Cost of living alone in Portugal: T1 rent is more than twice that of a room

The rental cost faced by a person who wants to live alone in Portugal has more than doubled compared to renting a room in a shared house.

According to Idealista's new analysis examining listing prices in the second quarter of 2026, the median advertised rent for a T1 apartment across Portugal is 1,128 euros per month.

The median price of a room is 505 euros.

The difference is 123%.

The studio is not cheap either

The median rent for studio apartments, which is another option for those who want to live alone, is 908 euros per month.

This is approximately 20% lower than T1.

However, renting a studio is still around 80% more expensive than renting a room in a shared house.

Therefore, the real big cost difference arises in renting the house without sharing, rather than the size of the flat.

T1 in Lisbon 1.354 euros

The highest T1 ad rents on a regional basis are seen in Lisbon.

Median values are as follows:

Lisbon: 1,354 euros

Madeira: 1.295 euros

Faro: 1.171 euros

Porto: 983 euros

Setúbal: 981 euros

Sao Miguel: 979 euros

Lower prices are seen in Guarda, Castelo Branco and Bragança.

In the city of Lisbon the figure is even higher

Here it is necessary to separate the “Lisboa region” and “Lisboa city” data.

In a comparison of capitals/cities, the median advertised rent of a T1 in Lisbon rises to 1,409 euros.

The median value for a room in Lisbon is 570 euros.

This makes housing difficult, especially for people who prefer to live alone or who have just moved to Portugal. It makes a significant difference in your budget.

These are not realized contract prices.

There is an important methodology distinction when interpreting the data.

The Idealista study compares the median prices of long-term rental listings published on the platform in the second quarter of 2026.

Therefore, the figures are not the average of all signed lease contracts.

The actual rental price may vary depending on the location, condition of the house, furniture, contract period and the conditions of the property owner.

Despite this, the data clearly shows the magnitude of the cost difference between living alone and sharing a home in Portugal.

Resources

Idealista News — Vanessa Sousa, September 22, 2026

https://www.idealista.pt/news/imobiliario/habitacao/2026/09/22/77743-viver-num-t1-arrendado-em-portugal-custa-mais-do-dobro-de-um-quarto