Is Lisbon expensive now?

The real answer has to be…yes AND no! Lisbon can get expensive for certain things like accommodation, however it can still be affordable to eat out and do some activities.

This popular capital city used to be one of the cheaper Western European cities to visit. However, that has all changed! With its growing popularity, the city has become way more expensive.

Which means…Lisbon is not as affordable as it once was. There are certain aspects that will take a bigger chunk out of your budget now. But…in saying that, it does balance out! Things like going out for dinner or doing activities can still be way more affordable for tourists than Paris, for example.

Here’s the biggest thing you need to know about costs in this city: Lisbon is expensive for accommodation, PERIOD. The prices have dramatically increased since 2021 (and they don’t seem to be going down). Whether you book during peak season or low season, the demand is high, which means that you will have a limited choice of accommodation and you’ll probably be paying a premium.

But – as a whole, is Lisbon expensive now or is it still an affordable city to visit in Europe? After spending a month living in Lisbon as digital nomads, we embraced the costs and expenses to see if what everyone was saying was true.

Here is our honest review (with real prices) on whether Lisbon is expensive or if it’s still an affordable city. (Prices are in USD unless stated otherwise.)

QUICK ANSWER: Is Lisbon Expensive Or Cheap? A Breakdown Of Costs

What do the costs look like in Lisbon? Here’s a quick breakdown to give you a clearer picture:

• Average hotel price: $109 per night
• Transport (one-way tram ride): €1.50
• Bolt/Uber ride (10-minute ride): €2 to €5
• Cheap Eats (eg. bifanas or pastel de nata): €1.20 to €6
• Brunch Meal: €25 (2x meals + 2x coffees)
• Coffee: €3.40
• Beer: €3 to €6
• Activities (eg. Sintra Palace): $44

Just from this quick overview, you can begin to see that food, drinks and transport are all very affordable across Lisbon. Again, the thing you will have to watch for is the accommodation costs.

For a backpacker, your budget can be as low as $65 per day, but more if you get a decent hostel and have some spending money. For a mid-rage traveler, you can comfortably explore Lisbon for $110 per day excluding flights and doing some tours on your own.

For our digital nomads out there, this was our total cost for the month:

• One month for 2 people: $2,715 USD

This may seem like an OKAY number but Matthew and I are kinda savvy with our money (which you’ll know when you download our guide here ;). You can very easily spend more money! We booked more than 6 months in advance and managed our money pretty well, hence the attractive number above. Not too sure if we could get it to this nowadays!

Need a more in-depth look at whether Lisbon is expensive or not? We are going to go through the costs you might encounter when traveling to this beautiful city.

Lisbon Travel Costs Based On Trip Length (3 days, 7 days, 30 days)

Now that you’ve got a better idea of the general costs you can expect in Lisbon, we wanted to add a section here for those who like to plan (and budget) based on their trip length.

How many days will you need in Lisbon? We believe 3 days is the perfect amount of time to explore the city, get to know the culture and enjoy yourself! This is a great trip length for first-time and returning visitors but you can also extend it to 5-7 days so you don’t have to rush through activities.

Other travelers like to spend longer in one destination. As digital nomads, we love doing this as well! That’s why we’ve also included the average costs for a 30-day stay in Lisbon.

When looking at these charts, there are 2 things to keep in mind:

1) You’ll see the lowest number you can pay and then you’ll also see a higher amount you could spend. What you spend in each category will vary. Some people will walk everywhere and not spend any money on transport and some people will want to spend $200 a night on hotels. We tried to make it so you can see the lower and higher end of the spectrum.

2) These costs don’t include airfares!

Here’s a budget estimation based on each trip length:

Typical Cost For A 3-Day Trip

Expenses	Daily Budget (Estimated)	Total (Estimated)
Accommodation	$40-$200	$120-$600
Dining Out (Food + Drinks)	$15-$85	$45-$255
Transportation	$0-$10	$0-$30
Activities (Sightseeing)	$0- $55	$0-$165
Total Costs	$55-$350	$165-$1050

 

Typical Cost For A 7-Day Trip

Expenses	Daily Budget (Estimated)	Total (Estimated)
Accommodation	$40-$200	$280 to $1,400
Dining Out (Food + Drinks)	$15-$85	$105 to $595
Transportation	$0-$10	$0 to 70
Activities (Sightseeing)	$0- $55	$0 to $385
Total Costs	$55-$350	$385 to $2450

 

Typical Cost For A 1-Month Trip

Expenses	Monthly Cost For 2x People (Estimated)
Accommodation (Coliving Space)	$1,300
Dining Out (Food + Drinks)	$450
Groceries	$300
Phone Plan (using Airalo eSIM)	$34
Transportation	$150
Activities (Sightseeing)	$160
Travel Insurance (SafetyWing)	$45.08
Total Costs	$2,405.08

*Remember: These are just estimations! You can always spend more or spend less. Everyone’s priorities are different and you may be willing to spend more (or save) on certain things. This is simply to give you an idea of how much to budget and hopefully helps you save accordingly.

Is Lisbon Expensive Or Cheap? An In-Depth Look At Costs

A lot has changed in Lisbon since 2021. People are only now discovering all this city has to offer and as a result…there’s a huge boom of tourists visiting.

When I was on exchange in the Netherlands, I wanted to go on a solo trip. My dad had to approve where I went and so I gave him 2 options: Lisbon or Copenhagen. It worked out that Lisbon had better return flights and I could do the whole trip on a tight budget!

In 2015, I visited Lisbon for the first time. From the plane window, I could see the famous red bridge, the waters of the Tagus River and this beautiful orange-roofed city. Apart from this beautiful scenery, one thing that stood out to me most about Lisbon was how affordable it was. If I remember correctly, I paid less than $40 per night for a room in an Airbnb right in the middle of the city (literally Rua de Prata).

Can you get that price in Lisbon now?

Forget about it! From my visit in 2015 to my next visit in 2022, the city has changed dramatically. Prices have soared – mainly for accommodation. If you book early enough, you can still get a good deal, but if not you might not get good value for money anymore.

Don’t get me wrong, you can still find very cheap hostels if you’re a backpacker. I’m trying to say that if you want to get good value for money, it’s still possible — you just need to book early! Also, figuring out where to stay in Lisbon will help you make the most of your money.

We are going to go through the true costs of visiting Lisbon and the kind of prices you can expect. A lot of people have different views of what’s expensive and what’s cheap – we are going to share the real prices we encountered to give you a clear idea of how much it costs!

Flights ($50 – $900)

Flights to Lisbon can be expensive but they can also be very cheap. This all depends on where you’re coming from.

If you are flying from nearby European countries like France or Austria, flights to Lisbon can be as low as $50 for a round-trip ticket – I’m not even kidding (thanks Ryanair love you!).

What if you fly from the US? Prices may be higher or lower depending on which season you’re planning on visiting Lisbon. At the moment, I can see flights from NY to Lisbon for $600+ return, anytime from September to December. These months are in the off-peak season and the prices reflect that.

If you are trying to save money on flights, November is one of the cheapest months to fly to Lisbon. The summer months (June to August) are some of the most expensive times to fly to Lisbon.

The best part about flying into Lisbon? The airport (LIS) is only a 15-minute drive away from the city center! Whether you’re flying to Lisbon for a month as a nomad or you are visiting for a weekend trip – you won’t be wasting time getting to and from the airport.

But want to know the best-est part? It’s only about $8 for a Bolt ride (similar to Uber) from the airport to the city center! A clear sign that some aspects of Lisbon are still affordable.

Accommodation ($35 – $200)

Is Lisbon expensive for accommodation?

Yes! This is where you will see the biggest price increase. Back in 2015 when I stayed, I got a room in an Airbnb for about $40 per night in the absolute center of the city. Now? You can still get a place for as low as $40 per night but instead you will be staying in a dorm room in a hostel.

That’s quite a difference in value for money. And that’s just the start of the accommodation costs because they can increase or decrease based on the season. Similar to flights, the most expensive months to visit Lisbon for accommodation are from June to August. If you want better deals and better value for money, accommodation can be lower from December to February.

The average hostel price around Lisbon is $109 per night. You can stay in the dorms of a hostel for as low as $35 per night but you will be sharing the room and bathroom with 6+ other people. Hostels like this are great for socializing and they work for most backpackers because they are often just looking for a place to sleep for the night and keep their stuff.

Are you more of a mid-range traveler? You can pay anywhere between $110 to $250. If you book earlier, you can get better value for money and get nice hotels for that price range.

What if you want to stay for a month in Lisbon as a digital nomad? We don’t have good news…because it is now one of the most expensive places to live in Europe on a monthly basis. We paid $1,221 for a small room (bed + bathroom) in a coliving space. We also booked this more than 6 months in advance, hence why it’s a pretty good price for Lisbon.

That’s right, if you plan early enough and you know the best areas to stay in Lisbon – you can still pay affordable prices. However, if you don’t…apartments near Lisbon city center start from $2,500. That’s pretty expensive to us! The accommodation prices in Lisbon are starting to compare relatively close to other popular European cities like Paris or Amsterdam.

Transport ($0 to $10)

What about transportation…

…Is Lisbon expensive to get around?

The good news: Not at all expensive! Lisbon’s transportation system is very affordable and pretty efficient. Here are the prices for the metro tickets:

• Single, one-way ticket: €1.65
• 24-hour pass: €6.60

That’s it! If you are planning on staying 2+ days, we recommend getting the Viva Viagem card which only costs an extra $0.60. This makes it much easier for you to tap through on the metro, tram or bus!

Don’t want to take public transport? No worries, the ride-share service (Bolt) is very affordable. We couldn’t believe it only costs $8 to get from Lisbon Airport to the city center! Matthew and I used Bolt to get around the city and for a 10-15 minute ride, it only cost us about $2 to $5. That’s it, seriously! The best app to book with is called Bolt, which is very similar to Uber (Uber also exists in the city – we just prefer the local alternative).

Is Lisbon expensive to get from the airport to the city? Not at all! Here’s what you can expect:

• Metro: $1.65 (one-way ticket)
• Bolt (Uber): $8
• Private Transfer: $31
• Rental Cars: from $50 per day

Whether you are taking public transport or booking a ride-share taxi, getting around Lisbon is extremely affordable.

Drinks & Eating Out ($15 – $85)

Is Lisbon expensive to dine out for meals or grab a drink at your local bar?

Well…from our experience, it depends. Lisbon has to be one of our favorite cities to dine out, cafe hop or enjoy a drink at a wine bar (yes, apparently that’s a thing!). We loved it so much, we basically went out for 1 or 2 meals per day!

Here’s a range of prices depending on where you eat/drink:

• Cheap eats (eg. bifana sandwiches): €2.50 to €6
• Standard Meals: €10 to €14 (not including drinks)
• Expensive Meals: €18 to €22 (not including drinks)

Here are some real examples of prices we paid in Lisbon:

• Brunch at Seagull Method (aka best brunch spot): €25 (2x dishes + 2x drinks)
• Ramen dinner at Panda Cantina: €26 (2x bowls + 2x Coke Zero)
• O Velho Eurico (exclusive dining room): €56 (3x plates + 2x glasses of wine)

What about the cost of drinks? We found Lisbon wasn’t expensive for drinks such as coffee or alcohol. Here are some of the prices we encountered while living in Lisbon:

• Coffee at Buna (aka best specialty coffee shop in Lisbon): €3.50
• Beer: €3 to €6 depending on the size
• Glass of Wine: €5 to €6

In the end, is Lisbon expensive for dining out? We don’t think so! The restaurant scene is amazing in this city and we think you get great value for money. It’s still way more affordable than dining out in Amsterdam or Paris, for instance.

Whether you are visiting Lisbon for a few days or you’re a digital nomad staying for a
month, we think you’ll find the costs for dining out very affordable!

Groceries ($10 – $30)

One of the best ways to keep costs low as you travel is to buy groceries rather than eat out for each meal. We love doing this, especially in Europe. It’s just so easy! In Paris, we bought baguettes, cheese and cold cuts at the supermarket and had a picnic by the Eiffel Tower – an awesome alternative to eating at an expensive restaurant.

You can do the same in Lisbon! The biggest grocery is called Pingo Doce – there are a few branches all across the city. As Matthew and I became Lisbon digital nomads for a month, we went grocery shopping at Pingo Doce every week!

Here are a few things we bought to give you an idea of prices at the grocery store:

• Loaf of Bread: less than $1
• Bag of Lettuce/Greens: $1.50
• Frozen Pizza: $2.50

Is Lisbon expensive for groceries? No, it’s pretty affordable to do a grocery shop here! Things like chicken, cheese, fruits and bread are all very cost-efficient.

Activities + Sightseeing ($0 – $55)

Think activities and sightseeing in Lisbon are expensive?

Think again!

While some activities can cost more than others, we think that you get pretty good value for money in Lisbon. Here are some activities we did and the prices we paid for them (shown as total for 2x people):

• Sintra Palace Entry: $26.36
• Sintra Bus: $21.86
• Semi-Private Sunset Cruise Along The Tagus River: $76
• Outdoor Cinema Experience: $22.50

Another activity we love to do when exploring countries in Europe is a walking tour! They are usually FREE and you get an in-depth introduction to whichever city you are in. Our friends, Eddie and Francesca, invited us to join them on a GuruWalk Lisbon Tour they had already booked. We gladly joined! It was great to be able to learn all about the history and culture as we walked around the city and the famous Alfama neighborhood.

These are more cool activities to do in Lisbon and the prices you can expect to pay:

• Award-Winning Private Food Tour: $124 per person
• Sintra Group Tour: $94 per person
• Electric Bike Guided Tour: $43 per person
• Belem Tour w/ Hop-on Hop-Off Bus: $23 per person
• GuruWalk Lisbon Tour: FREE

A great thing about Lisbon is that you can find an activity based on your budget! Our favorite activity we did was the sunset cruise on a boat along the Tagus River – the views are amazing and you get to see Lisbon from another perspective! It is a little more expensive than other sightseeing activities, but so worth it.

If you have a tight budget, we recommend going on a walking tour – it’s mostly free and you get to learn about the history and culture of the city while being shown around. Just don’t forget to tip your hard-working tour guides!

When’s The Best Time To Visit Lisbon?

Prices can vary based on the time you visit Lisbon. There’s a peak season and a low season in Lisbon. If you visit during the peak season, you can end up paying anywhere from 2-3 times more than you would in the low season. If you have the flexibility and a tighter budget, it’s worth checking Lisbon out during the off-peak season instead!

When Is The Cheapest Time To Visit Lisbon?

The cheapest time to visit Lisbon is from December to March. These months are the colder months in the city which is partly why it’s less expensive to visit Lisbon at that time. While the weather isn’t as warm, you will have fewer crowds of tourists walking around the city or joining any of the activities.

The biggest area where you will see a price drop is in accommodation. You can pay nearly half or even less than what it costs during peak season. As accommodation will take the biggest chunk out of your budget, you can save significantly more!

When Is The Most Expensive Time To Visit Lisbon?

The most expensive time to visit Lisbon is from June to August. These are the warm, summer months that most tourists from all over will come to visit the city. The city expands in size with crowds everywhere but the weather is perfect for a refreshing dip in the Atlantic ocean!

Accommodation prices will rise during these months as the demand grows and there just doesn’t seem to be enough supply in the city center. The other increase in prices you may see is for attractions like Sintra Palace or similar tours around the city.

What About Travel Insurance For Lisbon?

Trying to figure out what to do about travel insurance? We’ve got you sorted!

SafetyWing is a travel insurance provider that covers people from all over the world. It only takes a few minutes to sign up (and you can sign up even if you’re already overseas). Their subscription model means you can cancel anytime and you only have to pay monthly (rather than upfront for several months or yearly)!

We trust SafetyWing as one of the best digital nomad insurance options! At only $45.08 per month, it’s a no-brainer for us and our peace of mind as we travel. You can read our SafetyWing review if you want to find out more.

Whether you’re a digital nomad or a traveler visiting Lisbon for a few days, consider getting the best travel insurance for yourself.

Is Tipping In Portugal A Thing?

Not really, no. Tipping isn’t a big thing in Portugal, but some tourists still tip. It’s entirely up to you if you want to tip but we wouldn’t say it’s common or expected. The only exception might be if you take a FREE walking tour as it’s more common to tip at this time – again, entirely up to you though!

Conclusion: Is Lisbon Expensive Now? Our Honest Thoughts

Is Lisbon expensive now? Yes, Lisbon has become more expensive for things like accommodation. However, not everything is expensive in Lisbon. You can still get a decent meal out for €10 to €15 and the transport in Lisbon is very affordable!

We were genuinely shocked by the accommodation prices because they compare to Paris and Amsterdam prices. Other than that, Lisbon is still one of the most affordable cities in Western Europe.

You can say goodbye to the ‘cheaper’ rental prices Lisbon used to have because this city has only continued to grow in popularity (and we don’t see it stopping any time soon). Thankfully, not all the costs have risen and that’s why it isn’t all that expensive at the end of the day. Lisbon is worth the visit and we’re patiently waiting for the day we get to return to one of our favorite cities in the world!