Rents in Portugal continue to rise, but at a slower pace, with the median cost increasing by 3.5% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025. Still, during the same period, rental listings received an average of 17 enquiries before being taken off the market, according to the latest analysis by Idealista. However, compared to the same period last year, the number of contacts per listing dropped by 45% (at that time, they received an average of 32 contacts), which may be explained by the wider dispersion of demand across the available rental properties on the market.

“Despite a slight drop in the number of enquiries since the beginning of the year, demand for rental listings remains high. This slowdown does not necessarily reflect a decline in household interest, but rather an increase in the availability of rental properties,” explains Ruben Marques, spokesperson for Idealista, noting that rental prices remain high and “continue to be unaffordable for a large portion of the Portuguese population.”

Renting a Home in Portugal

Which cities have the highest rental demand?
The Portuguese city where rental listings received the most interest in the second quarter of 2025 was Portalegre, with an average of 53 contacts, followed by Faro (33), Évora (32), Ponta Delgada (30), Santarém (27), Leiria (27), Setúbal (27), Funchal (25), Guarda (25), Castelo Branco (24), Vila Real (21), Beja (20) and Bragança (20).

Cities with fewer than 20 contacts per rental listing include Viseu (18), Aveiro (15), Braga (14), Lisbon (14) and Viana do Castelo (13). The cities with the lowest average number of contacts were Porto (8) and Coimbra (7). It’s important to note that a lower number of enquiries per listing may be related to a greater supply of properties in those markets.

How have rental enquiries changed in major cities?

Data from Q2 2025: Average contacts per rental listing:

City Contacts per Listing
Portalegre 53
Faro 33
Évora 32
Ponta Delgada 30
Santarém 27
Leiria 27
Setúbal 27
Funchal 25
Guarda 25
Castelo Branco 24
Vila Real 21
Beja 20
Bragança 20
Viseu 18
Aveiro 15
Braga 14
Lisbon 14
Viana do Castelo 13
Porto 8
Coimbra 7

Drop in Rental Enquiries Across 18 Major Cities

The average number of contacts per rental listing fell in 18 major cities in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the same period the previous year. The most significant drops were recorded in:

  • Coimbra (-73%)

  • Porto (-62%)

  • Viseu (-56%)

  • Bragança (-51%)

  • Lisbon (-49%)

Other cities also saw a decline in visits to rental listings:

  • Vila Real (-43%)

  • Setúbal (-42%)

  • Aveiro (-41%)

  • Braga (-41%)

  • Santarém (-40%)

  • Viana do Castelo (-33%)

  • Leiria (-31%)

  • Ponta Delgada (-21%)

  • Castelo Branco (-19%)

  • Évora (-19%)

  • Beja (-16%)

  • Portalegre (-8%)

  • Faro (-4%)

Cities with Increased Enquiries

On the other hand, Guarda recorded a 40% increase in contacts per rental listing, making it the district capital with the highest growth. Funchal followed, with a 7% increase over the same period.

Change in Enquiries per Rental Listing (Q2 2025 vs Q2 2024):

City % Change
Guarda +40%
Funchal +7%
Faro −4%
Portalegre −8%
Beja −16%
Évora −19%
Castelo Branco −19%
Ponta Delgada −21%
Leiria −31%
Viana do Castelo −33%
Santarém −40%
Braga −41%
Aveiro −41%
Setúbal −42%
Vila Real −43%
Lisbon −49%
Bragança −51%
Viseu −56%
Porto −62%
Coimbra −73%