Cost of Living

Portugal's currency has been the Euro since 2002 - the common currency of 19 countries in the European Union (so-called Eurozone).

The cost of living in Portugal is one of the lowest in Europe. Lisbon and Porto are the cities where this value is highest, as they are the two main cities in the country.

Renting

The cost of renting a house or room in Portugal is the biggest part of the country's living costs. These figures are particularly high in Lisbon and Porto, particularly for those who choose to live in the city centres.

In these cases, the suburbs offer more modern, better and cheaper alternatives.

Fixed Household Costs

The cost of household expenses does not vary significantly across the country. For a single person, the cost of Electricity (and Gas in most houses), Water and Communications is around 150€ a month.

Supermarket

Portugal is one of the countries in Europe with the cheapest supermarket prices. A single person will not exceed 200€ per month for essential household purchases.

Gymnasium

There are plenty of choices of gyms in Portugal, with a wide range of prices. Low-cost gyms have weekly or monthly fees starting at 20€/month, while more comprehensive gyms can go up to 100€/month.

Restaurants

Portugal is among the cheapest countries in Western Europe to eat out. Even in Lisbon or Porto, you can find combined lunch menus with Soup + Main Dish + Drink + Coffee for 8.50€. Meanwhile, for those looking for more sophisticated restaurants, prices can easily exceed 50€ for two people.

In a normal establishment, a cup of coffee (the so-called “bica”) normally costs 0.60€, and can go up to 1.30€ in more touristic areas. A draught beer (“imperial” in Lisbon, or “fino” in Porto) usually costs 1€ (it can be cheaper during happy hours) in less touristic or trendy cafés.

Public Transport Monthly Passes

In Lisbon, Navegante public transport monthly passes have two main formats:

• Navegante Metropolitano: with a monthly cost of 40€, allows you to use all public service companies providing regular passenger transport in all 18 municipalities in the Lisbon metropolitan area.
• Navegante Municipal: with a monthly cost of 30€, it is valid for any journey, in all public service companies providing regular passenger transport, within the geographical limits of one of the 18 municipalities in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area.
  
  

In Porto, the Andante monthly passes have the same formats and prices:

• Andante Metropolitano: with a monthly cost of 40€, it allows you to use all the public service companies providing regular passenger transport in all the municipalities within the Porto metropolitan area.
• Andante 3Z / Municipal: with a cost of 30€, it is valid for travelling within the geographical limits of one of the municipalities in the Porto Metropolitan Area.