Cost of living in Portugal

Written by Luis Minvielle Moderated by Oleksandra Dosii

Luis Minvielle

Luis is a writer with over 5 years of experience in B2B software. Even though he has always worked in tech, a sector he regularly publishes about, his initial incursions into writing were, curiously enough, music essays discussing scenes from different parts of the world—most likely to deal with his unfulfilled ambition of becoming a neo-soul crooner.

Oleksandra Dosii

Oleksandra is a dedicated marketer with a passion for growing HR-tech products. She believes content marketing is about delivering high-quality content that provides value—not just generating leads. Since 2016, Oleksandra has been involved in tech talent relocation.

Last update: March 25, 2025

Next update: Scheduled for January 25, 2026

The cost of living in Portugal is around €1,622 per month for a single person and €4,000 for a family of four, including rent.

Let’s look at the expected costs of living in Portugal, covering food, transportation, utilities, leisure, and childcare, to help you manage your budget effectively.

How expensive is it to live in Portugal?

According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Portugal without rent is around €682 for a single person and €2,412 for a family of four people. The price of a single-bedroom apartment in the city centre is €940, while a three-bedroom apartment costs around €1,592. With all of this in mind, the cost of living in Portugal comes around to €1,622 for a single person and €4,000 for a family of four including rent.

Let’s compare this to other countries in Europe. In Germany, a family of four can expect to spend €5,048 while a single person can expect to spend €1,880 monthly in total. In the Netherlands, a single person’ estimated monthly costs are almost €2,000 in total, including rent. So, Portugal is around 20% more affordable than the Netherlands (and has far more sunny days).

This proves that Portugal has living expenses that are closer to Spain than to other European nations located up north. For example, in Spain, a single person will spend €1,671 a month, on average. That’s quite close to what Portugal will cost. But Portuguese average salaries are not as attractive as the Spanish ones. For example, the minimum wage per month in Portugal is at €870—while it stands at €1,134 in Spain.

Most expensive city to live in Portugal

According to Numbeo, the most expensive city to live in Portugal is Lisbon. A single person can live in Lisbon, with rent, for €745. This is about ~17% pricier than in Porto, the second-largest city in Portugal, when we consider rent. Or, expressed in euros, an expat who lives in Porto pays €695 per month before rent. The city’s price differential extends to housing, where buying a home costs more than in any other major Portuguese city.

Plenty of other benchmarks still signal that Lisbon is the most expensive Portuguese city. For example, buying a house in Lisbon is pricier than in any other big cities in Portugal.

Cheapest city in Portugal

The cheapest big city in Portugal is Braga, where a single person’s monthly living cost is €648 and a family of four’s monthly living is €2,264 before rent. Another less expensive city is Coimbra, where a single person can expect to spend €650 and a family of four €2,286 before rent, per month.

Cost of living in Portugal vs the UK

When we compare the cost of living between Portugal and the United Kingdom, we see that general living expenses are lower in Portugal (Source: Numbeo). A family of four spends around €4,000 per month in Portugal, compared to €5,338 in the UK. For a single person, the costs are €1,622 in Portugal and €2,210 in the UK. All of this is including rent.

(London is a separate case, with living costs that far exceed the national average.)

Using data from Numbeo, let’s compare the cost of some everyday groceries in Portugal, the UK, and also in London.

Cost of living in Portugal vs the US

Portugal is cheaper than the United States. That’s evident when you compare the cost of living. A family of four normally spends around €4,000 per month in Portugal, compared to €5,300 in the United States. The monthly expenses are €1,622 in Portugal and €3,700 in the US for a single person. All of this includes rent and is accounted for on a monthly basis.

Comparison of everyday groceries (Source: Numbeo):

Rent per month in Portugal

The average monthly rent in Portugal is as follows (Source: Numbeo):

• Apartment (1 bedroom) in city centre: €940
• Apartment (1 bedroom) outside of centre: €746
• Apartment (3 bedrooms) in city centre: €1,592
• Apartment (3 bedrooms) outside of centre: €1,208

Rent prices in Portugal, especially in Lisbon, are rising more slowly in 2025 compared to previous years, so people looking to rent won’t see big price jumps. However, costs still depend on where you look. For example, rural regions like Alentejo (a countryside area in southern Portugal that hosts stunning Roman temples) have much cheaper rents than Lisbon or Porto. Even near Lisbon, suburbs like Amadora or Loures offer lower prices (almost 20% cheaper, according to Numbeo) than central neighborhoods like Chiado or Alfama.

How to find an apartment in Portugal

Some popular online platforms to find an apartment to rent are Idealista, OLX, Imovirtual and Casa Sapo. To rent a property in Portugal, you need to have your Number of Fiscal Identification (NIF) and proof of identity. You will also be required to provide a bank statement, tax return, or proof of employment. In general, contracts have a minimum duration of 12 months with an automatic renewal, unless one of the parties decides to end it.

Expats mention Facebook groups as a good place to find your place, but, you know the drill: Watch out for scams. There are so far too many rip-off artists lurking in Facebook Marketplace.

Another interesting comment that expats give when sharing advice on how to find an apartment in Portugal looks more or less like this: “Avoid Lisbon, go to Porto.”

The best way to find rent in Portugal is still to connect with a professional advisor who knows the Portuguese renting market and who knows how to help expats.

Utilities

Let’s look at average monthly costs for utilities in Portugal (Source: Numbeo). This makes up for most of the cost of living expenses.

• Basic utilities (electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage) for an 85m² apartment: €114
• Mobile phone plan with calls and 10 GB+ data: €19
• Internet (60 Mbps or more, unlimited data): €37.5

Some places in Portugal still have older appliances and installations, so make sure to replace old electric appliances with newer, more efficient ones and install flow reducers on all taps and showers to reduce utility costs. You can compare utility prices using websites such as Comparaja and PoupaEnergia.

Furnished apartments

Rental apartments in Portugal are commonly unfurnished, but you may be able to find furnished apartments, especially for shorter-term renting. Also, furnished apartments may be easier to find nearby universities, intended for students coming from outside the city to study and who would want to reduce costs by avoiding buying furniture.

Public transport

Portugal’s train network is cheaper than other European countries, being somewhat old but very functional. There are also long-distance buses and local bus networks in every region of mainland Portugal. Additionally, Lisbon has a good metro network.

For train ticket fares, check this site; for bus information, check here; and for metro fare prices, check here.

Here’s a general overview of ticket prices for public transport in Portugal (Sorce: Numbeo):

• One-way ticket for local transport: €2
• Regular monthly pass: €40
• Starting fare for a taxi ride: €3.50
• An hour of waiting time in a taxi: €15
• Gasoline: €1.71 per litre

Food

Portugal has some big supermarket chains such as Continente, Mercadona, Pingo Doce, Auchan, and Intermarché. There are also some discount chains like Minipreço, Lidl, and Aldi. You will also find plenty of independent neighbourhood supermarkets that are more affordable. For fresh and organic food, you can also go shopping at local food markets, which are also regarded as a picturesque tourist attraction.

Groceries in Portugal cost around (Source: Godigit):

• For a single person: €150–€250
• For a couple: €300–€400
• For a family of four: €600–€700

Here are some average prices for eating out (Source: Numbeo):

• Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: €10.00
• Meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant (three-course): €45.00
• McMeal at McDonald's (or equivalent combo meal): €8.00
• Domestic beer (0.5 litre draught): €2.50
• Cappuccino (regular): €1.90
• Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre bottle): €1.71
• Water (0.33 litre bottle): €1.21

Mobile phone plan

Prepaid plans in Portugal come with flexibility, while contracts are more convenient for the long term, but they usually require a lengthier commitment as well. To sign up for a mobile phone contract, you will need to have a Number of Fiscal Identification (NIF). Also, it’s a good idea to have a Portuguese bank account, but some vendors may allow the use of foreign bank accounts. (Or you can just use an eSim from an international provider while you arrange your NIF and bank account). Let’s look at some providers of mobile services:

• Major providers: MEO, Vodafone and NOS are the major and overall better mobile providers in Portugal, with plans starting at around €17.
• Cheaper options: Lycanmobile provides budget-friendly plans with low international fares that are ideal for expats and plans starting from €8.
• eSims: if your phone supports eSim, most providers offer them, sometimes with an activation fee of as low as €3.50.

Childcare

Childcare options in Portugal include private, public, and international options. Nurseries are intended for children under 3 years old and are largely private. Kindergartens offer childcare for children over 3 years old and there are free public options. The Portuguese government offers a family allowance to partially foot the costs of childcare and education, and is in the process of introducing free childcare for children under 3 years old. Non-EU nationals are usually required to have a resident permit, either permanent or temporary, to access these benefits.

Average prices of childcare (Source: Numbeo):

• Preschool (or kindergarten), full day, private, monthly for 1 child: €438
• International primary school, yearly for 1 child: €10,615

Gym

Gyms in Portugal usually offer monthly and yearly prices. Monthly memberships are easier to cancel, while yearly memberships are often more budget-friendly. There are some popular gym chains, but you can also find local neighbourhood gyms that are generally cheaper and more convenient to get to.

Some of the major gym brands and prices:

• Solinca: €12–€20
• Holmes Place: €90–€150
• VivaGym: €30–€40