Portugal is 8.1% cheaper — but purchasing power is 26.2% weaker. Lower prices help, but you'll likely take home less overall.
Compared to Spain. Green = cheaper or better in Portugal. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
Every Category, Side by Side
Averaged across 20 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
| Category | 🇪🇸 Spain | 🇵🇹 Portugal | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 55.7 | 51.2 | -8.1% |
| Rent | 25.5 | 27.6 | +8.2% |
| Groceries | 57.9 | 52 | -10.2% |
| Restaurants | 60.1 | 50 | -16.8% |
| Purchasing Power | 96.6 | 71.3 | -26.2% |
What You Actually Keep After Taxes
Same gross salary, different tax systems. Annual take-home pay in Madrid vs Lisbon.
| Gross | 🇪🇸 Net in Spain | 🇵🇹 Net in Portugal | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| €40,000 | €29,655 | €27,451 | -€2,204 |
| €60,000 | €41,436 | €38,025 | -€3,411 |
| €80,000 | €52,865 | €47,886 | -€4,979 |
| €100,000 | €63,865 | €57,442 | -€6,423 |
Single person, no children. Tax rates for Madrid and Lisbon (2026). Try the full calculator
Tax Calculators
Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.
Calculate Your Take-Home PayTop Cities in Each Country
National averages hide a lot. These are the cities most people actually move to.
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid | 60.4 | 34.9 | 100.7 |
| Barcelona | 61.5 | 35.4 | 95.3 |
| Valencia | 53.6 | 31 | 85 |
| Seville | 50 | 20 | 97.2 |
| Valladolid | 62.4 | 14.9 | 111.2 |
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | 57.3 | 37.3 | 65 |
| Porto | 52.3 | 29.8 | 74.8 |
| Funchal | 50.7 | 35 | 65.2 |
| Aveiro | 50.1 | 23.1 | 76.9 |
| Coimbra | 49.3 | 19.7 | 73.5 |
City-to-City Comparisons
See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Spain and Portugal.
FAQ
Related Country Comparisons
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