Lisbon: neighborhoods, costs, real talk

The neighborhoods

• Príncipe Real: leafy, safe, beautiful and pricey. Great for a first month.
• Alfama & Graça: postcard Lisbon, hilly, with incredible sunset viewpoints.
• Arroios & Anjos: younger, multicultural, more affordable, lots of cafés to work from.
• Cais do Sodré: nightlife central. Fun to visit, loud to live in.
• Cascais & Estoril: beach towns 40 minutes by train for a slower pace.

What it costs (per month, approx.)

• Studio or 1BR in a central area: €1,100–1,600
• Room in a flatshare: €550–800
• Co-working desk: €150–250
• Monthly transit pass (Navegante): about €40
• Eating out: a prato do dia lunch is often €10–14

Real talk

Lisbon is safe by global standards, but pickpocketing on Tram 28 and in Baixa is common. The hills are real, bring good shoes. Bureaucracy is slow: book your AIMA and NIF appointments early. Winters are damp and many flats have no heating, so ask before you sign.