How much to rent an apartment in Lisbon in Portugal per month? Rent is one of your most significant costs when moving to Lisbon. Ideally, renting an apartment in Lisbon depends on how close or far your apartment is to the city’s center. You can also choose from 1-, 2-, or 3-bedroom apartments ranging from €600 to €3500+. Nevertheless, there are many more factors to consider when determining the ideal rental home for you.
Lisbon is the vibrant capital of Portugal. Its charming cafes, sun-drenched streets, and enriching history have won many hearts. Lisbon stands for blue skies, delicious cuisine, and a balmy Atlantic climate. So you can expect to enjoy long lunches, luxurious espresso breaks, and bustling nightlife.
But besides the alluring landscape and delicious pastries, one question that comes to mind is – how much to rent an apartment in Lisbon in Portugal per month?
Fear not. This guide will give you a solid picture of Lisbon’s rental landscape and housing market. We aim to help you find the perfect home in Lisbon within your budget.
Factors Affecting Rental Prices
Different apartments are sold at various costs all over Lisbon. Similar apartments in other parts of the city have different prices. Let’s talk about the different factors that influence the cost of renting an apartment across Lisbon.
Neighborhood
Lisbon has a diverse neighborhood offering unique flavors and price tags. In truth, it’s a hub for government, academia, art, and commerce. Lisbon is built over seven hills and features European architecture, which often draws comparisons with San Franciso because of the dozens of classic trolley cars that climb their steep sides.
Areas closer to tourist attractions (and the city center) tend to cost a lot more than areas where the locals tend to rent. So, the pleasant districts are Alfama, Santa Maria Maior, Alvalade, Baixa, and Misericordia.
The Baixa Pombalina is its bustling center and boasts chic apartments with stunning views and a higher premium price.
In contrast, trendy Alfama offers charming cobbled streets, small archways, tightly packed lanes, and historic charm with higher price points. Alfama is Lisbon’s Old Quarter and very central. It’s also exceptionally romantic, and the formidable ‘Castelo de Sao Jorge’ built in the medieval era is situated just north of the area.
Furthermore, the Santa Maria Maior district encompasses the Castelo, Chiado, and Mouraria neighborhoods. This makes the elegant and upscale district of Lisbon. Here, you will find renovated Lisbon apartments for long-term rentals. These houses are typically stunning, clean, modern, and spacious. Santa Maria Maior de Lisboa was created in 1147. It is one of the oldest cathedrals in Lisbon. Hence, the church, which has survived many earthquakes, features a mixture of Gothic, Romanesque, and modern architecture. This area also offers theatres, upscale restaurants, and museums, making it a fascinating blend of the old and new.
Bairro Alto and Misericordia are two of the most beloved quarters. Here, you have narrow, winding streets with many small businesses, delightful small artistic local theatres, charming gallery cafes, and many cobblestones. It’s also a fantastic mix of city and village vibes, offering many residential spaces that rest above cafes and family-owned bookstores.
Finally, Graca’s panoramic vistas and relaxed atmosphere might be more affordable.
Apartments
Whether you’re a solo adventurer or a family seeking space, apartment size is crucial in rent. Studios, ideal for single living, can be found in central areas for around 15m2. At the same time, spacious 3-bedroom apartments in quieter neighborhoods might cost upwards of 50m2.
Amenities
Modern amenities like balconies, elevators, and parking significantly increase the rent. Older buildings tend to be cheaper. But they often come with a lot of sacrifices. In contrast, a modern building with a balcony overlooking the Tagus River might have an additional €100-200 per month compared to houses in the same region.
Condition of the apartment
Generally, you can choose from a furnished apartment to an unfurnished apartment. Remember that properties in Portugal often have challenges like heating and noise. This problem also depends on when the apartment was built, its proximity to other buildings, and its exposure to the sun.
Properties facing entirely north are often frigid. Properties facing east benefit from the morning sun without the direct afternoon summer sun that can be extremely hot in summer. Many homes also lack insulation; if the house is on a busy street, you may also deal with noise from cars, trams, and buses. Furthermore, living close to or above a bar can get noisy if facing the main street.
Average Rental Costs – How much to rent an apartment in Lisbon in Portugal per month
So, let’s answer the question – how much to rent an apartment in Lisbon in Portugal per month? Typically, the monthly rent for the 1-bedroom flats in the city center begins from €600 – 700. But it’s rare to see anyone paying that. In truth, a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs about €1,217.91 on average. In contrast, an average 1-bedroom apartment outside the city center costs €881.40.
Similarly, a 3-bedroom apartment costs €2,401.88 in the city center. And an average 3-bedroom apartment costs €1 554.26 in the city center. Also, remember that some houses cost even twice the average, especially around the city center. When on a budget, the most affordable places outside Lisbon’s center include Benfica, Santa Maria dos Olivai, Charneca zone, Marvila district, Beato, and Martim Moniz.
Finding Affordable Rentals
Recently, the Portuguese housing market costs have risen due to the seasonal vacation tourists and the influx of immigrants. Hence, affordable rentals aren’t a thing, especially if you wish to live within the cities. Nevertheless, many people seeking to live in Lisbon for longer are picking flat-sharing options or seeking housing opportunities outside the city’s center.
Co-living or shared apartments
Shared apartments are becoming quite popular in Lisbon as housing costs rise. Students and professionals moving to Lisbon on a budget generally pick this one. You’ll find many flatshare spaces in lively areas like Principe Real, Alcantara, and Bairro Alto. A room in a flatshare may start from €200, but on average, you’ll find these rooms at €400. Nevertheless, it’s not uncommon for flatshares to have about 4+ bedrooms up to 10+ bedrooms. That said, you can still get a room with fewer roommates. But you’ll have to pay a little higher for such spaces.
Short versus long rentals: Where and How much to rent an apartment in Lisbon?
Nevertheless, you can enjoy three main rental types in Lisbon and the rest of Portugal. Since people often come for vacation and a few months, you’ll find many different rental structures:
Short term rentals
There are short and medium-term apartment rentals of 28 days to several months. But these are generally more expensive and harder to find. For short-term rentals, consider checking out Airbnb. Airbnb allows such hosts to set monthly prices for stays longer than 28 days, but these apartments would likely be above €1,000 per month. It’s still possible to negotiate down if you stay longer than 28 days. Other websites to find short-term rentals include:
- Booking.com (more focused on hotels than apartments)
- Flatio (great for stays between 1-6 months and lists rooms, studios, apartments, and houses)
- VRBO (lists apartments, studios, rooms and more)
Medium-term rentals in Portugal
Medium-term room rentals are more popular and are ideally picked by people who want to stay for less than six months. Besides Airbnb, you can also use Spotahome and Flatio to find medium-term rentals. Other websites to find medium-term rentals include:
- Bleisured (private apartments and rooms in flatshares)
- Uniplaces (focused on student accommodations with plenty of rooms and apartment listings)
- Blueground (1-month minimum up to several years for long-term high-end apartments in Lisbon)
- Spotahome (diverse flats, studios, and rooms with plenty of photos and video tours to help make better decisions)
- Housing Anywhere (large inventory of rooms, studios, and apartments in Lisbon)
Long-term rentals in Lisbon
Going through a site is still good if you plan on renting an apartment for the long term. But it’s often better to go through a rental agency to find the best deals. Some great ways to also find apartments include:
- Facebook groups
- Classified websites like OLX and Sapo.pt, Imovirtual, Custojusto, Supercasa, and Idealista
- Independent property agents
- Rental agencies in Lisbon. Some popular ones include ERA, Engel & Volkers, Remax, Century21, and Castellana.
What should you check for when choosing an apartment in Lisbon?
However, the question was, how much does it cost to rent an apartment in Lisbon per month? Your choice of an apartment should never be based on its price alone. You must evaluate other factors, such as its overall condition, including the walls, doors, windows, ceilings, and floors. Look for signs of damage or wear and tear. Also, all appliances and fixtures are in good working order.
Depending on if you choose furnished versus unfurnished apartments, some appliances you can expect include the stove, dishwasher, refrigerator, oven, washing machine, and water heater. Ensure that the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems are working correctly. Remember to ensure your apartment gets ample natural light without becoming too heated in summer. And finally, deduce what the noise level would look like.
Additional Considerations
Now you have a complete picture of how much to rent an apartment in Lisbon in Portugal per month? Next, many more vital aspects of hunting and negotiating on rental properties exist. So here are more tips that can help.
- On many occasions, accommodation in Lisbon includes all bills, such as wireless internet, TV, and services like daily cleaning. But this depends on the age of the building and the rental agreement with the Landlord. If you will stay in Lisbon for a long time, opt for a serviced apartment. You must always confirm all arrangements and inclusions with your Landlord and in your rental agreement.
- If you are staying long-term, it also means you will be signing an official rental contract. You will need the NIF number to do so.
- Negotiating your rent is possible, but it depends significantly on whether the area is in demand. Ideally, you also have leverage in winter. But then it can be easy to offend someone if you offer too low a price. You need to remember a reasonable price in that market and go a bit lower when you negotiate.
- It’s possible to deposit one month’s rent even when you plan to be there for several months. But it’s common for some landlords to ask for many months in advance. And there is no deposit protection scheme in Portugal. But then it’s unheard of for landlords only to return deposits if the tenant is satisfied.
Beyond the rent: consider the cost of living.
Now you’ve realized how much it costs to rent an apartment in Lisbon, you must understand that rent is only one piece of the puzzle. When budgeting, you must factor in additional costs like utilities, groceries, transportation, and others. According to Numbeo, you can expect to spend €711.9 as a single person or €2,523.3 monthly without factoring in rent.
- Restaurants: Lisbon has several different restaurants, ranging from affordable eateries to luxury upscale restaurants. On average, you can expect to eat an affordable meal at €13.22 and pay for a three-course dinner for two at the price of €50. Domestic beer and wine are also cheap at the rate of €3.00. Imported beer is slightly expensive at €3.00 for a 0.33 liter bottle. It’s also astonishing that you can purchase extremely high-quality wines for as little as €3.00
- Household essentials: So besides how much to rent an apartment in Lisbon in Portugal per month. Even so, grocery shopping in Lisbon is generally affordable, mainly if you stick to the local produce. It’s no surprise, as Portugal promises to bring an abundance of fish, seafood, fruits, and vegetables to your doorstep. Beyond that, a dozen eggs cost €2.16, whereas a liter of milk costs €0.77.
- Childcare and education: Public schools in Portugal are free. But these schools teach in Portuguese. You can also find high-quality English-speaking international schools as well. But then, many of them cost around €7,000 per year.
- Healthcare: Portugal has one of the best healthcare services in the world. And many of the country’s inhabitants are under the National Health Service. So, most essential medical services are free. But as an immigrant, you may have to purchase private healthcare. This also broadly covers non-essential services as well.
- Transportation costs in Portugal are also fair, mainly if you use public transportation networks. For instance, you could travel from Lisbon to Porto for about €30. Traveling around the Lisbon Metropolitan area costs €40 for a monthly pass.
Wrapping Up
So, how much to rent an apartment in Lisbon in Portugal per month? Renting an apartment in Lisbon can be a thrilling adventure. By understanding the factors influencing rental costs, actively searching, and staying budget-conscious, you can find your perfect Lisbon home and begin writing your Portuguese chapter.
So, pack your bags, brush up on your “obrigado,” and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime!
