Living, buying and investing in Faro

Faro at a glance for expat buyers

Faro is the administrative capital of the Algarve and the region's primary international gateway — Faro Airport handles roughly 9 million passengers a year with direct flights to most of Western Europe. The municipality has about 68,000 residents and a far quieter character than the resort towns to its west (Albufeira, Lagos, Portimão). Average asking prices were around €2,780 per square metre in early 2026, which makes Faro substantially cheaper than coastal Algarve hotspots but still well above the Portuguese national average. Faro suits buyers who want Algarve climate, hospital and airport access, and year-round amenities without paying Albufeira or Lagos prices. The city has a real working population — university, hospital, regional government — which means restaurants, shops and schools operate year-round rather than seasonally. Climate is the Algarve standard: roughly 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, mild winters (10-16°C daytime), and dry hot summers (28-32°C).