New figures from idealista reveal the country's 25 cheapest municipalities to buy a home, based on asking prices recorded between April and June. Unsurprisingly, most are found away from the coast, in smaller towns and rural areas where property prices remain well below the national average.

Cheapest municipalities

Sabugal, in the district of Guarda, is currently the cheapest municipality in the country to buy a home. Properties there are advertised at a median price of €468 per square metre.

This means that, based on the average asking price, a 100-square-metre property could cost around €46,800, although the final price will naturally depend on the condition, location and characteristics of the home.

Penamacor, in Castelo Branco, follows with a median asking price of €488 per square metre, while Pampilhosa da Serra, in the district of Coimbra, ranks third at €495 per square metre.

Pinhel, also in Guarda, comes next at €521 per square metre, followed by Mogadouro, in Bragança, where homes are advertised at an average of €575 per square metre.

Several other municipalities continue to offer homes for less than €650 per square metre. These include Melgaço, where prices stand at €576 per square metre, Mação at €595, Nisa at €603 and Gouveia at €605.

Góis, in Coimbra, has a median asking price of €619 per square metre, while Celorico da Beira, in Guarda, stands at €626 per square metre.

Further down the ranking are Oleiros, where homes are advertised at €656 per square metre, and Idanha-a-Nova at €662. Castanheira de Pêra and Belmonte both record prices of €677 per square metre.

Pedrógão Grande follows closely at €679 per square metre, while Vila Pouca de Aguiar has an average asking price of €687. In Proença-a-Nova, buyers can expect to pay around €717 per square metre.

The remaining municipalities in the top 25 are Moura, at €744 per square metre; Vouzela, at €752; Crato and Mortágua, both at €757; Miranda do Corvo, at €770; Valpaços, at €782; and Santa Comba Dão, where the median asking price is €789 per square metre.

Most expensive municipalities

At the opposite end of the market, Lisbon remains the most expensive municipality in Portugal, with homes advertised at a median price of €6,107 per square metre.
As stated by idealista, Cascais follows at €5,694 per square metre, ahead of Grândola at €5,488, Oeiras at €4,689 and Loulé at €4,663 per square metre.

The difference highlights just how uneven Portugal’s housing market has become. The asking price per square metre in Lisbon is more than 13 times higher than in Sabugal.

Even the cheapest municipality within each district can remain expensive when it is close to one of Portugal’s major cities or most desirable coastal areas.

In the Lisbon district, Azambuja is the most affordable municipality, but homes still cost an average of €2,151 per square metre. In the Porto district, Felgueiras is the cheapest option at €1,510 per square metre.

Santiago do Cacém is the most accessible municipality in the Setúbal district, with prices of €2,641 per square metre. In the Algarve, Alcoutim is the least expensive municipality, at €1,053 per square metre.

While the lower prices found inland may be attractive, particularly to first-time buyers and those searching for more space, price should not be the only consideration.

Location of cheapest houses

Many of the cheapest municipalities are located far from the main employment centres and may have fewer public transport connections, healthcare services, schools and shops. Buyers planning a permanent move should therefore consider how easily they can access essential services and whether the area fits their daily routine.

For remote workers, internet quality is another important point to check before buying, particularly when looking at older or more isolated properties.

Home conditions

The condition of the home can also make a major difference. Some of the cheapest properties may require extensive renovation, meaning a low purchase price can quickly be followed by significant building and maintenance costs.
Even so, Portugal’s interior continues to offer opportunities that are becoming increasingly difficult to find in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve.

For buyers who are flexible about location, these municipalities can provide larger homes, more outdoor space and a slower pace of life for a fraction of the cost found along the coast.