In short
Lisbon is the only city on this list where a European has nothing to arrange: no visa, no special insurance, no time zone to negotiate.
The city is dense, bright, hilly, and turned towards the ocean. Surf is forty minutes away, and flights across Europe are daily and cheap.
It is the rational choice for a first departure, or as a base between longer trips.
What it really costs
It is also the most expensive city on the list, and the gap has widened: housing has caught up with the major European cities while local salaries have not.
Eating and going out stay cheaper than Paris, but the gap narrows in the central districts.
Public transport is excellent and inexpensive, and the city is largely walkable.
Working here
European infrastructure, fibre everywhere, coworking spaces that are numerous and serious.
No time difference with European clients — the only place on this list where the working day is simply normal.
The local startup ecosystem is real, with a strong international presence.
What nobody tells you
Housing pressure creates visible social tension, and the role of foreigners in it is a public subject. Denying that would be dishonest.
Older buildings are poorly insulated: the Portuguese winter is damp and cold indoors, which nobody anticipates.
And the centre is saturated with visitors for much of the year — living in Alfama or Baixa is a choice, not a comfort.