There are 155 cities in Portugal. The largest is Lisbon, with a population of about 550 thousand people; the smallest is Gandra, where 1156 people live. We found out in which of the Portuguese cities you can buy the cheapest housing and in which—the most expensive.

Foreigners can buy property in Portugal and actively use this opportunity—for example, in 2022, they took 14% of the total number of mortgage loans issued in the country. Having analyzed the current data published by Numbeo, we found out in what cities in Portugal you can buy a home at the lowest prices and in what—at the highest.

Also, for a more complete picture, we will indicate the main parameters by which you can judge the overall cost of living in these cities: the average salary, the cost of utilities and the Internet, the cost of lunch in an inexpensive restaurant, the price of food, and public transport.

Top 10 cities in Portugal with the cheapest apartments (rating ascending)

City

The cost of a “square”

The average cost of a 90 sq.m. apartment

1. Santarem

€650-1150

€58,500-103,500

2. Covilha

€675-1220

€60,750-109,800

3. Braga

€950-1800

€85,500-162,000

4. Viseu

€1066-1400

€95,940-126,000

5. Barreiro

€1200-1600

€108,000-144,000

6. Viana do Castelo

€1250-1750

€112,500-157,500

7. Setúbal

€1320-1560

€118,800-140,400

8. Ponta Delgada

€1370-1950

€123,300-175,500

9. Vila Real

€1370-1980

€123,300-178,200

10. Vila Nova de Gaia

€1420-2500

€127,800-225,000

In addition to housing prices, it is important to consider average wages in the market and the cost of living in general, so here are some basic figures for each of the cities listed:

Cost of living in Santarém:

  • Average salary—€700
  • Utility bills plus internet: €110
  • Food: milk—€0.78, 1 kg. rice—€1.38, 1 kg. chicken filet—€4.95, 1 kg. apples—€1.56.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €8.50.
  • The transport: monthly ticket €40; petrol costs €1.81.

The cost of living in Covilhã:

  • Average salary—€900.
  • Utility bills plus Internet: €112
  • Food: milk—€0.69; 1 kg of rice—€1.25; 1 kg of chicken filet—€4.95; 1 kg of apples—€2.26.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €8.00.
  • Transport: monthly ticket costs €39.48, and gasoline costs €1.81.

The cost of living in Braga:

  • Average salary—€1032
  • Utility bills plus internet—€143
  • Food: milk—€0.76, 1 kg of rice—€1.16, 1 kg of chicken fillet—€5.50, 1 kg of apples—€1.72.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €8.00.
  • Transport: monthly ticket €26.75; gasoline costs €1.90.

Cost of living in Viseu:

  • Average salary—€883
  • Utility bills plus Internet: €117
  • Food: milk—€0.57; 1 kg of rice—€0.93; 1 kg of chicken fillet—€5.17; 1 kg of apples—€1.60.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €6.50.
  • Transport: monthly ticket €27.50, gasoline costs €1.89.

Cost of living in Barreiro:

  • Average salary—€1,050
  • Utility bills plus Internet: €145
  • Food: milk—€0.72, 1 kg of rice—€1.00, 1 kg of chicken filet—€6.33, 1 kg of apples—€2.00.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €8.00.
  • Transport: monthly ticket €40; gasoline costs €1.82 per liter.

The cost of living in Viana do Castelo:

  • Average salary—€838
  • Utility plus internet—€140
  • Food: milk—€0.68, 1 kg. rice €0.93, 1 kg. chicken fillet €6.41, 1 kg. apples €1.82.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €6.00.
  • Transport: monthly ticket—€40; petrol costs €1.89.

The cost of living in Setubal:

  • Average salary—€995
  • Utility bills plus Internet: €132
  • Food: milk—€0.94, 1 kg. rice—€1.13, 1 kg. chicken fillet—€8, 1 kg. apples—€1.43.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €10.
  • Transport: monthly ticket €40, one liter of petrol €1.97.

The cost of living in Ponta Delgada:

  • Average salary—€900.
  • Utility bills plus Internet: €133
  • Food: milk—€0.85, 1 kg. rice—€1.22, 1 kg. chicken fillet—€7.21, 1 kg. apples—€2.28.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €8.75.
  • Transport: monthly ticket—€50, gasoline per liter €1.76.

The cost of living in Vila Real:

  • Average salary—€920
  • Utility plus internet—€143
  • Food: milk—€0.76, 1 kg. rice—€1.16, 1 kg. chicken fillet—€5.50, 1 kg. apples—€1.37.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €8.00.
  • Transport: monthly ticket—€30, gasoline - €1.79.

Cost of living in Vila Nova de Gaia:

  • Average salary—€965.
  • Utility plus Internet: €170
  • Food: milk €0.71, 1 kg. rice €1.26, 1 kg. chicken fillet €6.13, 1 kg. apples €2.09.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €8.00.
  • Transport: monthly ticket—€40; gasoline at €1.96.

“Our monthly expenses per family are around €2000, but that doesn't include rent.” Personal experience: how to move to Portugal and get a residence permit

For comparison: Top 10 cities in Portugal with the most expensive apartments (ranking in descending order)

City

The cost of a “square”

The average cost of a 90 sq.m. apartment

Cascais

€3540-5375

€318,600-483,750

Lisbon

€3000-5550

€270,000-500,000

Lagos

€3270-3330

€300,000

Maia

€2800-3200

€252,000-288,000

Oeiras

€2600-3600

€234,000-324,000

Amadora

€2622-2800

€235,980-252,000

Almeida

€2350-2814

€211,500-253,260

Carvoeiro

€2000-3500

€180,000-315,000

Porto

€2000-3250

€180,000-292,500

Alcabideche

€1900-2150

€171,000-193,500

The cost of living in Cascais:

  • Average salary—€1210
  • Utility plus internet—€200
  • Food: milk—€0.79; 1 kg. rice—€1.18; 1 kg. chicken fillet—€5.50; 1 kg. apples—€1.71.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €10.
  • Transport: monthly ticket €40; petrol—€1.90.

The cost of living in Lisbon:

  • Average salary—€1130.
  • Utility plus Internet: €160
  • Food: milk—€0.93, 1 kg. rice—€1.30, 1 kg. chicken fillet—€7.11, 1 kg. apples—€2.01.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €12.
  • Transport: monthly ticket—€40, gasoline costs €1.81.

Cost of living in Lagos:

  • Average salary—€865.
  • Utility plus Internet: €155
  • Food: milk—€1.29; 1 kg. rice—€1.47; 1 kg. chicken fillet—€5.91; 1 kg. apples—€2.20.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €9.50.
  • Transport: the bus ticket for a month is €40. A liter of gasoline costs €1.88.

The cost of living in Maya:

  • Average salary—€883
  • Utility plus Internet: €143
  • Food: milk—€0.76, 1 kg. rice—€1.16, 1 kg. chicken fillet—€5.50, 1 kg. apples—€1.72.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €7.
  • Transport: monthly ticket €40; petrol costs €1.90.

The cost of living in Oeiras:

  • Average salary €900.
  • Utility plus Internet: €145
  • Food: milk—€0.75, 1 kg. rice—€0.94, 1 kg. chicken fillet—€6.35, 1 kg. apples—€1.67.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €9.
  • Transport: monthly ticket—€40; one liter of petrol—€1.94.

The cost of living in Amadora:

  • Average salary—€945.
  • Utility plus Internet: €143
  • Food: milk—€0.85, 1 kg rice—€1.18, 1 kg chicken fillet—€6.67, 1 kg apples—€1.64.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €8.
  • Transport: monthly ticket—€40; petrol—€1.79.

The cost of living in Almeida:

  • Average salary—€1115.
  • Utility plus Internet: €140
  • Food: milk—€0.56, 1 kg. rice—€0.75, 1 kg. chicken fillet—€5.23, 1 kg. apples—€1.71.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €9.
  • Transport: monthly ticket—€40, gasoline per liter—€1.90.

The cost of living in Carvoeiro:

  • Average salary—€1000
  • Utility plus internet: €143
  • Food: milk—€0.74, 1 kg rice—€1.04, 1 kg chicken fillet—€4.45, 1 kg apples—€1.60.
  • Lunch at a cheap restaurant costs €7.50.
  • Transport: monthly ticket €40; gasoline costs €1.92 per liter.

The cost of living in Porto:

  • Average salary—€1150.
  • Utility plus Internet: €150
  • Food: milk—€0.90; 1 kg. rice—€1.32; 1 kg. chicken fillet—€6,45, 1 kg. apples—€1.91.
  • Lunch in a cheap restaurant costs €10.
  • Transport: monthly ticket €40; gasoline costs €1.86 per liter.

The cost of living in Alcabideche:

  • Average salary—€1200.
  • Utility plus Internet: €140
  • Food: milk—€0.56, 1 kg. rice—€0.75, 1 kg. chicken fillet—€3, 1 kg. apples—€1.50.
  • Lunch at a cheap restaurant costs €8.50.
  • Transport: monthly ticket—€45, gasoline costs €1.95 per liter.