Lisbon is the best city for digital nomads in 2022
Portugal ranked 4th in the ranking of countries for digital nomads in 2021 and became the only European country to be included in the top 10 countries for expatriates to live.
Lisbon is more likely than other Portuguese cities to choose to move — digital nomads appreciated the low prices for living, convenient infrastructure for work, recreation and raising children.
We talk about the advantages of Lisbon for digital nomads and how to get a residence permit in Portugal without buying real estate.
Investment programs expert
Why digital nomads choose Lisbon for life
Renting a one-bedroom apartment in the historic part of Lisbon will cost an average of €835 per month, three-bedroom apartments — €1680 per month. Rental housing in residential areas is cheaper — 650 and €1100, respectively.
Property rental costs in Lisbon are higher than other cities in Portugal, but lower than other European capitals. In Lisbon, rental housing is cheaper by 15‑20% compared to Madrid and Berlin and by 30‑40% than in Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein.
Utility bills for an apartment of 85 m² average €120 per month, the price includes payment for electricity, water, heating and garbage collection. Tariffs for home Internet with a speed of 60 Mbps or more are on average €35 per month.
Low cost of living compared to Norway and Germany, countries that ranked 1st and 3rd in the ranking of countries for digital nomads. Prices for goods and services in Lisbon are one third lower than in Berlin, and two times cheaper than in Oslo.
Comparison of average prices for goods and services in Lisbon, Berlin and Oslo
Affordable public transport allows you to rent accommodation outside the center of Lisbon. Lisbon has metro, trams, buses and city trains.
Portela Airport is located in Lisbon — the largest airport in the country, which receives flights from all over the world. The city has bus and rail links with Orthodox cities and western cities in Spain. High-speed trains run between Lisbon and Madrid: carriages with comfortable seats and sleeping places, the journey takes 10 hours.
The proximity of nature. Natural parks can be visited without leaving Lisbon. In the western part of the city is the Monsanto Forest Park (Parque Florestal de Monsanto), which occupies a tenth of Lisbon. Locals in this park run, walk their dogs, or simply enjoy nature.
The best beaches of Lisbon are located in the suburbs — the cities of Cascais, Carcavelos, Esturil, Costa da Caparica and Sintra. Each of them can be reached in 30‑40 minutes from the city center.
From Lisbon to the best beaches of Cascais it is possible to drive in 30 minutes
Comfortable climate. Lisbon has a Mediterranean climate: hot and dry summers, warm, humid autumns, and mild winters. The average annual temperature is 18°C, and there are at least 280 sunny days a year.
The hottest month is August, during this time the temperature often rises to 30°C. The coolest month is January, with an average monthly temperature of 12°C.
280 days
Sunny in Lisbon
It often rains in winter and autumn, the wettest month is November.
Conditions for families with children. 61% of digital nomads are married, a quarter of them have children under the age of 18, according to the Nomadific portal.
Lisbon was ranked 16th in the ranking of the best cities for having and raising children, which was compiled by the international insurance company William Russell. The rating is based on a total assessment of seven factors, including the cost of preschool education and the level of security in the country.
Portuguese kindergartens accept babies from the age of four months to five years. The average cost of attending a private kindergarten in Lisbon is from €400 per month.
€400 per month
Costs for a private kindergarten
Private schools and colleges are paid, the cost of education in them varies from 200 to €10,000 per year. The top ten private schools in Portugal include four schools from Lisbon: Colégio Moderno, Sale Sianos de Lisboa, Colégio do Sagrado Coração de Maria and Colégio Manuel Bernardes.
Affordable medicine. The Portuguese healthcare system includes more than 200 medical institutions that provide services in Portuguese and English so that the language barrier does not interfere with the treatment of patients.
How digital nomads can get a residence permit in Portugal
A residence permit in Portugal for digital nomads, or a D7 visa, can be obtained by foreigners who prove a stable income outside of Portugal. The source of income can be salary from remote work, pension, income from renting out real estate, dividends or interest.
To apply for a D7 visa, the applicant must:
Verify a monthly income of €705. If a foreigner moves to Portugal with his family, the minimum income for obtaining a visa is increased by €352 for the second spouse and by €235 for each child under 18 years of age.
Rent or buy property in Portugal. The minimum amount of purchase or rental of housing is not set by the conditions for obtaining a visa.
Obtain health insurance for a period of 4 months.
Provide a bank statement for six months to confirm the availability of funds for living in the country.
Foreigners apply for a D7 visa at the nearest consulate or embassy of Portugal. The consular fee for processing the application is €90.
A D7 visa will be issued for 4 months: during this time, a foreigner must come to Portugal and obtain a residence permit with the right to work. Residents are required to spend at least 183 days a year in the country to maintain status.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent of the residence permit program in Portugal. If you want to move to Portugal or travel around the Schengen countries without visas, please contact investment program experts for advice.
