Places · Norte
Living in Porto
Portugal's second city: a real urban economy at noticeably lower rents than Lisbon, with a compact walkable centre.
Region
Norte
Population
231,000
Best for
Value for money in a big-city setting
Single household
€1,556 / month (€1,295–€1,993)
Couple
€2,308 / month (€1,924–€2,951)
Couple with two children
€3,200 / month
Where the money goes each month
| Item | Single | Couple |
|---|---|---|
| Rent, 2-bedroom apartmentLong-term unfurnished lease outside the tourist core. | €950 | €1,300 |
| Electricity, water and gasAveraged across the year for an apartment; winter bills run higher because most homes have no central heating. | €105 | €105 |
| Internet and mobileFibre package with one or two mobile lines. | €45 | €45 |
| Home contents insuranceContents cover for a rented apartment. | €16 | €16 |
| GroceriesSupermarket shopping, counted per person; a child counts as roughly 60% of an adult. | €210 | €420 |
| Public transport passMonthly metropolitan pass, per adult who commutes. | €40 | €72 |
| Private health insuranceMid-range private plan on top of public healthcare; a child costs roughly half an adult. | €40 | €80 |
| Eating out and leisureCounted per adult, with a discount for a shared household. | €150 | €270 |
Rent is the whole story. Every other line in a Portuguese budget is modest by Western European standards; housing is not, and in Porto it is what will decide whether your income is comfortable or tight.
Long-term unfurnished leases are far cheaper than the furnished, English-language listings aimed at newcomers. Arriving with three months of temporary accommodation booked and searching locally almost always beats signing remotely.
Compare with other cities
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