Cost of Living in Portugal

"At this point, I'm thinking $1500-$2000 per month will be plenty. I'm still buying things for my apartment so don't have a really good sense of how much I will consistently spend," wrote a person living in Cascais.

"The cost of living in Portugal is generally considered to be reasonably affordable. The cost of basic food items, such as milk, bread, and cheese, is quite cheap. Utility bills such as water, electricity, and gas are also relatively affordable. Housing costs can vary depending on the location and type of accommodation, but furnished apartments and houses are available at reasonable prices. Public transportation is also affordable as tickets are very inexpensive. Entertainment and leisure activities can be more expensive, but there are numerous inexpensive options available," explained one expat living in Portugal.

"Living in Portugal can be more affordable than living in the United States, as the cost of living is much lower. Rent, food, utilities and entertainment can all be more cost-effective when living in Portugal compared to in the United States. Additionally, healthcare costs are significantly lower in Portugal than in the U.S. Portugal is also home to many tax incentives that can help make living in Portugal even more affordable," explained one expat.

"It has met my expectations and I'm still amazed at the low cost of many things. But, there are other things that are more expensive than in the US," said one person in Cascais.

"Housing costs are lower here, but we're comparing a mortgage on a million-dollar plus condo in the US to rent on a 2 bedroom apartment with ancient appliances. It is easy to find a clean, modern, 2 bed/2 bath apartment with new appliances in the upscale, coastal Estoril/Cascias area for less than $2200/month if one works with a local realtor, and can cut those costs in about half in the smaller towns and villages inland. Utilities per month can add about $100. Internet service is about $30. On average, this feels like one can get a bit more with less but Portugal's Lisboa coast isn't a low cost choice. South and North and inland are less costly," explained one expat.

"The average cost of housing in Portugal is generally considered to be quite reasonable. Prices vary depending on the location, size and quality of property, but most one bedroom apartments in the city centre cost between 500 and 700 euros per month, while larger family homes can start at around 1000 euros. Rent prices are generally cheaper outside the cities, and Portugal's extensive coastline means that beachfront properties can be slightly more expensive than inland properties," said one person in Portugal.

"Housing cost is less than half of what we were paying in Denver, Colorado. Depending on the size of place you need and location, $700-1200/month can be average. Porto is more affordable than Lisbon and Vila Nova de Gaia, which is a 10 minute drive from Porto, across the river can be several hundred dollars cheaper than Porto. Neighboring smaller cities are even more affordable," remarked one expat in Porto.

"My home loan was 200k euros and I pay around 600 euros a month. Property takes is another 1k a year and generally speaking water, electric, heating, cable tv and such round off to about 350 euros monthly. It's MUCH cheaper out here than in the US," explained one expat living in Braga.

"The cost of renting a nice 1 bedroom apartment in Portugal can vary widely depending on the precise location and amenities offered. Generally, you can expect to pay anything from around $500-$1200 per month for a standard 1 bedroom apartment. For a nice 2 bedroom apartment, you can expect to pay from around $750 up to around $1800 per month," wrote one expat.

"Many rental properties in Portugal come with a range of appliances to make life more comfortable, such as a refrigerator, stove, and washing machine. The kitchen may also include a dishwasher, cooktop, and oven to make cooking and entertaining more enjoyable. Depending on the property, air conditioning and central heating may also be included. Other common appliances typically found in rental homes in Portugal include a fan, television, microwave, toaster, and coffee machine," wrote one expat.