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CITY GUIDE · PORTUGAL

Lisbon Expatriation Guide

Lisbon has become one of Europe's most attractive capitals for expats. With its unique light, historic neighborhoods, thriving tech scene and (still) reasonable cost of living, the city attracts…

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview

Lisbon, Portugal's capital, combines historic charm and modernity.

  • Population: ~550,000 (city), 2.9 million (metro)
  • Expat neighborhoods: Principe Real, Chiado, Santos, Alcantara, Parque das Nacoes
  • Airport: Humberto Delgado (LIS), 15 min from center
  • Climate: 300 sunny days, mild winters (10-15°C), warm summers (25-30°C)
  • Transport: Metro, tram, bus, ferries - Navegante Pass ~40 EUR/month

Popular neighborhoods

  • Principe Real/Chiado: Central, trendy, restaurants, expensive
  • Alfama: Historic, touristic, fado, hilly
  • Santos/Estrela: Upscale residential, embassies, families
  • Parque das Nacoes: Modern, Expo 98 area, family-friendly
  • Cascais/Estoril: Coastal suburb, beaches, pricier

Healthcare

Lisbon has Portugal's best medical infrastructure.

Public Hospitals

  • Hospital de Santa Maria: Largest public hospital
  • Hospital Sao Jose: Historic center, emergencies

Private Hospitals

  • Hospital da Luz: Leading private group, modern, English-speaking
  • Hospital CUF Descobertas: Parque das Nacoes, excellent
  • British Hospital Lisbon: English-speaking staff

Indicative costs (private)

CareCost
GP consultation50-70 EUR
Specialist70-120 EUR
Private ER100-150 EUR

Education

Lisbon offers the widest choice of international schools in Portugal.

French School

  • Lycee Francais Charles Lepierre: 2,000 students, K-12

International Schools

  • St. Julian's School: British, highly reputed, IB and A-Levels
  • CAISL: American curriculum, Sintra
  • Deutsche Schule Lissabon: German, Estoril
  • St. Dominic's International: IB curriculum

Annual Tuition

SchoolPrimarySecondary
French School5,500 EUR6,500 EUR
St. Julian's12,000 EUR18,000 EUR
CAISL15,000 EUR22,000 EUR

Cost of Living

Lisbon remains cheaper than Paris but prices have increased.

Monthly Budget (single person)

ItemModestComfortable
1BR Rent1,000 EUR1,500 EUR
Utilities80 EUR120 EUR
Groceries250 EUR400 EUR
Transport40 EUR100 EUR
Leisure150 EUR350 EUR
Total1,560 EUR2,530 EUR

Housing

Lisbon's real estate market has evolved significantly.

Average Rental Prices (2026)

Neighborhood1BR2BR
Chiado/Baixa1,200-1,800 EUR1,800-2,500 EUR
Principe Real1,300-1,800 EUR1,800-2,800 EUR
Parque Nacoes1,000-1,400 EUR1,400-2,000 EUR
Cascais1,200-1,600 EUR1,600-2,200 EUR

Search Websites

  • Idealista: Main real estate site
  • Imovirtual: Popular alternative
  • Facebook Groups: Expats in Lisbon, Lisbon Rentals

Other destinations

CyprusSpainThailandUnited Arab Emirates

Prepare your move to Lisbon

Join the waitlist and we'll email you the moment RelocDesk opens for Lisbon.