Portugal vs Spain
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Portugal is approximately 6% less expensive than Spain based on cost of living including rent. This makes Portugal a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Portugal has a FIRE Score of 59/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 66.7, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Portugal is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
Side by side
Best in rowLisbon
Portugal
Madrid
Spain
Country-level averages. N/A or Not enough data means no figure is published for that country. * Women's inclusion scores are unverified.
About these countries
About Portugal
A one-bedroom in central Lisbon runs about $1,040/month, roughly a third of comparable Boston or DC rents. Combined with $776 in monthly living costs, a couple can live well under $2,500/month total, and the D7 visa only requires $1,031 income to qualify. The catch: Portuguese progressive tax hits 48% (top bracket), so this works best for retirees on fixed foreign income, not high earners staying tax resident.
Portugal costs roughly 6% less than Spain. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Portugal is approximately 6% less expensive than Spain based on cost of living including rent. This makes Portugal a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Portugal has a FIRE Score of 59/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 66.7, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Portugal is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
About Portugal
A one-bedroom in central Lisbon runs about $1,040/month, roughly a third of comparable Boston or DC rents. Combined with $776 in monthly living costs, a couple can live well under $2,500/month total, and the D7 visa only requires $1,031 income to qualify. The catch: Portuguese progressive tax hits 48% (top bracket), so this works best for retirees on fixed foreign income, not high earners staying tax resident.
$1,185/mo
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
About Spain
Retirees and remote workers get a genuine European base without the Northern Europe price tag: rent for a 1-bed outside the center averages $804/mo, well under NYC costs. Healthcare scores 77.3, life expectancy is among the highest in the EU, and a large expat community softens the medium English proficiency. The catch is tax: standard rates climb to 47%, though the Beckham Law flat 24% option changes the math for qualifying newcomers.
$1,148/mo
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Portugal | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 1: Normal Precautions | Level 2: Increased Caution |
| Quality of Life Index | 169.5 | 183.4 +13.9 |
| Healthcare Index | 72 | 76.7 +4.7 |
| Safety Index | 66.7 +4.8 | 61.9 |
| Cost of Living Index | 48.8 +2.7 | 51.5 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $775.7 +47.7 | $823.4 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $2,805.2 +170.7 | $2,975.9 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1,039.76 | $1,028.43 +11.33 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $823.97 | $804.37 +19.6 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1,755 | $1,636.42 +118.58 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1,328.84 | $1,232.15 +96.69 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 260.2 Mbps | 266.98 Mbps +6.8 |
Rights & Inclusion
Published indices. Legal protection and public attitudes are kept separate, and neither is folded into a single score.
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
Portugal
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
Spain
LGBTQ+ legal protection score
Attitudes
Scores run from 0 to 100. Women's inclusion scores come from the Georgetown WPS Index and are currently unverified. Sources: Equaldex, ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map, Spartacus Gay Travel Index and Georgetown's Women, Peace and Security Index. See the full inclusion ranking.
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Income thresholds, fees, processing time and residency paths for Portugal and Spain, side by side.
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