Lisbon
Hills, trams, river light and Europe's best-known remote-work scene, at a price.
Portugal › Lisbon
Digimad score
8.3
Very good
Best for Startups + Café culture
About
Lisbon has everything people imagine: tiled façades, yellow trams, viewpoints over the Tagus, beaches half an hour away and a huge international community. The coworking and startup scene is the biggest in Portugal, and you will never lack a meetup. The downside is cost: rents have soared and the most charming neighbourhoods are full of short-term rentals. Arroios offers a more everyday, mixed city life; Alcântara, by the river to the west, is calmer and more residential.
Lisbon at a glance
Internet
Fibre is standard and coworking spaces are plentiful, from large international operators to small neighbourhood spaces. Cafés in the centre are used to laptops, though some ban them at weekends.
Monthly budget
$2,700/mo comfortable, $1,750 lean
Best months
Apr, May, Jun, Sep
Community
High nomad density, fair English
Key points
Portugal's largest community of remote workers, founders and coworking spaces
Beaches at Cascais and Costa da Caparica within easy reach
Neighbourhoods with very different moods, from lively Arroios to calmer Alcântara
Districts of Lisbon
Arroios is central, multicultural and well connected by metro. Alcântara and the riverside west are quieter, with easy access to Belém. Príncipe Real and Chiado are charming but expensive, Alfama and Mouraria are picturesque but steep and touristy, and Campo de Ourique is a residential favourite.
Cost of living
USD
Lean
$1,750/mo
Shared housing, local food
Comfortable
$2,700/mo
Private one-bed, coworking
Premium
$4,450/mo
Central, frequent dining
Local currency
EUR
Lisbon is by far the most expensive city in Portugal for rent, and furnished flats in central neighbourhoods go fast. Food, transport and coffee remain affordable; it is housing that makes the difference.
Internet & connectivity
Fixed line
Not verified
Mobile
Not verified
eSIM
Supported
Reliability
GoodPublic Wi-Fi
FairPower stability
GoodFibre is standard and coworking spaces are plentiful, from large international operators to small neighbourhood spaces. Cafés in the centre are used to laptops, though some ban them at weekends.
Nomad community
Nomad density
HighEnglish
FairMeeting people
There are meetups almost every day, from founder events to coworking breakfasts and language exchanges. Lisbon's remote-work community is one of the largest in Europe.
Very international, with English widely spoken in coworking spaces, cafés and many shops. A few words of Portuguese go a long way with neighbours and in administration.
Safety
Emergency 112
At night
GoodSolo female
GoodPetty crime
GoodCommon scams
Pickpockets on tram 28, at viewpoints and in Baixa, people selling fake drugs on the street, and rental listings asking for deposits before a visit
Lisbon is a safe city. Watch your belongings on crowded trams and at nightlife areas such as Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré late at night.
Healthcare
Pharmacies
GoodPublic system
Residents registered with the SNS use public hospitals such as Santa Maria and São José. Visitors rely on private cover or pay upfront.
Private care
CUF, Lusíadas and Luz Saúde have large private hospitals in Lisbon, with English-speaking staff and quick appointments.
Insurance
Choose a policy that covers private hospitals in Lisbon directly, plus repatriation.
Getting around
Walkability
GoodPublic transport
GoodAirports
- LISLisbon Airport
The metro, trams, buses and river ferries cover the city, and trains run to Cascais and Sintra. The hills are steep, so plan walks with care and use the elevators and funiculars.
Climate & seasons
Mediterranean
Mild winters with rainy spells, warm and sunny summers, and a cooling Atlantic breeze. Many apartments lack central heating, so winters can feel damp and cold indoors.
All ratings
Watch out for
Rents are the highest in Portugal and many central homes are poorly insulated