How much does Lisbon actually cost? We break it down to the euro.
Lisbon is one of Western Europe's most affordable capitals — but “affordable” has a wide range. A backpacker can do Lisbon on €60/day. A luxury traveler will spend €400+. Here's exactly where your money goes.
| 🎒Budget | 🏨Mid-Range | ✨Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | €25–50 | €80–150 | €200–400+ |
| Breakfast | €3–5 | €8–15 | €15–30 |
| Lunch | €8–12 | €15–25 | €30–50 |
| Dinner | €12–18 | €25–45 | €60–150+ |
| Transport | €5–7 | €7–15 | €25–50 |
| Activities | €5–15 | €20–35 | €40–80 |
| Drinks/Snacks | €5–8 | €10–20 | €20–40 |
| Daily Total | €63–115 | €165–305 | €390–800+ |
Multiply the daily costs by your trip length. Here are rounded estimates for common trip durations:
| 🎒Budget | 🏨Mid-Range | ✨Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | €63–115 | €165–305 | €390–800 |
| 3 days | €189–345 | €495–915 | €1,170–2,400 |
| 5 days | €315–575 | €825–1,525 | €1,950–4,000 |
| 7 days | €441–805 | €1,155–2,135 | €2,730–5,600 |
Lunch menus are 30–40% cheaper than dinner. Most tascas serve a prato do dia (daily special) at lunch only — soup, main, and a drink for €8–12.
Those olives, bread, and butter placed on your table aren’t free. They’re charged €2–5 per person. Politely wave it away if you don’t want it.
Metro costs €1.72 with Zapping vs €1.90 cash. Trams cost €1.72 vs €3.20 on board. Buy the card (€0.50) at any metro station and load credit.
The first Sunday of every month, most national museums are free: Jerónimos Monastery, Torre de Belém, National Tile Museum, National Coach Museum, and more.
A glass of Portuguese wine at a neighborhood tasca costs €3–5. The same quality in Paris or London would be €12–15. Order vinho da casa (house wine) — it’s almost always good.
Lisbon’s best viewpoints (miradouros) are all free. Use funiculars with your Zapping card when your legs give out, and save taxis for late nights only.
Hotel and apartment prices fluctuate 30–50% depending on when you book. Reserve 6–8 weeks ahead, especially for summer or festivals like Santos Populares.
The entire pedestrian stretch of Rua Augusta is a tourist trap. Walk two blocks in any direction and prices drop by half. See our food guide for better options.
The single biggest money-saver: eat the prato do dia (daily special) at neighborhood tascas for lunch. For €8-12, you get soup, a main course, and a drink. The same quality food at dinner costs €20-30.
First Sunday of each month, these attractions are free: Jerónimos Monastery, Torre de Belém, National Tile Museum, National Coach Museum, and many more. Plan your itinerary around it.
Portugal doesn't have a strong tipping culture, but leaving something extra is always appreciated. Here's what locals do:
5–10% is generous. Most locals round up or leave a few euros. Service charge is rarely included.
Leave small change — rounding up to the nearest euro is standard. No one expects a percentage.
Round up to the nearest euro. A €7.40 fare? Hand over €8. Tips aren't expected but appreciated.
If you receive exceptional service at a restaurant, 10% is considered very generous in Portugal. Don't feel obligated to tip American-style percentages — it's not the culture here.
Set your daily limit and it alerts you before you overspend.
Track My Budget \u2192Lisbon is one of the most affordable capitals in Western Europe. It’s significantly cheaper than Paris, London, and Barcelona for food, drink, and accommodation. It’s roughly similar to Madrid, though Lisbon edges ahead on wine and dining-out costs. Budget travelers can get by on €60–80/day; in London or Paris, that’s barely possible.
Most restaurants, shops, and transport accept cards (contactless is widespread). However, keep €20–30 in cash for traditional tascas that don’t take cards, ginjinha bars in Rossio, and the Feira da Ladra flea market. ATMs (Multibanco) are everywhere and charge no withdrawal fees from Portuguese banks.
Only if you plan to visit 3 or more paid attractions in a short time. The 24-hour card (€31) includes free transport and entry to Jerónimos, Torre de Belém, and 30+ museums. If you’re mainly eating, walking, and visiting free viewpoints, skip it and use Zapping instead. See our full Lisboa Card review at /guides/lisboa-card-review.
Get a Navegante card (€0.50) and load Zapping credit at any metro station. Every ride — metro, tram, bus, ferry, and funicular — costs €1.72. That’s almost half the on-board tram fare (€3.20). If you’ll take 5+ rides in a day, the 24-hour pass (€7.25) is better value.