By Ivo Benz Melo · Client Manager at moveWise · Last updated: 12 November 2026

💡 The short answer: On our 2027 budget (autumn 2026 prices), one person spends between about €1,209 a month in Braga and €1,646 in Lisbon, rent included; a couple spends about €2,009 to €2,708. Rent is the line that decides everything: new leases averaged €10.17 per m² nationally in the second quarter of 2026 (INE), €17.79 in Lisbon and €9.05 in Braga. The D8 digital nomad visa minimum (€3,680 a month) covers every city comfortably; the D7 minimum (€920 a month) covers none of them on its own, so D7 applicants need more income or savings.

Key facts for 2027 (autumn 2026 data)

• National rent: €10.17 per m² for new leases signed in the second quarter of 2026, up 10.2% in a year (INE).
• Most expensive cities: Lisbon €17.79, Cascais €17.50, Oeiras €16.12, Porto €14.66, Funchal €14.49 per m².
• Cheapest big cities: Braga €9.05 and Coimbra €9.77 per m²; Guimarães €7.87.
• Monthly budget, one person: from €1,208.50 (Braga) to €1,645.50 (Lisbon) (our 2027 budget, see below).
• Monthly transport passes: Navegante (Lisbon area) and Andante (Porto area) €40 metropolitan or €30 municipal; Passe Algarve €40.
• Minimum wage 2026: €920 a month (Decreto-Lei 139/2025), the base for every visa threshold.
• D8 (remote work): at least €3,680 a month for the main applicant.
• D7 (passive income): at least €920 a month, plus savings of about €11,040 in practice.
• Rent increases in 2027: existing leases can rise by at most 2.56% unless the contract says otherwise.

This guide is for non-EU remote workers, retirees and families planning a move to Portugal. It gives a realistic monthly budget for 15 cities, explains each cost line, shows how far the D7 and D8 visa minimums really go and lists the one-off costs of moving.

It was prepared by MoveWise's Portugal team, who prepare D8 digital nomad visa applications and D7 files. Every figure comes from a named, dated source; our planning allowances are labelled as ours. Tax sections are general information: MoveWise does not give tax advice.

The pitfall it helps you avoid: building a D7 file on the legal minimum and arriving with an income that cannot cover rent in the city you chose.

In this guide:

• What changed in 2026
• How we built the budgets
• What a flat costs in Portugal
• Monthly budgets city by city
• The other monthly costs, line by line
• Can you live on the visa minimum?
• Healthcare costs
• Taxes that change your budget
• One-off costs of moving to Portugal
• How to cut your costs
• Most common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
• Frequently asked questions
• How MoveWise can help

What changed in 2026

👉 Rents kept climbing. New-lease rents rose 10.2% in a year nationally; Funchal rose 17.0%, Loures 16.1%, Guimarães 20.7% (INE, Q2 2026).

👉 Higher visa thresholds. The minimum wage rose from €870 to €920 a month on 1 January 2026, lifting the D8 minimum to €3,680 and the D7 minimum to €920.

👉 Transport passes frozen. Navegante in the Lisbon area kept its €40 and €30 prices for 2026 (ECO); Andante in the Porto area did the same (ECO).

👉 New AIMA fees. A first temporary residence permit costs about €247.30 per adult at the counter since 1 March 2026, about €185.60 online.

👉 2027 rent update set. Existing leases can rise by up to 2.56% in 2027 (coefficient 1.0256), against 2.24% in 2026 (Cuatrecasas).

How we built the budgets

Every budget uses the same lines, so cities compare fairly:

• Rent: INE's median rent per m² of new leases, second quarter of 2026, for a 50 m² flat (one person) or an 80 m² flat (couple). For smaller towns (Faro, Lagos, Loulé, Tavira, Portimão) we use INE's 12-month figure to June 2026.
• Transport: the monthly pass for that area (€30 municipal in the Lisbon and Porto areas, €40 Passe Algarve; €30 in Braga and Funchal as our planning allowance).
• The same allowances everywhere (our planning allowances): electricity and gas €70, water and waste €20, fibre and mobile €30, groceries €300, eight meals out at €12 (€96), private health insurance €60, personal spending €150. For a couple: €95, €30, €38, €500, €192, €120 and €250.

⚠️ Read the rent line carefully. INE measures rents actually signed on new leases, from tax data. Listing prices, especially for furnished flats offered to newcomers, are usually higher. Check current listings in your area before you fix your budget.

What a flat costs in Portugal

Rents by city (INE, new leases, Q2 2026)

• Lisbon: €17.79 per m² (+5.1% in a year) · 50 m² €889.50 · 80 m² €1,423.20
• Cascais: €17.50 (+9.2%) · 50 m² €875 · 80 m² €1,400
• Oeiras: €16.12 (+7.0%) · 50 m² €806 · 80 m² €1,289.60
• Porto: €14.66 (+5.5%) · 50 m² €733 · 80 m² €1,172.80
• Funchal (Madeira): €14.49 (+17.0%) · 50 m² €724.50 · 80 m² €1,159.20
• Almada: €14.03 (+7.2%) · 50 m² €701.50 · 80 m² €1,122.40
• Setúbal: €11.69 (+5.7%) · 50 m² €584.50 · 80 m² €935.20
• Sintra: €11.63 (+6.0%) · 50 m² €581.50 · 80 m² €930.40
• Coimbra: €9.77 (+5.5%) · 50 m² €488.50 · 80 m² €781.60
• Braga: €9.05 (+8.6%) · 50 m² €452.50 · 80 m² €724

In the Algarve (12 months to June 2026): Lagos €12.77, Loulé €12.33, Albufeira €12.22, Portimão €11.70, Tavira €11.46, Faro €10.29 per m².

How renting works in Portugal

• Deposit and advance rent: since the Mais Habitação law (Law 56/2023), the deposit (caução) and rent paid in advance are each capped at two months.
• Annual increase: existing leases can rise once a year by the official coefficient (2.56% for 2027), unless the contract sets another rule.
• Registration: the landlord declares the lease to the tax office; ask for a formal written contract, which you need for your visa and your AIMA appointment.
• Tax number: you need a NIF to sign a lease or open a bank account; non-residents need a tax representative (gov.pt).

Around Lisbon, the towns of the metro area can cut rent by a third: see our guide to renting around Lisbon.

Monthly budgets city by city

One person in 50 m² / a couple in 80 m², per month:

• Lisbon: €1,645.50 / €2,708.20 · see living in Lisbon
• Cascais: €1,631 / €2,685
• Oeiras: €1,562 / €2,574.60
• Porto: €1,489 / €2,457.80 · see living in Porto
• Funchal: €1,480.50 / €2,444.20 · see moving to Madeira
• Almada: €1,457.50 / €2,407.40
• Lagos: €1,404.50 / €2,326.60
• Loulé: €1,382.50 / €2,291.40
• Portimão: €1,351 / €2,241
• Setúbal: €1,340.50 / €2,220.20
• Tavira: €1,339 / €2,221.80
• Sintra: €1,337.50 / €2,215.40
• Faro: €1,280.50 / €2,128.20 · see moving to the Algarve
• Coimbra: €1,244.50 / €2,066.60 · see moving to Coimbra
• Braga: €1,208.50 / €2,009 · see moving to Braga

At ECB rates of 23 October 2026, Lisbon's €1,645.50 is about £1,378 or US$1,842, and Braga's €1,208.50 about £1,012 or US$1,353.

Example: one person in Lisbon

• Rent, 50 m²: 17.79 × 50 = €889.50
• Electricity and gas: €70 (our planning allowance)
• Water and waste: €20 (our planning allowance)
• Fibre and mobile: €30 (our planning allowance)
• Navegante Municipal pass: €30
• Groceries: €300 (our planning allowance)
• Eight meals out at €12: €96 (our planning allowance)
• Private health insurance: €60 (our planning allowance)
• Personal spending: €150 (our planning allowance)
• Total: €1,645.50 a month

Not included in any budget: a car, flights, private schooling and income tax.

The other monthly costs, line by line

Energy and water

Our €70 allowance for electricity and gas suits a small flat with moderate heating. Many Portuguese homes have poor insulation and no central heating, so winter electricity bills rise if you heat with electric radiators; ask for previous bills before you sign.

Internet and phone

Fibre is widely available in cities. Our €30 allowance covers a basic fibre and mobile bundle; check coverage at your exact address, especially in rural areas.

Transport

• Lisbon area (Navegante): €40 metropolitan for all 18 municipalities, €30 for one municipality, €20 for over-65s; free for people up to 23.
• Porto area (Andante): €40 metropolitan, €30 municipal or three zones.
• Algarve: €40 Passe Algarve on the regional bus network.
• Coimbra: €30 municipal pass on buses and the Metro Mondego (SMTUC).
• Trains: the €20 Passe Ferroviário Verde covers 30 days on CP regional, InterRegional and Intercidades trains.

Groceries and eating out

Our allowances (€300 a month for one person, €500 for a couple) assume home cooking with supermarket and market shopping. A set lunch (prato do dia) in a neighbourhood café is a cheap way to eat out; our €12 per meal is a planning average, not a measured price.

Can you live on the visa minimum?

D8 digital nomad visa (€3,680 a month)

The D8 requires an average income of at least four times the minimum wage over the last three months: €3,680 a month for the main applicant in 2026. That covers our single budget everywhere, with a margin of €2,034.50 in Lisbon and €2,471.50 in Braga before tax. Full rules in our D8 requirements checklist.

D7 passive income visa (€920 a month)

The D7 requires at least the minimum wage in passive income: €920 a month for one person, €1,380 for a couple (+50% for the second adult) and +€276 a month per child. In practice consulates also expect about 12 months of savings in a Portuguese bank account: €11,040 for one person, €16,560 for a couple. See our D7 requirements checklist.

On our budgets, the D7 minimum is short everywhere:

• One person: €288.50 short in Braga, €360.50 in Faro, €569 in Porto, €725.50 in Lisbon.
• A couple: €629 short in Braga, €1,077.80 in Porto, €1,328.20 in Lisbon.

The minimum is what the law asks, not what life costs. Plan your D7 on the income you will really need, and use savings to cover the gap.

⚠️ Common mistake: assuming that because the consulate accepted €920 a month, €920 is enough to live on. It is not, in any city we measured.

Healthcare costs

• For the visa: private health insurance valid in Portugal until you can use the national health service (SNS). Our allowance is €60 a month for one person; premiums rise with age and pre-existing conditions.
• SNS: once resident, you register at your local health centre with your residence permit and obtain a user number (número de utente). Public care is low-cost, but waiting times vary, so many residents keep private insurance.

Taxes that change your budget

This is general information, not tax advice.

• Tax residence: once you are tax-resident in Portugal, you are taxed on your worldwide income at progressive IRS rates.
• The old NHR regime closed to new applicants in 2024. Its replacement, IFICI, gives a 20% rate only to specific qualified roles, mostly with Portuguese employers, research or startups; most D8 remote workers and D7 retirees do not qualify.
• Freelancers who open activity in Portugal pay Social Security after the first 12 months; see our guide to starting activity with Finanças on the D8.

Get advice from a Portuguese accountant before your first tax year: it can change your monthly budget more than any other line.

One-off costs of moving to Portugal

• AIMA residence permit: about €247.30 per adult at the counter (€133 application + €114.30 grant), about €185.60 online.
• Consular visa fee: set by the consulate; check your consulate's current fee.
• NIF: free, but a non-resident usually pays a tax representative.
• Rent upfront: first month plus a deposit and any advance rent, each capped at two months.
• Documents: apostilles (UK: £45 per document), criminal records and sworn translations where required.

Worked example: single remote worker in Lisbon (UK national, D8)

• First month's rent, 50 m²: €889.50
• Deposit, two months: €1,779
• AIMA permit at the counter: €247.30
• Three UK apostilles, 3 × £45 = £135: about €161.24
• Subtotal of items with a fixed amount: €3,077.04, plus the visa fee, tax representative, translations, temporary accommodation and travel.

Worked example: retired couple in Porto (US nationals, D7)

• First month's rent, 80 m²: €1,172.80
• Deposit, two months: €2,345.60
• Two AIMA permits at the counter: €494.60
• Subtotal of items with a fixed amount: €4,013, plus visa fees, apostilles, tax representative, insurance and travel, and the savings the consulate expects (€16,560 for a couple).

How to cut your costs

• Live one town out. Sintra, Setúbal or Almada cost €188 to €308 a month less than Lisbon for one person on our budgets.
• Choose a university city. Braga and Coimbra are the cheapest big cities we measured.
• Use the metropolitan pass. €40 covers all 18 municipalities around Lisbon.
• Avoid furnished short lets. They cost more and rarely work for the visa and AIMA.
• Heat smart. Ask about insulation and heating before you sign.

Most common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

1. Budgeting on old rents. Fix: use 2026 data; rents rose 10.2% in a year.
2. Confusing INE medians with listings. Fix: check live listings in your area.
3. Planning a D7 on €920 a month. Fix: budget your real city and keep savings.
4. Forgetting the tax representative. Fix: arrange your NIF early.
5. Paying more than two months' deposit plus two in advance. Fix: know the caps.
6. Ignoring winter heating. Fix: ask for past bills.
7. Assuming IFICI applies to you. Fix: check with an accountant before you budget for a 20% rate.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Portugal per month?

On our 2027 budgets, about €1,209 to €1,646 a month for one person and €2,009 to €2,708 for a couple, depending on the city. That includes rent, bills, transport, food, private health insurance and personal spending, but not a car, school fees or income tax.

Is Portugal expensive to live in?

Less than most of Western Europe, but no longer cheap in Lisbon, Cascais or Porto. New-lease rents averaged €10.17 per m² in the second quarter of 2026, up 10.2% in a year, and €17.79 in Lisbon.

What is the cheapest city to live in Portugal?

Among the 15 cities we budgeted, Braga (about €1,209 a month for one person) and Coimbra (about €1,245). Guimarães and many inland towns have even lower rents.

How much is rent in Lisbon?

New leases signed in the second quarter of 2026 averaged €17.79 per m² (INE), so about €890 for 50 m² and €1,423 for 80 m². Listing prices, especially furnished, are often higher.

Is it cheaper to live in Lisbon or Porto?

Porto. Its new-lease rent was €14.66 per m² against €17.79 in Lisbon, and our single budget is €1,489 in Porto against €1,645.50 in Lisbon.

Can I live in Portugal on €1,000 a month?

Not in any city we measured, if you rent alone: our cheapest single budget is about €1,209 in Braga. Sharing a flat or living in a small inland town could bring costs down.

How much income do I need for the Portugal D7 visa?

At least €920 a month of passive income for one person, €1,380 for a couple and €276 more per child in 2026, plus about 12 months of savings in practice. Our budgets show you will need more than the minimum to live.

How much income do I need for the Portugal D8 visa?

An average of at least €3,680 a month over the last three months, four times the 2026 minimum wage, for the main applicant. That covers our single budget in every city we measured.

How much does it cost to move to Portugal?

For one person in Lisbon, our fixed items (first rent, two months' deposit, AIMA fee and apostilles) come to about €3,077, before the visa fee, translations, a tax representative and travel. A couple in Porto starts at about €4,013.

Is Portugal cheaper than Spain or Italy?

It depends on the city. Lisbon is in the same rent range as Rome (€17.79 per m² for signed leases against €19.2 asking in Rome), while Braga and Coimbra are closer to southern Italian prices such as Palermo's €9.7. Compare with our guides to the cost of living in Spain and the cost of living in Italy.

How MoveWise can help

A Portuguese visa file is won on preparation: the right income evidence, the right order of documents and one consistent story from the consulate to AIMA.

• Eligibility assessment first (Module 1). We check your income, savings and family against the D8 or D7 thresholds and tell you honestly which fits, or whether Spain or Italy suits you better.
• Full preparation and submission (Module 2). Your Legal Manager for Portugal plans the documents, arranges your NIF and tax representation with our Portuguese partners and supports the AIMA phase and NISS registration.
• Tax: we connect you with Portuguese accountants; we do not sell tax advice we are not qualified to give.

Our guarantee: a full refund of our fee if your application is refused, under the conditions of our service agreement. Our clients have left more than 500 client reviews on Trustpilot. See how our Portugal D7 visa service works.

👉 Remote worker? Check your income against the Portugal D8 with a MoveWise Client Manager — we will tell you whether your income and contracts meet the threshold and what your city will really cost.

👉 Living on a pension or investments? Ask a MoveWise Client Manager about the D7 — we will check your passive income and savings against the D7 rules and a realistic budget.

👉 Book a free consultation with a MoveWise Client Manager — tell us your income, family and the cities you are considering, and we will tell you which visa fits and what to prepare first.

Sources and legal references

• INE — Rents of new lease contracts at local level, Q2 2026
• ECO — Navegante pass prices unchanged in 2026
• ECO — Andante passes keep their price in 2026
• SMTUC — Coimbra fares 2026
• Cuatrecasas — 2027 rent update coefficient
• gov.pt — How to get a NIF and NISS as a foreigner
• Decreto Regulamentar 4/2022 (D8 income test, art. 31-A DR 84/2007)
• VFS Global USA — D7 checklist
• Law 56/2023 (Mais Habitação)
• Decreto-Lei 139/2025 (minimum wage 2026); Law 23/2007 (foreigners' act); Portaria 1563/2007, art. 2; Aviso 24199/2026/2 (rent coefficient 2027)

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Immigration rules, tax rules, consular practice and prices change frequently; the information was verified on 11 November 2026. For advice on your situation, speak to a qualified professional.

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