Last updated on 22-Jul-2024

If you follow us or have visited VivaHappy blog before, you probably know that my hubby and I relocated from Toronto, Canada to Lisbon, Portugal.

Since we started to do our research a few years ago, we have been accessing and sharing information on online forums and groups, connecting with some expats who lived or live in Portugal + others who are in the process of (or interested in) making the move. 

People often ask about the cost of living in Portugal, so we decided to share our numbers. We’ve been tracking all of our expenses each month and thought the costs may be of interest to others, as budgeting for the new life is a very important part of the planning process. 

If you want to look at the costs for a longer period, check out our Expense Trackers for 2021 and 2022.

So, here are our basic monthly expenses for 2023, by category.

Note 1: We are a “Gen X” couple with no kids, so these numbers are for two adults. ALL costs in EUROS €.

Note 2: Rental costs and property prices can vary a lot according to the location, size, condition, and amenities of the property. We prefer newer construction and after renting for a while, decided to purchase a property in 2022. 

We currently live in a neighbourhood just north of Lisbon proper (Colinas do Cruzeiro), still in the metropolitan area but in another city (Odivelas). Our apartment has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, a balcony + a large terrace, in a modern building with 2 elevators, parking space for 2 cars (box) + great access to restaurants, shops, services. Our monthly condo fee is €60.72.
We have air conditioning units for heating and cooling and only use gas for our water heater (tankless).

Note 3: As residents, we qualify for public healthcare in Portugal, and so far it has worked well. We haven’t purchased private health insurance here, although we have signed up for this FREE plan.

Note 4: We are listing only the basic expenses because other categories (e.g. clothing, cosmetics, entertainment, travel, etc.), are discretionary and subject to personal preferences, shopping habits, and the income available. In that sense, however much you spend on these items now (converted to €) can be your baseline, if you want to keep a comparable standard.

Note 5: For reference regarding transportation, a monthly pass for unlimited travel in Lisbon (city) by subway/tram/bus costs €30 per person. The pass for unlimited access to the system in Lisbon and the surrounding metropolitan area costs €40.

Note 6: Some expenses like gasoline, utilities, groceries and eating out locally may vary a lot for months when we go on trips (we track travel expenses separately).  

We’ll update this page often so that you can see the numbers in the longer run. If you have any questions or feedback, drop them in the comments below. Thanks for visiting!

These are for general reference only. Other people may spend more or less on these items.

Expenses 2023 = in euros €

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Image by Daniel Friesenecker from Pixabay