Rents in Lisbon and Porto have reached levels that are out of the range of most Portuguese people, who currently earn an average of €829 per month. By contrast, the average rent for an apartment in Lisbon is over 90 percent of that figure, according to data compiled by Dinheiro Vivo. The company’s research shows that renting a two-bedroom apartment in the capital costs around €760 per month. In Porto, the average lease for a two-bedroom flat stands at €440 per month. While slightly more affordable, it still represents half of an average salary. “The owners have not yet realized that it is better to lower the rents and have the houses full than empty,” says Romão Lavadinho, President of the Association of Tenants.
