Access to housing in Portugal is becoming increasingly difficult due to rising prices far exceeding wages. This is why some are turning to rented rooms in shared houses. This is an economical and flexible solution now sought not only by those living alone, but also by families with children who cannot afford to rent a house.
However, rooms for rent in Portugal are also becoming more expensive, with prices rising 8% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period of the previous year, according to an analysis by idealista. Compared to the previous quarter, however, room rentals fell by 1%.
How much does it cost to rent a room in each city?
Room rental prices increased in 13 of the 19 municipalities analysed (with representative samples).
- Bragança saw the largest increase in room rentals, rising 13% compared to the same period last year.
- This was followed by Funchal and Guarda (both 11%), Lisbon (10%), Castelo Branco (9%), Santarém (8%), and Porto (7%).
- More moderate increases in room rental prices are seen in Vila Real (6%), Viseu (4%), Ponta Delgada and Setúbal (both with 3%), Coimbra (2%) and Braga (1%).
- In Aveiro (-9%) and Évora (-3%), room prices in shared houses fell in the last year.
- In Faro, Leiria, Portalegre and Viana do Castelo, however, prices remained stable according to idealista.
Lisbon remains the city with the most expensive rooms for rent, with median prices around 550 euros per month.
- This is followed by Funchal (500 euros/month), Porto (450 euros/month), Ponta Delgada (412 euros/month), Faro and Setúbal (both with 400 euros/month), Aveiro and Évora (both with 360 euros/month), Braga (355 euros/month), Viana do Castelo (350 euros/month), Coimbra (335 euros/month) and Santarém (325 euros/month).
With room rentals up to 300 euros per month, you can find Leiria (300 euros/month), Viseu (270 euros/month), Vila Real (265 euros/month), Castelo Branco and Portalegre (both with 250 euros/month).
The most affordable cities to rent a room remain Guarda (210 euros/month) and Bragança (225 euros/month).
Room rentals start in 2026 with stability
In the first three months of 2026, the market for rooms for rent showed more restrained growth than in the previous year, with prices remaining stable in eight of the 19 municipalities.
- These municipalities are: Faro, Guarda, Lisbon, Ponta Delgada, Porto, Santarém, Viana do Castelo and Viseu.
Nevertheless, there were increases in room rents in some markets, with Setúbal standing out by showing the highest quarterly increase (10%).
- This was followed by Funchal and Portalegre (both with 5%), Castelo Branco (4%), Aveiro and Évora (both with 3%), Bragança and Coimbra (both with 2%) and Braga (1%).
Conversely, rental room prices fell in Vila Real (-5%) and Leiria (-4%) between the beginning of 2026 and the end of 2025.
Renting a room isn't just for students
The data published in this analysis reveal that renting rooms is not just a housing option for students. It has also become the preferred option for young people in their first years in the job market and, in some cases, even later in life.
The current reality of the Portuguese rental market in large cities makes it difficult for many single or separated people to afford a house, making renting a room the most advantageous option.
On the other hand, sharing a house continues to be an incentive for many young people who want to be independent and leave their parents' home, a trend that is expected to increase in the coming years.
Methodology
For this analysis, only cities with a stable base on idealista during the analysed period and with a minimum of 30 listings were considered.
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