Rooms to rent are no longer just for displaced students. Faced with the high cost of housing to buy and rent in Portugal, there are those who are looking for shared houses to live in, such as young people starting out in their careers, single or separated people or those who are facing financial difficulties. It is in this context that many owners have opted to dedicate themselves to this type of accommodation business instead, and there has been a significant increase in the supply of rooms for rent. At the beginning of 2025, the stock rose by 91% compared to the end of last year (when the annual increase was 56%), reveals Idealista´s analysis. But despite there being more rooms to rent, prices have risen by 4% in a year.
 

Where has the supply of rooms for rent increased the most?

Analyzing the supply of rooms for rent by district capitals/autonomous regions, it can be seen that the increase in stock has been quite pronounced over the last year, with six cities recording increases of more than 50%.

It was in Coimbra (364%) where the supply of rooms for rent increased the most, followed by Porto (137%), Lisbon (128%), Viseu (72%), Portalegre (65%) and Guarda (53%). Bragança (36%), Braga (18%), Aveiro (18%), Viana do Castelo (17%), Setúbal (10%) and Leiria (2%) also saw a significant increase, although less than 50%.

In Santarém, the supply of rooms remained stable (0%) between the beginning of 2025 and the same period last year.

Of the cities analyzed, the supply of rooms on the rental market fell in Évora (-40%), Ponta Delgada (-37%), Vila Real (-27%), Faro (-26%), Castelo Branco (-24%) and Funchal (-21%), the idealista data also shows.
 

Prices of rooms for rent also rose

Despite the increase in supply, the prices of rooms for rent rose in 13 of the 19 district capitals/autonomous regions analyzed. It was in Funchal where prices rose the most, with rooms 50% more expensive than in the same period last year. 

Rooms were also more expensive to rent in Faro (33%), Aveiro (32%), Setúbal (30%), Évora (23%), Braga (17%), Viana do Castelo (17%) and Portalegre (14%). With more moderate price rises are Coimbra (10%), Ponta Delgada (10%), Porto (5%), Vila Real (4%) and Leiria (3%). In Santarém and Viseu, prices remained stable.

On the other hand, the cities where the prices of rooms for rent fell were: Castelo Branco (-23%), Bragança (-15%), Lisbon (-8%) and Guarda (-5%).

Lisbon continues to be the city with the most expensive rooms to rent, where prices are around 500 euros per month, followed by Funchal (450 euros/month), Porto (420 euros/month), Faro and Ponta Delgada (both 400 euros/month), Aveiro (397 euros/month), Setúbal (390 euros/month), Évora (370 euros/month), Braga and Viana do Castelo (350 euros/month), Coimbra (330 euros/month), Leiria and Santarém (300 euros/month). 

On the other hand, the cheapest cities to rent a room are Guarda (190 euros/month), Bragança (200 euros/month), Castelo Branco (230 euros/month), Portalegre (250 euros/month), Vila Real (250 euros/month) and Viseu (260 euros/month).
 

Who is looking for rooms to rent?

The data published in this analysis shows that renting a room is not just a housing option for students, but has also become the solution of choice for young people in their first years on the job market, and in some cases even later.

The current reality of the Portuguese rental market in big cities makes it difficult for many single or separated people to afford the cost of a house, making renting a room the most advantageous option (in financial terms, at least).

On the other hand, sharing a home continues to be a stimulus for many young people who want to be independent and move out of their parents´ home, a trend that is likely to increase in the coming years.


Source: Idealista/News
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