Cost of living in Portugal in 2026
A single person in Lisbon needs about $2,000-2,600 a month including rent, and 15-20% less in Porto. Food, cafés and transport in Portugal are cheaper than in most of Western Europe, while the flat is the biggest expense.
| Key facts | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Single budget with rent in Lisbon | $2,000-2,600 a month |
| Couple budget | $2,500-3,300 a month |
| Family with a child | from $3,400 a month |
| One-bedroom flat in central Lisbon | $1,360-1,700 |
| Minimum wage 2026 | $1,100 (€920) a month in 14 payments |
| Pass for Lisbon and suburbs | $45 (€40) |
Data checked: 06.10.2026
Portugal remains one of the most affordable Western European countries for everyday spending: a café lunch menu costs $15-20 (€10-14), a monthly pass for the whole Lisbon metro area is $45 (€40), and groceries at markets and budget chains are cheaper than in France or Germany. But since 2015 rents in Lisbon and Porto have roughly doubled, and today a flat takes more than half of a single person's budget.
According to the national statistics office, in the first quarter of 2026 the median rent on new leases was $20 (€17.42) per square metre a month in Lisbon, $20 (€14.60) in Porto and $15 (€9.46) nationwide, 9.1% more than a year earlier. So the budget gap between the capital, Porto and smaller cities such as Braga or Coimbra comes almost entirely from housing.
Below are 2026 prices in US dollars at the European Central Bank rate on the date checked, a monthly budget for a single person, a couple and a family, first-month costs and ways to save.
We will calculate online the full cost for your task.
Prices in 2026: rent, groceries, transport
| Monthly item | Lisbon | Porto |
|---|---|---|
| One-bedroom flat in the centre | $1,360-1,700 | $1,015-1,300 |
| One-bedroom flat in a cheaper district | $1,015-1,240 | $790-1,015 |
| Two-bedroom flat in the centre | $1,810-2,480 | $1,360-1,750 |
| Utilities | $95-160 | $95-160 |
| Internet and mobile | $40-60 | $40-60 |
| Groceries per person | $285-395 | $250-365 |
| Public transport | $34-46 | $34-46 |
| Lunch in an inexpensive café | $12-16 | $11-15 |
| Private doctor visit | $70-115 | $70-115 |
| Private health insurance | $46-105 | $46-105 |
| International school, per year | $9,100-28,200 | $7,900-20,300 |
Rents are for a long-term lease, unfurnished or with basic furniture. In central Lisbon - Chiado, Príncipe Real and by the river - rates exceed the upper bound, while in the suburbs across the river and along the Sintra train line they are lower.
Utilities are higher in winter: Portuguese homes are poorly insulated, and electric heating noticeably raises the bills.
Monthly budget: single, couple, family with a child
| Household | Per month |
|---|---|
| Single person | $2,000-2,600 |
| Couple | $2,500-3,300 |
| Family with a child | from $3,400 |
The single budget assumes a one-bedroom flat in Lisbon, groceries, phone, transport and moderate spending on cafés. For a family the total depends on the district, school and insurance, so we calculate the exact figure in the chat.
A Portugal budget starts with the visa and the tax number
To live in Portugal beyond 90 days a Russian citizen needs a national visa, and it shapes the budget: the passive income visa requires income from one minimum wage per applicant, the nomad visa four minimum wages from remote work. Without a Portuguese tax number you cannot rent a flat or open an account, and landlords often ask foreigners for a 2-3 month deposit or a guarantor. We choose the visa, obtain the tax number and account, and help with the lease, insurance and the migration service appointment.
The cost of support depends on the visa and your family; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
What to pay in the first month
- A Portuguese tax number: without it you cannot sign a lease or open a bank account.
- A deposit, usually 1-2 months' rent; landlords often ask foreigners without local income for 1-3 more months in advance or a guarantor.
- A Portuguese bank account to pay rent and utilities.
- Registration at a health centre once you have a residence permit: it gives access to public healthcare.
- Private insurance until registration and for the visa application.
For the first three months a single person in Lisbon renting outside the centre needs from $8,600 including the deposit and documents.
Where to live: comparing cities
Lisbon is the capital, with jobs in tech and finance, international schools and the country's largest Russian-speaking community. The centre and the coastal suburbs of Cascais and Estoril are the most expensive; Amadora, Odivelas and Almada across the river are cheaper.
Porto is the second city: rents are 20-25% below Lisbon, and a one-bedroom flat in the centre costs $1,015-1,300. The climate is cooler and rainier, but the city is compact and the metro reaches the sea.
Braga, Coimbra and Aveiro are cheaper still, with a one-bedroom flat at $700-950, while in the Algarve prices are below Lisbon's but many owners let only to tourists in summer.
Districts and prices in detail: Lisbon, Porto.
Healthcare and insurance
A resident registered at a health centre uses public healthcare almost free of charge, but waits for specialists and planned operations can be long. So many also take private insurance: about $46-105 a month per adult depending on age and cover.
A private doctor visit without insurance costs $70-120 (€60-100), and $20-30 (€15-25) with insurance.
Schools and nurseries
State schools are free and teach in Portuguese; children of foreigners study Portuguese as a second language. Nurseries in the state programme are free, but places are scarce and you need to apply early.
English-language international schools cost $9,000-28,000 (€8,000-25,000) a year in Lisbon, and $7,900-21,000 (€7,000-18,000) in Porto. The best ones in Cascais and Lisbon have waiting lists a year ahead.
Salaries and taxes
The minimum wage in 2026 is $1,100 (€920) a month in 14 payments, or $15,000 (€12,880) a year. Average salaries in Lisbon are higher than elsewhere in the country but noticeably lower than in Spain or France.
Resident income tax runs from 12.5% to 48% on a scale, plus a solidarity levy on high incomes. People under 35 have part of their income exempt for their first 10 years of work, and specialists in science and technology can get a reduced 20% rate for 10 years.
More on the page taxes in Portugal.
How to cut costs
- Live in Porto, Braga or Coimbra rather than Lisbon.
- Rent in suburbs with good trains: Amadora, Sintra, Almada.
- Have the lunch menu: $15-20 (€10-14) for several courses with a drink.
- Buy groceries at markets and budget chains.
- Get a pass: it covers all transport in the metro area for $45 (€40) a month.
The main saving is the city. A one-bedroom flat in central Porto costs $345-400 a month less than in central Lisbon, and in Braga almost half as much.
This topic in other countries
Cost of living in other countries:
- Cost of living in Serbia in 2026
- Cost of living in Georgia in 2026
- Cost of living in Armenia in 2026
- Cost of living in Turkey in 2026
- Cost of living in Thailand in 2026
- Cost of living in the UAE in 2026
- Cost of living in Montenegro in 2026
- Cost of living in Spain in 2026
- Cost of living in Uruguay in 2026
- Cost of living in Mexico in 2026
- Cost of living in Italy in 2026
- Cost of living in France in 2026
- Cost of living in Germany in 2026
- Cost of living in Kazakhstan in 2026
- Cost of living in Cyprus in 2026
- Cost of living in Bulgaria in 2026
- Cost of living in Kyrgyzstan in 2026
- Cost of living in Uzbekistan in 2026
- Cost of living in Indonesia in 2026
- Cost of living in Vietnam in 2026
- Cost of living in Argentina in 2026
- Cost of living in Brazil in 2026
- Cost of living in Paraguay in 2026
- Cost of living in Greece in 2026
- Cost of living in Poland in 2026
- Cost of living in the Czech Republic in 2026
- Cost of living in Israel in 2026
- Cost of living in the USA in 2026
- Cost of living in Canada in 2026
- Cost of living in the United Kingdom in 2026
- Cost of living in Belarus in 2026
- Cost of living in Costa Rica in 2026
- Cost of living in Panama in 2026
- Cost of living in Hungary in 2026
- Cost of living in Latvia in 2026
- Cost of living in Lithuania in 2026
- Cost of living in Estonia in 2026
- Cost of living in Malaysia in 2026
- Cost of living in the Philippines in 2026
More on this country:
- Portugal digital nomad visa
- Taxes in Portugal
- Lisbon: districts and prices
- Porto: districts and prices
- Property in Portugal
All countries in one table: cost of living by country.
FAQ
How much money do you need to live in Portugal?
How much is rent in Lisbon?
Is it cheaper to live in Lisbon or Porto?
What is the minimum wage in Portugal in 2026?
Is healthcare free in Portugal?
How much does an international school cost in Portugal?
How much is a transport pass in Lisbon?
How much are utilities in Portugal?
What income do you need for a Portuguese visa?
Don’t want to figure this out alone?
We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.
The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.
Free consultationPrograms