Portugal is 7.6% cheaper — but purchasing power is 29.2% 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 17 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
| Category | 🇪🇸 Spain | 🇵🇹 Portugal | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 52.7 | 48.7 | -7.6% |
| Rent | 24.7 | 27 | +9.3% |
| Groceries | 52.1 | 47.4 | -9% |
| Restaurants | 56.5 | 46.8 | -17.2% |
| Purchasing Power | 102.5 | 72.6 | -29.2% |
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 | €29,660 | €27,203 | -€2,457 |
| €60,000 | €41,488 | €37,678 | -€3,810 |
| €80,000 | €52,953 | €47,539 | -€5,414 |
| €100,000 | €63,953 | €56,995 | -€6,958 |
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 | 58.7 | 32.6 | 105.2 |
| Barcelona | 58.7 | 33.9 | 102.1 |
| Valencia | 51 | 28.1 | 97.7 |
| Seville | 48.3 | 19.7 | 101.6 |
| Palma de Mallorca | 58.7 | 30.6 | 90.4 |
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | 53.7 | 35.3 | 67.6 |
| Porto | 49.3 | 27.5 | 75.1 |
| Funchal | 47.4 | 33.8 | 63.6 |
| Braga | 46.5 | 19.8 | 73.4 |
| Coimbra | 46.4 | 18.6 | 83.2 |
City-to-City Comparisons
See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Spain and Portugal.
FAQ
Related Country Comparisons
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