Portugal vs Greece: which to choose in 2026
Portugal grants residence with income from €920 a month, but a passport takes 10 years. Greece sells residence for property from €400,000, gives a passport after 7 years, and life there is cheaper. We compare residence, taxes and costs.
| Key facts | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Cheaper to live | Greece: $1,400-2,100 versus $2,000-2,600 a month |
| Residence on passive income | Portugal from €920, Greece from €3,500 a month |
| Residence for property | Greece from €400,000, closed in Portugal |
| Time to a passport | Greece 7 years, Portugal 10 years |
| Current passport | can be kept in both countries |
| Minimum wage | €920 in both countries |
Data checked: 07.10.2026
In short: who each country suits
- Portugal - for people with a modest stable income from abroad: residence from €920 a month and a calm life by the Atlantic.
- Greece - for those ready to put €400,000 into property or who want an EU passport 3 years sooner and cheaper living.
- A retiree with a foreign pension does better in Greece: 7% tax on foreign income.
Portugal and Greece are two sunny corners of southern Europe chosen by people who want residence in the European Union and, in time, a passport. Portugal wins with an affordable entry and a mild climate, Greece with an investment route through property, a faster passport and lower prices.
Below is a 15-row table and five key differences: residence, the path to citizenship, taxes, cost of living and everyday life.
We will calculate online the full cost for your task.
Key facts in one table
| Parameter | Portugal | Greece |
|---|---|---|
| Residence on passive income | income from €920 a month, ~$1,100 | income from €3,500 a month, ~$4,000 |
| Remote worker visa | income from €3,680 a month, ~$4,200 | income from €3,500 a month, ~$4,000 |
| Residence by investment | through investment funds, not property | property from €400,000, from €800,000 in Attica and large islands |
| Citizenship | 10 years, 7 for EU and Portuguese-speaking country citizens | 7 years of residence and an exam in language and history |
| Current passport | can be kept | can be kept |
| Who is a tax resident | more than 183 days in any 12 months that start or end in the tax year | more than 183 days in any 12 months; short trips do not break the count |
| Income tax | 12.5-48% on a scale | 9-44% on the 2026 scale |
| Break for newcomers | 20% for 10 years for certain professions | 50% off for 7 years, 7% on foreign income for retirees |
| Single person budget with rent | $2,000-2,600 a month (Lisbon) | $1,400-2,100 a month (Athens) |
| One-bedroom flat in the centre | $1,360-1,700 (Lisbon) | $735-1,130 (Athens) |
| Family with a child | from $3,400 a month | from $2,500 a month |
| Minimum wage | €920 in 14 payments, ~$1,100 | €920 in 14 payments from 1 April 2026, ~$1,100 |
| Country's passport: visa-free travel | 140 countries visa-free and 27 with visa on arrival | 141 countries visa-free and 27 with visa on arrival |
| Language | Portuguese | Greek |
| Climate | mild Atlantic, a cool sea | hot summers, a warm sea |
Portugal and Greece are chosen by the residence ground and the time to an EU passport
Both countries offer an EU passport and a mild climate, but Portugal opens residence with income from $1,100 a month, while Greece grants it for property from $460,000 and gives a passport 3 years sooner. The usual mistakes: buying a home in Greece in an $910,000 zone at a standard-region price, applying in Portugal without checking tax status, and expecting residence for property without living in the country to count towards a passport. We compare the options for your income and family, prepare documents and handle the case up to the resident card. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first filing.
The cost of support depends on the country, the grounds and your family; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
Residence: where it is easier to get
Portugal grants residence on passive income from €920 a month, about $1,100, and a remote worker visa with income from €3,680. Residence for property in Portugal is closed: the investment route now runs only through funds.
Greece still grants residence for property: from €400,000 in most regions and from €800,000 in Attica, Thessaloniki and the large islands. For financially independent people and remote workers the income threshold is €3,500 a month, about $4,000. Citizens of Russia and Belarus get investment residence in Greece only with a second citizenship.
Citizenship: where it is faster
In Portugal the time to citizenship has risen to 10 years of residence, 7 for citizens of EU and Portuguese-speaking countries. You keep your current passport, and a Portuguese passport gives the right to live and work across the European Union.
In Greece naturalisation is possible after 7 years of residence, with an exam in language, history and culture. Dual citizenship is allowed, and residence for property counts towards the passport only with real life in the country.
Taxes: where they are lower
Portugal taxes residents at 12.5-48% on a scale, and certain professions get a preferential 20% rate for 10 years. You become a tax resident after 183 days in the country in any 12 months.
From 2026 Greece charges 9-44% on a new scale, lower for families with children and young people. New residents who start working in the country get 50% off the tax for 7 years, retirees pay 7% on foreign income, and wealthy newcomers a flat €100,000 a year.
Cost of living: where it is cheaper
Greece is cheaper: one person in Athens needs about $1,400-2,100 a month with rent, in Lisbon $2,000-2,600. A one-bedroom flat in central Athens costs $735-1,130, in central Lisbon $1,360-1,700.
The minimum wage is the same in both countries, €920 in 14 payments. The budget gap comes almost entirely from rent, and in Portugal winter heating in homes without central heating adds to it.
Everyday life: banks, climate, schools
Portugal means the Atlantic, a mild climate, calm cities and a large newcomer community in Lisbon and Porto. Banks open accounts with a tax number, and most international schools are around Lisbon.
Greece means hot summers, a warm sea and islands, with international schools in Athens and Thessaloniki. Bureaucracy is slower than in Portugal, but life is cheaper and the rest of Europe is just as close.
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More on each country:
- Portugal remote worker visa
- how to get Portuguese residency
- taxes in Portugal
- cost of living in Portugal
- Lisbon: districts and prices
- Greece golden visa
- Greece digital nomad visa
- taxes in Greece
- cost of living in Greece
- Athens: districts and prices
All comparisons in one table - country comparisons for relocation.
FAQ
Which is better to move to: Portugal or Greece?
Is it cheaper to live in Portugal or Greece?
Where can you get residence for property: Portugal or Greece?
Where is citizenship faster?
Where are taxes lower: Portugal or Greece?
Can you keep your current passport?
What income do you need for residence in Portugal and Greece?
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