Average Rent in Lisbon 2026 | Costs & Affordability

Renting in Lisbon has become increasingly competitive. Based on 2024 data from INE Portugal and the Confidencial Imobiliário rental index, monthly rents span a wide range depending on property type and neighbourhood. This page breaks down the numbers and what they mean for your budget.

Lisbon Rent Benchmarks at a Glance

The figures below are drawn from INE Portugal and the Confidencial Imobiliário rental index (2024 data). All amounts are monthly, in local currency (EUR).

Bottom 10% of the market (P10): 950 per month Median rent: 1,650 per month Top 10% of the market (P90): 2,900 per month

The gap between the P10 and P90 figures — nearly 1,950 per month — reflects how sharply rent varies across Lisbon's neighbourhoods and property sizes. Budget renters targeting the lower end of the market face very limited supply. Note: confidence in these benchmarks is rated low due to limited granularity in the underlying income data.

How Much of Your Income Goes to Rent?

Rent-to-income ratios reveal how affordable Lisbon actually is for residents at different earnings levels. The data shows a challenging picture across the board.

Lower-income households (P25): 32% of income spent on rent Median-income households: 46% of income spent on rent Higher-income households (P75): 62% of income spent on rent

The widely cited affordability threshold is 30% of gross income. By that standard, even households at the 25th percentile of earners are already slightly above the threshold. Median earners spending 46% of income on rent are well into financially stressed territory. Data not available for specific neighbourhood-level income breakdowns.

What Drives Rent Variation in Lisbon?

Several structural factors push rents across the range shown above. Central and waterfront neighbourhoods such as Chiado, Príncipe Real, and Belém command significantly higher prices than outer districts. Property size is another major driver — studios and one-bedroom units make up the bulk of the lower end of the market, while larger family apartments cluster toward the P90 range.

Demand from international residents, short-term rental platforms, and limited new housing supply have all contributed to upward pressure on prices in recent years. Data not available for a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood rent breakdown or short-term vs. long-term rental split.

Lisbon vs. Other European Capitals

Data not available for a direct city-to-city rent comparison within this dataset. However, context is useful: Lisbon has historically been positioned as more affordable than Paris, Amsterdam, or London, but that gap has narrowed considerably over the past decade as the city has grown in international appeal.

For residents earning local Portuguese salaries rather than international or remote-work incomes, the rent-to-income ratios above — particularly the 46% median figure — suggest that Lisbon's affordability advantage is largely eroded for the typical local earner.

How to Use These Figures for Your Budget

The benchmarks on this page are a starting point, not a guarantee of what you will find listed today. Rental markets move faster than annual index data. A few practical considerations:

Target the 30% rule: If your gross monthly income is 3,500, a rent at or below 1,050 keeps you within the standard affordability threshold — below even the P10 figure in this dataset, which signals how tight supply is at the affordable end.

Factor in additional costs: Utilities, condominium fees, and agency fees (often one month's rent) are not included in the benchmark figures above.

Verify current listings: Use live rental platforms to cross-reference these benchmarks against what is actually available in your target neighbourhood.

Data not available for utility cost averages or agency fee norms specific to 2024-2026.

Data Notes & Confidence

All rent figures on this page are sourced from INE Portugal and the Confidencial Imobiliário rental index, based on 2024 data. Income data used to calculate rent-to-income ratios is noted as limited, and the overall confidence rating for these benchmarks is low. Figures should be treated as indicative ranges rather than precise market values.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or housing advice. Use the SpendVerdict rent affordability calculator to model your own income and target rent against these benchmarks.

Use the SpendVerdict Rent Affordability Calculator to see exactly how Lisbon rents compare to your income.