job done, awesome day trips... I could go on and on.

Most of the cafes are not suitable for working, they're small and crowded.

Out of all the European places we lived in, Lisbon is our favorite and we plan on returning many times.

Lisbon is not that inexpensive. I had wicked trouble with allergies in the buildings. They are not renovated properly and have issues with mold.