Latest news and stories about cost of living in property in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
A section of a newspaper or publication where readers' letters are published.
The Casa para Viver platform is petitioning the President of Portugal to declare the housing crisis a national emergency, advocating for rent controls and eviction protections ahead of nationwide protests.
Reported house prices rose 16% year‑on‑year, but the data provided appears inconsistent: the body states prices reached €2,111 per square metre in Q3 last year, while the headline claims €5,000 per square metre in Lisbon. This likely reflects different measures or geographies (national average vs Lisbon city centre, asking vs transaction prices). Verify source breakdowns and timing; implications include tighter affordability, stronger expat/investor demand in Lisbon, and amplified regional divergence in the housing market.
The median value of houses sold in Portugal reached 2,076 euros per square metre throughout 2025, the highest price ever recorded by the INE. There were increases in all regions of the country.
Median housing prices rose 16.8% in 2025 compared to the previous year, to 2,076 euros/m2, with Greater Lisbon exceeding the national average by 1,363 euros/m2, according to data released this Friday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). Taking as a reference the 164,677 house sales carried out during the year of...
João Cília, CEO of Porta da Frente Christie’s, warns that Portugal builds only 25,000 new homes annually against a need for 70,000, causing supply shortages across all segments, including luxury. High-end supply has dropped by nearly 25% since 2021, driving prices up by 8.5% last year. Growth in the luxury sector is hindered by a lack of available property in prime locations like Lisbon and Cascais, though expansion is occurring in areas near the Algarve's 'Golden Triangle' and the coast towards Sines. Despite geopolitical tensions, Cília remains optimistic for 2026, citing strong domestic demand supported by falling interest rates and continued interest from international investors, particularly from Brazil and the US.
In Wednesday's plenary session, the IL president also stated that rents for new contracts 'are rising by 10% per year' and that buying a house in Lisbon 'now requires 102% of the median salary'. And she is right.
In this news bulletin, a live interview with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Also, reactions to the ceasefire between the USA and Iran. Highlights also include the housing crisis in Lisbon.
Lisbon City Council, led by Carlos Moedas, has rejected a Socialist Party (PS) proposal to create a municipal programme aimed at mitigating the impact of rising fuel costs on families and institutions. The governing coalition (PSD/CDS-PP/IL) argued the proposal was redundant, citing existing national government support measures and current municipal social emergency funds. Additionally, the council rejected a separate PS proposal to evaluate the potential acquisition of specific buildings for public housing, with the administration stating it is already prioritising large-scale housing investments and the development of its existing property portfolio.
“There is a growing gap between housing markets and people's reality.” These are the conclusions of the two European Parliament working groups that visited Portugal to assess the situation regarding affordable housing and the recovery and resilience mechanism.
The Público newspaper leads with the news that young IRS beneficiaries will now be covered by the automatic tax return system, starting with the 2025 income campaign. The Jornal de Notícias reports that rising house prices have generated a record revenue of six million euros per day for municipalities through the municipal property transfer tax (IMT). Meanwhile, the Correio da Manhã highlights a persistent rat and cockroach infestation at the Prime Minister's official residence, noting that over five million euros have been spent on pest control services across state buildings since the start of 2025. Finally, the Diário de Notícias reports that diesel prices have risen by 30% and petrol by 14% since the start of the war in the Middle East.
Unaffordable rents and curricular barriers are also highlighted as issues.
The housing price index increased by 140% between 2016 and 2025, according to the Bank of Portugal.
Alexandra Leitão presented two urgent proposals to the council: an energy compensation programme and the purchase of state property for housing. Both were rejected during the unscheduled agenda.
The rise in house prices caused the median mortgage payment for buying a home to increase in Lisbon from approximately 900 euros to over 1,800 euros between 2019 and 2023. In Porto, the increase was even greater.
For many Portuguese families, buying or renting a home has never been more difficult. Data from the Bank of Portugal, published this Wednesday in the March Economic Bulletin, clearly confirms this reality. Between 2016 and 2025, the housing price index rose by about 140%, with 80% of that increase concentrated since 2019 alone. New rental prices...
Thousands demonstrated against tuition fees and expressed concern over the reduction in the number of higher education admissions. The minister says that tuition fees will increase.
In February, the European Commission chose Lisbon to present its plan to address the housing crisis, a problem driven by a lack of affordable properties and soaring costs for both purchase and rent. While Brussels aims to boost construction and regulate short-term rentals, these goals face significant hurdles, including labour shortages in an anti-immigration political climate and pressure from the tourism industry. Meanwhile, the financial burden on citizens is intensifying: Euribor rates are rising, and 2025 data shows a record 17.6% increase in housing prices, with transaction values reaching 41.2 billion euros. Despite these costs, demand remains high, particularly in Greater Lisbon. European Commissioner Dan Jorgensen has declared that having a home is a human right, yet without decisive political action, there is a growing risk that homeownership will become a privilege reserved for the few.
On National Student Day, hundreds of higher education students from various parts of the country are participating in a demonstration that began at Rossio and will end in front of the Assembly of the Republic.
On National Student Day, more than 50 student association structures from different parts of the country are participating in a demonstration in Lisbon.
Higher education students are demonstrating this Tuesday on the streets of Lisbon to demand housing and investment in social support, among other demands.
Minister of Education Fernando Alexandre argued on Tuesday, March 24, that tuition fees should be adjusted for inflation, noting their real-term decline. While the minister did not confirm an increase, he stated the matter will be discussed in the upcoming state budget. Meanwhile, hundreds of students marched in Lisbon demanding free higher education, better scholarships, and increased housing, with the minister promising 14,000 new beds in student residences by the next academic year.
Thousands of higher education students from across the country are expected in Lisbon today to participate in a national demonstration for free education, more housing, and better study conditions.
Thousands of higher education students from across the country are expected in Lisbon today to participate in a national demonstration for free education, more housing, and better study conditions.
Several cities across the country demonstrated against the rampant rise in house prices.
PCP, Livre and BE joined the 'Housing to Live' protest in Lisbon and 15 other locations. The parties criticise Government measures which, they state, increase rents and facilitate evictions.
In addition to Lisbon, 15 other locations responded this Saturday to the call from the Casa para Viver platform.
