Lisbon declared the most suitable city for foreign residents to live in, in a new global study
Lisbon has taken first place in a new global ranking of the most suitable cities for foreign residents to live in, according to research published on May 19, 2026, by the advisory company Global Citizen Solutions. This is the first edition of the World’s Most Livable Cities for Expats list, which analyzed 35 cities on six continents. The Portuguese capital received an overall score of 88.49 out of 100 points, thereby surpassing Amsterdam, Melbourne, Vienna and Barcelona, which complete the top five places. The study was presented as a practical guide for people considering an international relocation, not as a classic ranking of urban prestige or tourist appeal.
According to the announcement by Global Citizen Solutions, the authors took into account seven indicators that are especially important for long-term life abroad: cost of living, personal safety, air quality, quality of healthcare, ease of adaptation, knowledge of the English language and extended mobility, that is, passport strength and travel opportunities. Cities were assessed on a scale from 0 to 100, while safety and healthcare had the greatest combined weight because, according to the research methodology, they are considered crucial for long-term relocation decisions. Such an approach distinguishes this list from many other rankings that rely more on infrastructure, economic strength or a city’s reputation.
Why Lisbon is at the top of the ranking
Lisbon did not win because it was the best in one individual category, but because, according to the analysis by Global Citizen Solutions, it showed a very balanced result in almost all measures. The report emphasizes that the Portuguese capital combines relatively more favorable living costs compared with a number of Western European cities, a good level of personal safety, quality air, access to healthcare services and a high degree of English-language use in everyday situations. For people moving because of remote work, entrepreneurship, retirement or family reasons, such a combination may be more important than individual luxury advantages.
Euronews, which reported the results of the research, states that Lisbon stood out in the index particularly because it is more affordable than cities such as Amsterdam, Vienna and Copenhagen. Still, affordability in this context should be interpreted relatively. In recent years Lisbon has become more expensive for local residents and new arrivals, especially when it comes to renting apartments and buying real estate. Therefore, its result primarily refers to comparison with other global destinations in the same ranking, and not to the claim that life in the Portuguese capital is simple or cheap for all groups of residents.
An important part of Lisbon’s appeal also relates to legal pathways for residence. The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that national visas include temporary stays and residence visas, while the Portuguese agency AIMA manages procedures connected with residence permits. Portugal is among the countries that have developed options for foreign nationals who want to stay in the country for a longer period, including programs connected with remote work and investment residence. Such instruments do not mean an automatic right to relocate, but in international comparison they make Portugal more visible and administratively more recognizable than some other destinations.
Top 10 cities according to the new index
According to Global Citizen Solutions, the first ten places in the ranking show that Europe still has a strong position among destinations for international residents. Five European cities are among the ten best-rated, but the list is not limited to European centers. Melbourne, Singapore, Auckland, Tokyo and Seoul are also near the top, showing that when choosing a place to live, safety, healthcare, mobility and everyday practicality are increasingly compared, not only business opportunities or salary levels.
- Lisbon, Portugal: 88.49 out of 100 points
- Amsterdam, Netherlands: 81.97 out of 100 points
- Melbourne, Australia: 81.79 out of 100 points
- Vienna, Austria: 81.07 out of 100 points
- Barcelona, Spain: 80.70 out of 100 points
- Singapore: 80.58 out of 100 points
- Auckland, New Zealand: 80.15 out of 100 points
- Tokyo, Japan: 79.78 out of 100 points
- Copenhagen, Denmark: 79.57 out of 100 points
- Seoul, South Korea: 78.89 out of 100 points
Amsterdam took second place thanks to high safety, a quality healthcare system, clean air and an exceptionally high level of English proficiency. According to the presentation of the results, the Dutch capital is especially strong in the everyday availability of services to international residents, but high living costs reduce its overall competitiveness. Melbourne, the third-ranked city, stands out for developed urban infrastructure, stable institutions and a high level of English, but in the safety category it does not stand as strongly as some European cities. Vienna and Barcelona confirm that traditionally desirable European cities continue to hold up well, although they face pressure from housing prices and growing competition from other destinations.
Global mobility is changing the way cities are compared
The background of this ranking is broader than Lisbon itself. According to the latest estimates by the United Nations cited by the International Organization for Migration, in mid-2024 around 304 million people were living outside their country of birth, approximately 150 million more than in 1990. The share of international migrants in the world population rose from 2.9 percent in 1990 to 3.7 percent in 2024. This shows that the absolute number of people living across borders has increased significantly, although migrants still make up a relatively small share of the total world population.
Global Citizen Solutions states in its report that after the pandemic the diversity of groups considering relocation increased. Alongside classic professionals sent abroad by employers, remote workers, digital entrepreneurs, retirees, self-employed specialists and families choosing their own place of life are becoming increasingly important. Their decisions do not depend only on salary or tax treatment. The quality of everyday life, healthcare security, administrative predictability, the possibility of communicating in English, flight availability and a sense of belonging to the local community are being compared more and more often.
In that context, Lisbon fits well into the profile of a city that does not necessarily offer the highest income level, but offers a combination of climate, safety, transport connectivity, cultural offerings and an international community. According to Savills’ index for 2025, Lisbon took fifth place among destinations for so-called executive nomads, while the Algarve was tenth. Savills states that Lisbon remains among the leading locations thanks to connectivity and quality of life, while Portugal is described as a country that attracts international professionals and supports demand in the real estate market.
Attractiveness also has its price
Although the new list places Lisbon first, the result does not remove the tensions that accompany its popularity. In its overview of the Portuguese economy and housing, the OECD warns that improving housing affordability requires structural reforms, faster procedures, more efficient spatial planning and stronger targeted support for vulnerable households. In other words, a high place on a global list can simultaneously be confirmation of quality of life and a sign of additional pressure on a city already burdened by rising housing prices.
In recent years Lisbon has become a symbol of the broader dilemma faced by many attractive European destinations. Foreign residents, investors, tourists and remote workers bring spending, international connections and new entrepreneurial energy, but their presence can increase pressure on the housing stock, especially in central neighborhoods and well-connected areas. For local residents, especially younger workers and families with average incomes, rising rents and real estate prices can mean moving away from the city center or postponing independent housing.
For that reason, data about the “best city for expats” cannot be read without local context. A city can be very attractive to international arrivals and at the same time expensive and demanding for those relying on local salaries. In Lisbon’s case, precisely that difference is one of the key questions for urban planners, politicians and residents. If the city wants to preserve the quality of life that brought it to the top of the ranking, it will have to harmonize international openness with policies that protect housing affordability, public services and social cohesion.
What the ranking means for those considering relocation
For potential new residents of Lisbon, this ranking can be a useful starting point, but not a substitute for a detailed personal assessment. Cost of living, tax status, right of residence, health insurance, schools, kindergartens, working conditions and availability of long-term rental depend on citizenship, income, family status and planned duration of stay. Before making a relocation decision, it is important to check the official conditions for entry and residence, as well as the real costs of living in the neighborhoods being considered.
For a shorter introduction to the city before a long-term decision, it is useful to compare neighborhoods, transport links and everyday costs, while travelers who first want to check whether the rhythm of the city suits them can look for accommodation in Lisbon for a longer trial stay. Such an approach is especially important because the experience of living in Lisbon can differ significantly between the historic center, coastal zones, new business districts and surrounding municipalities. A city that looks very balanced in the ranking may in practice be different for a single person working remotely, a family with children, a retiree or a specialist relying on the local labor market.
The new study therefore speaks most of all about a change in the criteria by which the desirability of cities is measured. Lisbon is recognized in it as a place that combines European safety, an Atlantic climate, international accessibility and relatively practical conditions for foreign residents. But the same result also raises the question of how popular cities can remain inclusive. Lisbon’s success as a global destination for living will depend not only on how attractive it is to new residents, but also on whether it can maintain a balance between international demand and the everyday needs of the people who already live there.
Sources:
- Global Citizen Solutions – report “World’s Most Livable Cities for Expats” with methodology, ranking and city scores (link)
- Euronews Travel – presentation of the research results and explanation of why Lisbon took first place (link)
- International Organization for Migration, World Migration Report 2026 – data on the number of international migrants in 2024 and comparison with 1990 (link)
- United Nations, UN DESA Population Division – International Migrant Stock 2024, official dataset on international migrants (link)
- Savills Impacts – Executive Nomad Index 2025 and the context of Lisbon’s position among destinations for long-term remote workers (link)
- Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo, AIMA – official information on residence and migration procedures in Portugal (link)
- Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs – general information on national visas and residence visas (link)
- OECD – analysis of Portugal’s housing affordability challenges and the need for structural reforms (link)