Country topic
Cost of living in Portugal
Prices overall are about 0.60 of United States prices at market exchange rates (World Bank, 2025: 60.37 with the United States at 100). This is an economy-wide average, not a basket of what a newcomer buys. [Cost of living C1] Two results pages for one-bedroom flats to rent in Braga, seen on 3 October 2026, showed asking rents of €750 to €1,000 a month (Imovirtual and idealista). They are asking prices, not city averages or quotes, and availability is unconfirmed. [C2] [C3]
What we found
The research, with its sources.
Research information, not advice. Rules change, so check the source before you act on one.
- Prices overall are about 0.60 of United States prices at market exchange rates (World Bank, 2025: 60.37 with the United States at 100). This is an economy-wide average, not a basket of what a newcomer buys. [Cost of living C1]
- Two results pages for one-bedroom flats to rent in Braga, seen on 3 October 2026, showed asking rents of €750 to €1,000 a month (Imovirtual and idealista). They are asking prices, not city averages or quotes, and availability is unconfirmed. [C2] [C3]
- Single Braga adverts seen on 4 October 2026 asked €780 (furnished T1, 55 m², by the railway station), €825 (furnished, 55 m², historic centre), €900 (39 m², with parking, São Victor) and €950 (furnished, 70 m², São Vicente). Availability is unconfirmed. [C4] [C5] [C6] [C7]
- Single one-bedroom adverts seen in early October 2026 outside Braga asked €600 in Coimbra (furnished, 35 m²), €850 in Porto (46 m²), €1,000 in Lisbon (unfurnished, 40 m²) and €1,200 in Faro (90 m²). Sizes and furnishing differ, so the figures are not comparable as city averages. [C8] [C9] [C10] [C11]
- Upfront terms vary. A Coimbra advert asked two months' rent plus one month's deposit with guarantors and income evidence; a Santa Clara (Coimbra) advert asked two months' rent, one month's deposit and one or more guarantors; a Lisbon advert asked two months' rent plus two months' deposit, a guarantor, a tax return and payslips. [C8] [C12] [C10]
- One provider, DIGI, advertises fibre internet of 500 Mbps from €7 a month with a three-month commitment. Prices and availability depend on the exact address. [C13]
- Braga's bus operator lists a normal monthly pass at €12 to €24 for one and two zones. We found no sourced price for other cities' transport. [C14]
- Health cover is a cost to plan for, but its price is unknown here. The Toronto consulate asks residence visa applicants for medical emergency insurance of at least €30,000 with repatriation, valid for at least six months. An SNS user number open to legal residents does not by itself mean the SNS pays your care. Utilities, groceries and mobile plans have no sourced figure in our research; personal tax is excluded from every figure above. [C15] [C16]
The Fernshore Index
How the Index grades the cost of living.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Cost of living
53 of 100Mixed
Price level 0.604 of United States prices (2025).
Source: Price level index (GDP), Portugal. Checked 15 October 2026.
The country
More on Portugal.
Topics
More about Portugal.
Questions about Cost of living in Portugal.
How do prices in Portugal compare with the United States?
Prices overall are about 0.60 of United States prices at market exchange rates (World Bank, 2025: 60.37 against 100). It is an economy-wide average, not a basket of what a newcomer buys, so it says nothing about your own spending.
What does a one-bedroom flat cost to rent in Braga?
Two results pages seen on 3 October 2026 showed asking rents of €750 to €1,000 a month. Single adverts seen on 4 October asked €780 (55 m², furnished), €900 (39 m², with parking) and €950 (70 m², furnished). These are asking prices, not averages, and availability is unconfirmed.
What do rents look like outside Braga?
Single one-bedroom adverts seen in early October 2026 asked €600 in Coimbra (35 m²), €850 in Porto (46 m²), €1,000 in Lisbon (40 m², unfurnished) and €1,200 in Faro (90 m²). Sizes and furnishing differ, and each is one advert, not a city average.
What upfront costs do landlords ask for?
Adverts we saw ask for more than the first month. A Coimbra advert asked two months' rent plus one month's deposit, with guarantors and income evidence. A Lisbon one asked two months' rent plus two months' deposit, a guarantor, a tax return and payslips. Terms vary by landlord.
Which monthly costs have a published price, and which are unknown?
One provider advertises fibre from €7 a month (500 Mbps, three-month commitment, depending on the address). Braga's normal monthly bus pass is €12 to €24 for one and two zones. Utilities, groceries, mobile and health insurance have no sourced figure here: unknown, not zero.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [PT C1] Price level index (GDP), Portugal, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 60.37 (United States = 100), read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [Cost of living C1] Price level index (GDP), Portugal, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 60.37 (United States = 100).
- [C2] Braga one-bedroom rentals, Imovirtual. Checked 3 October 2026. Asking rents on a results page; availability unconfirmed.
- [C3] Braga one-bedroom flats for rent, idealista. Checked 3 October 2026. Asking rent on a results page, not a direct advert link; availability unconfirmed.
- [C4] Braga rental, Imovirtual (private listing listings portal). Checked 4 October 2026. Asking rent, availability unconfirmed.
- [C5] Braga rental, Imovirtual (private listing portal). Checked 4 October 2026. Asking rent, availability unconfirmed.
- [C6] São Victor rental example, Imovirtual (private listing portal). Checked 4 October 2026. Asking rent, availability unconfirmed.
- [C7] Braga rental, CASA SAPO (private listing). Checked 4 October 2026. Asking rent, availability unconfirmed.
- [C8] Coimbra rental, Imovirtual (private listing portal). Checked 4 October 2026. Asking rent, availability unconfirmed.
- [C9] Constituição rental, ERA Portugal (private listing). Checked 4 October 2026. Asking rent, availability unconfirmed.
- [C10] Lisbon rental, Imovirtual (private listing listings portal). Checked 4 October 2026. Asking rent, availability unconfirmed.
- [C11] Faro rental, Imovirtual (private listing portal). Checked 4 October 2026. Asking rent, availability unconfirmed.
- [C12] Coimbra rental, Imovirtual (private listing listings portal). Checked 4 October 2026. Asking rent, availability unconfirmed.
- [C13] Fibre address check, DIGI Portugal (private). Checked 4 October 2026. Availability and prices depend on the exact address and may change.
- [C14] Bus pass tariffs, Transportes Urbanos de Braga (TUB). Checked 3 October 2026. Normal monthly pass, one and two zones.
- [C15] Residence visa in Canada, Consulate General of Portugal in Toronto. Checked 15 October 2026. Applicants served by the Toronto consulate; page in Portuguese.
- [C16] Migrants: health care in Portugal, Portuguese Government (gov.pt). Checked 15 October 2026. Foreign nationals with legal residence in Portugal.