Lisbon is still a strong base for remote work, but rent has risen a lot since 2019. This guide covers six cities with lower costs, ordered from the smallest change to the largest saving. Each entry covers 2026 costs, internet speeds, visa rules, and coworking spaces.
What Lisbon Costs in 2026
Sources give different Lisbon figures, so the numbers below are ranges. The ranges set the baseline for the six cities that follow.
- Rent: Sources put a central one-bedroom between about €800 and €1,600 a month, depending on the source and the neighborhood. WhereNext reports that rents have roughly doubled since 2019.
- Monthly budget: Remote Work Europe suggests €2,200 to €2,500 for a comfortable solo setup.
- Visa: The D8 visa requires average income of at least €3,680 a month in 2026, which is four times Portugal’s €920 minimum wage. Older guides list lower numbers.
- Internet: Portugal’s median fixed broadband speed was 243.84 Mbps in March 2026, based on Ookla Speedtest data.
- Nearby towns: Nomada estimates that Ericeira, a surf town near Lisbon, costs about the same as the city. A short move may not save money.
How the Cities Were Chosen
Each city below is checked for monthly cost, internet speed, visa rules, and coworking. Visa income requirements differ a lot between countries, so each entry names the main rule. Cost figures come from public data and nomad cost tools, so actual prices can differ.
Figures were checked in October 2026. Visa rules can change, so confirm them with an official source before applying.
The Six Cities
1. Porto, Portugal
The cost difference between Porto and Lisbon comes mostly from rent. The two cities share the same visa rules and time zone.
- Cost: Remote Work Europe lists a central one-bedroom at €800 to €1,100, compared with €1,200 to €1,600 in Lisbon. Nomada estimates a mid-range budget of $1,560 a month, about 21% below Lisbon.
- Internet: Portugal’s national median is 243.84 Mbps, and no separate Porto figure was available.
- Visa: The D8 rules are the same in Porto and Lisbon, so the €3,680 income requirement still applies.
- Coworking: Remote Work Europe lists CRU in Bonfim, Porto i/o, and Selina Porto. WhereNext counts about 8 to 10 coworking spaces in Porto and more than 20 in Lisbon.
Nomada describes the nomad community as small and close, but winters are wetter than in Lisbon. The saving on rent is real, and the trade-off is fewer coworking choices.
Best for: Remote workers who want to keep the D8 visa and the Lisbon time zone while paying less rent.
2. Valencia, Spain
Valencia saves less money than the other cities here. It also has a lower visa income requirement than Portugal.
- Cost: Nomada estimates $1,890 a month, about 5% below its Lisbon figure of $1,980. Central one-bedroom rent is about $1,000, compared with $1,100 in Lisbon.
- Internet: Spain’s median fixed speed was 277.98 Mbps in March 2026, the highest among the countries in this guide.
- Visa: Spain’s digital nomad visa requires about €2,849 a month in 2026, which is 200% of the minimum wage. No more than 20% of income can come from Spanish clients. One source still lists €2,762, so confirm the figure with a Spanish consulate.
- Coworking: Holafly’s guide lists Wayco, Garage Coworking, and Botánico Coworking. Nomada estimates a hot desk at about $180 a month and names Ruzafa and El Carmen as the main nomad areas.
Fotocasa reports that Holafly ranked Valencia third in the world for remote work in 2026. Nomada lists average temperatures of 12°C in January and 26°C in July.
Best for: Remote workers who want a Spanish visa with a lower income requirement and are happy with a small cost saving.
3. Budapest, Hungary
Budapest sits in the Schengen Area and costs about 25% less than Lisbon in Nomada’s estimate.
- Cost: Nomada estimates $1,480 a month, with central one-bedroom rent near $700. Remote Work Europe lists €1,200 to €1,500 a month for a budget lifestyle.
- Internet: Hungary’s median fixed speed was 251.72 Mbps in March 2026, slightly above Portugal’s.
- Visa: The White Card lasts one year and can be renewed once, for two years in total. Sources list the income requirement anywhere from about €2,000 to €3,000 a month, so check with Hungarian authorities. The card does not allow family reunification.
- Coworking: Impact Hub Budapest, Káptár, and Kubik are well known. Freenance lists hot desks at about €73 to €146 a month.
Nomada points out that a weak forint has helped people paid in other currencies, and this may not last. January averages 0°C, so winters are colder than in Portugal or Spain.
Best for: Remote workers who want a large city, Schengen access, and lower costs than Lisbon.
4. Belgrade, Serbia
Belgrade costs about 35% less than Lisbon in Nomada’s estimate. Serbia is outside the Schengen Area, so days spent there do not count toward the Schengen 90/180 day rule.
- Cost: Nomada estimates $1,280 a month, with central one-bedroom rent near $600. Other sources put that rent between about $550 and $870.
- Internet: Serbia’s median fixed speed was 102.35 Mbps in March 2026. Its mobile median of 164.60 Mbps was higher than Portugal’s 137.64 Mbps.
- Visa: Travelers from the US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia can stay up to 90 days visa-free. Serbia has no standalone nomad visa, although a 2024 law added digital nomads as a ground for temporary residence. Visa Atlas says remote workers usually apply through self-employment or a single permit, and sources disagree on how simple this is.
- Coworking: Nomads.com lists Impact Hub and Smart Office as the leading spaces. Nomada estimates a hot desk at about $140 a month and names Vračar and Dorćol as the main nomad areas.
Serbia ranked 70th in the 2026 Global Peace Index, well below Portugal in 7th place. January averages 1°C and July averages 23°C.
Best for: Remote workers who want low costs and fast mobile data, and who can handle a more involved residence process.
5. Tbilisi, Georgia
Tbilisi offers a very long visa-free stay. Citizens of around 95 countries can stay up to 365 days without a visa.
- Cost: Wise lists a central one-bedroom at $687 a month and about $1,355 a month for one person in 2026. WhereNext reports central rents from $300 to $600.
- Internet: Georgia has the lowest median fixed speed in this guide, at 44.73 Mbps in March 2026. Its mobile median of 161.23 Mbps is higher than Portugal’s, and WhereNext lists coworking speeds of 80 to 150 Mbps.
- Visa: The 365-day stay covers the US, Canada, the EU, the UK, and many other countries. Work permit changes that took effect on March 1, 2026 made remote work for foreign clients a gray area, according to Nomada. Passport holders from countries outside the list, such as Nigeria and India, cannot rely on the stay. The rules are explained in Georgia’s visa-free stay guide.
- Coworking: Fabrika and Impact Hub Tbilisi are the best-known spaces. WhereNext lists hot desks at $80 to $150 a month.
Sources name late April to June and September to October as the best months. Summers in the city often pass 30°C.
Best for: Remote workers from visa-free countries who can rely on mobile data or coworking fiber and want a long stay without a permit.
6. Tirana, Albania
Tirana has one of the lowest cost estimates in this guide. Albania is also outside the Schengen Area.
- Cost: Nomada estimates $1,150 a month, about 42% below Lisbon, with central rent near $500. Flatio lists central one-bedrooms at €250 to €400.
- Internet: Albania’s median fixed speed was 93.64 Mbps in March 2026.
- Visa: Most Western passports get 90 days visa-free, and Nomada reports that US passport holders can stay 365 days. Albania’s Unique Permit for digital mobile workers covers longer stays. Published income figures differ by source, from about €338 a month to about $9,800 a year, so check the e-Albania portal.
- Coworking: Oficina Coworking in Blloku and Nomad Island, a coworking and coliving space in an old villa, are two options. Nomada estimates a hot desk at about $130 a month.
Nomads.com reports no large nomad community in Tirana, and nomad.watch describes it as small but growing. Albania ranked 36th in the 2026 Global Peace Index. January averages 7°C and July averages 25°C.
Best for: Budget-focused remote workers who are fine with a small community.
Time Zones and Safety Compared
Time zone matters for client calls. The table shows each city against Lisbon and US Eastern time. The Global Peace Index measures the absence of violence across a whole country, so it is only a rough guide to personal safety.
| City | Time versus Lisbon | Hours ahead of US Eastern | 2026 Global Peace Index (country) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | Same | 5 | 7th |
| Porto | Same | 5 | 7th |
| Valencia | 1 hour ahead | 6 | 27th |
| Budapest | 1 hour ahead | 6 | 15th |
| Belgrade | 1 hour ahead | 6 | 70th |
| Tbilisi | 3 to 4 hours ahead | 8 to 9 | 94th |
| Tirana | 1 hour ahead | 6 | 36th |
Tbilisi shares a time zone with the United Arab Emirates, so it suits clients in the Gulf and Europe better than clients in the Americas.
Which City to Pick
Porto offers the smallest change from Lisbon, and Tirana and Belgrade offer the largest savings. Visa rules and time zone are harder to change than a lease, so they are worth checking first. When one city looks right, search flights to Porto, Valencia, or Budapest on FlyBibe and compare routes and dates before booking.