Is Lisbon expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Lisbon is one of the cheaper Western European capitals: clearly less expensive than Paris, London or Amsterdam, and somewhat cheaper than Rome or Barcelona. Coffee, pastries and lunch are excellent value; hotels have become pricier as tourism has grown. A mid-range day is about €160 per person.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €45 | €85 | €160 |
| Food & drink | €20 | €40 | €80 |
| Sights & tickets | €12 | €30 | €45 |
| Local transport | €4 | €7 | €20 |
| Per person, per day | €81 | €162 | €305 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Lisbon day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Espresso (bica) at the counter | about €0.80–1.20 |
| Pastel de nata | about €1.20–1.80 |
| Bifana (pork sandwich) | about €3–5 |
| Prato do dia lunch | roughly €10–15 |
| Small draught beer (imperial) | about €1.50–2.50 |
| Ginjinha | about €1.50–3 a glass |
| Metro or bus journey on a Navegante card | about €1.85 |
| 24-hour pass (metro, trams, buses, funiculars) | about €7 |
| São Jorge Castle | about €15 |
| Taxi or ride-hail from the airport to the centre | roughly €12–20 |
| Mid-range dinner for two with wine | roughly €50–75 |
| 3★ double room, high season | roughly €130–220 |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Accommodation is the main cost: roughly €45 per person sharing on a budget, €85 mid-range and €160 for comfort, plus a municipal tourist tax charged per person per night (about €4 at the time of writing). Food is about €20 a day on pastries, bifanas and a prato do dia, or €40 with a sit-down dinner and wine; watch for couvert items and seafood priced by the kilo. Sights cost €12–45 a day (the castle, Jerónimos, Belém Tower), and transport is cheap at about €4–7 with a Navegante card or a 24-hour pass.
When it is cheaper
November to February, outside Christmas and New Year, is the cheapest period; hotel prices can be very roughly 25–40% lower than in June to September. Prices also rise around Web Summit in November and the June festivals.
How to spend less
- Eat lunch from a handwritten prato do dia board for roughly €10–15, often with soup and a drink.
- Send back couvert items (bread, olives, cheese) you do not want with 'não, obrigado'; untouched items should not be charged.
- Buy a reloadable Navegante card and pay about €1.85 a ride instead of paying the driver, or a 24-hour pass (about €7) on days with lots of trams and funiculars.
- Take the red metro line from the airport (about 20–25 minutes) rather than a taxi.
- Use the free miradouros (viewpoints) instead of paying for the Santa Justa lift's viewing platform.
- Ask the price per kilo before ordering crab, lobster or large prawns in a cervejaria.
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Common questions
How much money do I need per day in Lisbon?
About €81 per person on a budget, about €160 mid-range and about €305 for comfort, including a share of a double room, food, sights and transport.
Is Lisbon cheaper than Barcelona?
Yes, generally: a mid-range day is about €160 in Lisbon against about €195 in Barcelona, with coffee, lunch and transport noticeably cheaper.
Is the couvert in Lisbon a scam?
No. Bread, olives and cheese placed on the table are a normal paid extra. You can refuse them, and anything you do not touch should not be charged.