Living in Portugal – Exploring the Cost of Living in Portugal

Living in Portugal Exploring the Cost of Living in Portugal

The potential downside is how difficult it can be to find well paid work in the country, especially for immigrants who are unable to speak fluent Portuguese. This needs to be taken into account when researching the cost of living in Portugal.

Certain items in Portugal are significantly cheaper than residents of northern European and American countries will be used to. A beer in a local bar can be had for just 0.80, a surprisingly good bottle of wine can be purchased in the supermarket for around 1.50, and a packet of cigarettes costs 3.30.

Food can also be very cheap. Fresh bread rolls (0.10 each,) mineral water (0.10 each,) sea-fresh sardines (1.20 for 6) and local chicken (2,) can all be very cheaply purchased in the correct shops, away from the tourist trail. Eating out in local restaurants can also be very affordable with three course meals including coffee and wine often offered from just 10!

There are obviously other expenses that form part of the cost of living beyond food and drink! Utility bills are comparable or sometimes a little lower than most other European countries and a couple living in an apartment can expect to pay just under 100 per month for electricity, gas and water. These figures can, however, rapidly escalate when running air conditioning or a swimming pool things that can become extremely important in the oppressive summer heat.

Motoring is expensive, with cars costing significantly more that in most western countries due to taxation. Petrol too, is very expensive, costing around 1.40 per litre as of November 2010. A benefit of living in the south of Portugal is that cars are less prone to rust due to the climate, meaning they last longer than could be expected elsewhere.

Housing costs are variable, depending on a number of factors, not least proximity to the coast and to the capital city of Lisbon, but as a rule of thumb a decent two bedroom apartment can usually be found for around 600 per month with both cheaper and more luxurious options available.

Property for purchase can range from rustic ruins needing renovation from 30,000+ to multi-million-euro coastal mansions in the Algarve.

A great quality of life can be had in Portugal for a relatively small amount, but employment must be considered. For retirees with money in the bank, there can be few better places to spend retirement.

For more information about the cost of living, have a read of the Moving to Portugal blog

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