Quick answer: Lisbon runs about EUR 90 per day mid-range - noticeably less if you eat local and walk. Cheapest window: May–June or September–October (warm, fewer crowds).
What things actually cost
| espresso (bica) | 0.90 EUR |
| pastel de nata | 1.40 EUR |
| metro ride | 1.80 EUR |
| glass of vinho verde | 3.50 EUR |
| bifana sandwich | 3.50 EUR |
| lunch menu at a tasca | 10 EUR |
Eat well for little
- Pastel de nata at Manteigariawarm custard tarts for about 1.40 EUR, better queue than the famous Belem shop
- Bifanagarlicky pork sandwich at O Trevo or any tasca, around 3.50 EUR with a beer for 1.50 EUR more
- Grilled sardines in Alfamaa plate with salad and potatoes runs 10-12 EUR, best in summer
- Seafood at Cervejaria Ramirogarlic prawns and crab, expect 25-35 EUR per person, arrive before 7pm
- Ginjinhasour cherry liqueur from the hole-in-the-wall bars near Rossio, 1.50 EUR a shot
Money mistakes to avoid
- Riding tram 28 at middayhour-long queues and pickpockets, take it before 9am or just walk the same route
- Eating on Rua Augusta or next to a miradourowalk two streets away and prices drop by a third
- Not knowing the couvert rulethe bread, olives and cheese brought to your table are charged, send them back if unwanted
- Packing only smooth-soled shoesthe polished cobblestones are genuinely slippery, especially when wet
Transport without the tourist tax
The metro runs from the airport to the center in about 25 minutes for 1.80 EUR, or an Uber costs 12-15 EUR. In town walk plus metro and trams with a rechargeable Viva Viagem card - a 24-hour transit pass is about 6.80 EUR.
Planning the full trip? Start with the 4-day Lisbon itinerary.