Lisbon – City Performance, Brand Strength and Reputation

Lisbon, located on the Iberian Peninsula and Portugal’s largest city, is the westernmost capital of mainland Europe. This popular destination is situated on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, from which many Portuguese explorers departed in previous centuries. Europe’s longest bridge, the Vasco da Gama Bridge in the Portuguese capital, is named after one of these explorers.

Apart from its location and appeal as a city destination, what are Lisbon’s strengths and weaknesses? How does this city perform in terms of economic performance, sustainability, and reputation? Let’s explore what leading rankings and indices have to say.

Let’s take a closer look at:

• Lisbon’s competitiveness and financial performance
• Its city brand strength and global reputation
• Livability: Lisbon’s appeal to visitors, talent, and locals

Economic Competitiveness

The Global Financial Centres Index 34 ranks Lisbon 73^rd, falling 18 positions from the previous ranking.

According to 2thinknow’s Innovation Cities Index 2022-2023, Lisbon ranks 60^th, an impressive jump of 56 positions from the previous ranking. The city now sits between Prague (59^th) and Mexico City (61^st).

City Brand Strength and Global Reputation

According to Brand Finance’s City Index 2023, Lisbon ranks 43^rd globally, almost on par with Seoul (42^nd) and Rotterdam (44^th).

Resonance’s 2023 World’s Best Cities Report ranks Lisbon 32^nd, right next to Melbourne (31^st) and Zurich (33^rd). It ranks 11^th for Sights and Landmarks and 15^th for TripAdvisor Reviews.

Kearney’s 2023 Global Cities Report ranks Lisbon 44^th, a drop of 5 positions from the previous ranking. The same firm’s Global Cities Outlook ranks it 75^th, a drop of 16 positions.

How Appealing for Talent, Investors, Visitors?

The Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking places Lisbon 39^th, sitting between Lyon (38^th) and New York City (40^th). The same company’s Cost of Living Ranking puts it 117^th, behind Vancouver (116^th) and above Birmingham (118^th). The cost of living survey reports that factors such as currency fluctuations, cost inflation for goods and services, and instability of accommodation prices are key in determining the cost of expat packages for employees on international assignments.

According to the Best Urban Cities for Digital Nomads ranking by Spot a Home, Lisbon ranks an impressive 2^nd out of 56 global cities, only topped by Belfast (1^st) and closely followed by Barcelona (3^rd).

Urban Sustainability

The Arcadis Sustainability City Index 2022 ranks Lisbon 57^th overall, specifically: Planet 24^th, People 56^th, Profit 66^th.

Last updated in January 2024. Explore more city profiles here.

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Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended to provide a general overview of Lisbon’s economic and cultural landscape and facilitate comparison over time. While we strive for accuracy and completeness, we are not responsible for any typographical errors or inaccuracies. The data is provided ‘as is’ without warranty of any kind. Users should verify any information before relying on it for decision-making purposes.