While most EU cities struggle with tech talent shortages, Portugal added over 3,000 new tech positions in 2025 alone. With €11 billion in tech revenue and 25% job growth, professionals are moving to these cities before the competition catches up.

Lisbon: Portugal's Premier Tech Hub

Lisbon captures 65% of software developer jobs with around 2,000 positions available. The city hosts unicorns like OutSystems (€9.5B valuation) and Talkdesk (€10B valuation), plus major operations from Cloudflare, Google, Microsoft, Oracle, and AWS.

Deloitte invested €25M in their new Tech Campus supporting 2,500 professionals. SIXT established their fourth global Tech Hub here, hiring over 100 tech professionals since 2022.

Web Summit's commitment through 2028 reinforces Lisbon's position as Europe's tech conference hub. Mozilla.ai launched operations here in 2023 with €28.8M funding for AI development.

Average living costs run €1,800-€2,200 per month while tech salaries range from €34,500-€80,000 annually. The city dominates with 65% of Portugal's tech positions across fintech, AI, and cybersecurity sectors.

Porto: Rising Star for Tech Jobs

Tech roles in Porto represent 19% of Portugal's software developer openings with 611 positions. The city offers a strong startup community while maintaining lower costs than Lisbon.

Major international companies including IBM, Cisco, and Mercedes-Benz have established significant operations here. The startup scene shows solid growth with strong government support through programs like the Tech Visa.

Here's why Porto might be your sweet spot: living costs run €1,200-€1,800 monthly while tech salaries remain competitive with Lisbon standards. You'll face lower competition for positions compared to Lisbon while accessing growing sectors like AI, cybersecurity, and fintech. Strong international presence with multinational operations creates university partnerships that drive innovation.

Which Are the Best Cities for Tech Jobs in Portugal?

Beyond Lisbon and Porto, several emerging Portugal tech hubs offer compelling opportunities for tech professionals seeking new positions.

Braga emerges as Portugal's most cost-effective tech hub with living costs 40% lower than Lisbon and 15% lower than Porto. Monthly expenses range from €900-€1,300 while opportunities continue expanding.

PluggableAI, a growing AI startup, operates from Braga, demonstrating the city's emerging tech potential. The city benefits from proximity to Porto while offering significantly lower overhead costs.

Aveiro hosts 78 IT companies and continues attracting tech investment. Coimbra uses university-driven innovation to create a strong research and development environment.

Braga delivers 40% lower costs than Lisbon with a growing IT services sector. Aveiro concentrates 78 IT companies in a tight tech community. Coimbra provides university partnerships for research-heavy development. All three offer lower competition and closer government relationships than major hubs.

What Salaries Can You Expect in Each City?

Portugal's tech salaries average €34,500 annually - nearly double the national average. Data scientists command up to €80,000 while experienced developers earn €60,000+.

Tech jobs in Lisbon offer the highest salary potential but come with premium living costs. Tech jobs in Porto provide competitive salaries with slightly lower expenses.

Emerging hubs like Braga offer lower salaries but dramatically reduced living costs. Your purchasing power often equals or exceeds larger cities when factoring in expenses.

Junior developers earn €25,000-€35,000 while mid-level developers command €35,000-€50,000. Senior developers reach €50,000-€70,000 with data scientists earning €45,000-€80,000. Tech leads top out at €60,000-€85,000 across all cities.

Companies You Should Watch

Siemens plans to hire 4,000 employees in Portugal by 2025, with significant tech roles across multiple cities. If you're looking for stability and growth, this represents massive hiring potential.

QuantumNova leads Lisbon's quantum cybersecurity innovation. Companies like this show Portugal's push beyond traditional software development into emerging sectors.

You'll benefit from Portugal's 4,719 active startups that generated €2.6 billion in combined revenue with 16% growth. More companies mean stronger negotiating power in salary discussions and more position flexibility for you.

Portugal's Tech Visa program shows 88% approval rates with 30-60 day processing. English serves as the primary working language in most companies. With 74% of companies planning permanent remote positions, you gain access to €11 billion in total tech industry revenue creating long-term stability.

Your Strategic Move to Portugal's Tech Scene

Portugal's tech industry continues expanding with 25% job growth opportunities. With 74% of companies planning permanent remote positions, location flexibility increases your options across multiple cities.

Choose Lisbon for maximum opportunities and startup community access. Pick Porto for balanced opportunity and costs. Consider Braga or Aveiro for cost optimization and emerging market advantages.

Target OutSystems and Talkdesk on LinkedIn this week for Lisbon opportunities. Search IBM Porto and Mercedes-Benz Digital jobs for Porto positions. Join Portugal Tech Community (12,400 members) and Portugal Startups Slack (8,600 members) for insider opportunities. Attend Porto.io's monthly meetups every third Thursday at Rua Miguel Bombarda or Lisbon Tech Meetup every second Tuesday at Cais do Sodré.

Subscribe to Olá, Mundo!, and receive a curated lit of remote work opportunities in your inbox every week.

Apply through Landing.jobs and ITJobs.pt by Friday to catch January hiring cycles. Update your LinkedIn headline to include "Portugal-based" since 67% of recruiters filter by location first.