1) Job Market and Salaries — 8/10
Lisbon is Portugal’s main IT hub. It has more tech vacancies and career options than any other city in the country — from early-stage startups to large international teams.
Up-to-date IT job listings by tech stack, seniority and work format are available on devs.com.pt. The Lisbon filter shows current job openings for Junior, Middle and Senior positions in areas like DevOps, Backend, Python, Data and QA.
👉 See current vacancies: https://devs.com.pt/jobs/city/lisbon
Pros
- A wide variety of roles, often hybrid or remote-first
- The market is active: new positions appear daily on devs.com.pt
Cons
- Competition is noticeably higher than in smaller cities
- Local salaries are not always “top-tier” by EU standards, especially in purely Portuguese teams
Key questions answered
Is it realistic to find a job locally? Yes — especially for Middle and Senior engineers or if you actively use networking and events
Is Lisbon more about local jobs or remote work? Both: strong local demand plus many EU-oriented and remote-friendly teams
2) IT Ecosystem and Companies — 9/10
Lisbon is the core of Portugal’s tech ecosystem. Most big tech offices, hubs and global teams are here, along with many local startups.
Industry news, business growth, and job openings in Lisbon are often reported on devs.com.pt. This makes it a go-to source for keeping up with the local scene.
👉 Tech companies & ecosystem updates: https://devs.com.pt/
Pros
- Strong presence of large employers and growing tech hubs
- Continuous enterprise and startup activity visible in the local market
Cons
Despite the momentum, Lisbon still trails Europe’s largest hubs when it comes to late-stage funding and scale
3) Startup World and Investment — 8/10
Lisbon hosts Web Summit, a huge tech event. Each year, it brings together founders, investors and tech experts from all over the globe.
This gives startups strong visibility and access to programs, demo days and short-term acceleration opportunities.
Pros
- High exposure for early-stage startups
- Plenty of events and side programs around Web Summit and local communities
Cons
Major VC rounds and large investment funds are still more concentrated in other European capitals
4) Community, Meetups, Conferences — 9/10
Lisbon is a city where something tech-related is happening almost every month.
Upcoming IT events and meetups — from Python and DevOps to AI and product — are listed and regularly updated on devs.com.pt.
👉 Upcoming IT events in Lisbon: https://devs.com.pt/pt/events/upcoming/all/lisbon
You’ll also find:
- Career-focused events like Lisbon Tech Job Fair
- Active communities such as Cloud Native Lisbon and other stack-based meetup groups
- Networking is one of Lisbon’s strongest advantages.
5) Cost of Living for IT Professionals — 6/10
Lisbon is the most expensive city in Portugal in terms of rent, food and everyday services.
Housing here is about as costly as in major European cities, which can be tough when you're starting out with a local job.
In return, you get:
- Strong infrastructure
- Services and convenience expected from a European capital
6) Housing and Rental Availability — 6/10
Finding an apartment is possible, but:
- High demand makes the rental market competitive
- The best options go fast
- People who search early or are open to living outside the city center usually have a much easier experience.
7) Internet and Remote-Work Infrastructure — 8/10
- Lisbon is well prepared for remote work:
- High-speed home internet is common
- Mobile internet is reliable
- Multiple coworking options across different neighborhoods
8) Coworkings — 8/10
The coworking scene is diverse:
- From affordable shared spaces to premium offices
- Suitable for people who want a regular offline work setup and occasional networking
9) English and Expat Friendliness — 9/10
- Lisbon is highly international.
- In the IT sector, English is the default working language and many everyday services can be handled in English without major issues.
10) Bureaucracy and Services — 6/10
- As elsewhere in Portugal, processes can be slow.
That said, Lisbon has more English-speaking professionals and service providers who are used to working with expats, which makes paperwork, banking and healthcare easier to navigate.
11) Transport and Connectivity — 9/10
Lisbon offers:
- A major international airport with extensive European connections
- Solid public transport
- Easy access to other Portuguese cities for work, events, or short trips
12) Work–Life Balance — 8/10
The city is dynamic and sometimes noisy, but compared to many European capitals, the overall work–life culture remains relatively balanced.
13) Climate and Productivity — 8/10
-The Mediterranean climate brings mild winters and warm summers.
Summer heat can affect focus if your apartment lacks proper cooling, but overall the climate works well for most people year-round.
Final Take: Is Lisbon a Good City for IT?
Lisbon is an IT city for growth, visibility, and connections.
Best suited for:
- Engineers looking for career growth and strong networking
- Middle and Senior specialists targeting onsite or hybrid roles
- Startup founders, investors, and people who thrive in an active environment
Less ideal for
- Those aiming for the lowest possible living costs
- People seeking a very quiet, minimal, low-stimulus lifestyle
Lisbon is the best choice if you want to be at the center of Portugal’s IT scene — with all the opportunities and trade-offs that come with it.
Related News