According to a new report by PlayersTime, which analysed 35 European cities based on criteria such as cost of living, internet speed, and safety, Lisbon and Porto secured places in the prestigious Top 10, ranking 8th and 10th, respectively.

Collecting data

This analysis is based on data collected by cross-referencing Numbeo for costs and safety, Speedtest.net for internet, and Airbnb listings for accommodation, offering a detailed view of the impact of this phenomenon across the national territory in March 2026.

Lisbon

Regarding the attractiveness of the capital, Lisbon ranks 8th in the European ranking, with a total score of 122 out of 175. The city combines an average monthly cost of €1,745 with reliable internet at 207.04 Mbps and affordable transport passes at €40.

Safety in the capital remains stable, with a score of 67.03 out of 100, consolidating Lisbon as one of the most popular choices for international relocation. However, the cost of accommodation, averaging €1,498, remains one of the biggest factors in these professionals' budgets.

Porto

On the other hand, Porto emerges as the smartest financial choice in Portugal, ranking 10th with 116 points. With total monthly expenses of

€1,569, representing approximately 11% savings compared to Lisbon, the city gains a competitive advantage in accommodation, with an average of €1,310. Porto also surpasses the capital in internet speed, reaching

223.32 Mbps, while maintaining virtually identical security levels, scoring 66.39 out of 100.

This data shows that Porto is a strong, more cost-effective option for those looking to access the Portuguese market.

Portugal strong performance

Despite Portugal's strong performance, the overall ranking is dominated by cities in Central and Eastern Europe, which outperform Western destinations, especially in terms of price. Kraków, Poland, took 1st place with 161 points and a cost of living of only €1,423, followed by Warsaw and Budapest.

According to Silvana Vladimirova, an analyst at PlayersTime, Portugal's rise is due to a 43% increase in the number of remote foreign workers.

However, the report issues a critical warning: this growth is reshaping the real estate market and urban dynamics, posing the challenge of balancing the economic opportunity brought by nomads with housing affordability for local residents.