Monthly Living Costs in Portugal
Dec 28th 2017, 10:00 am
#61
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 26,724
Re: Monthly Living Costs in Portugal
No longer in UK now. Based in Ireland but I think that people just have different buying habits and don't always see what's available in their own country. We have fishmongers and they basically have to knock prices down because people rather eat fish fingers. People wouldn't buy squid here but in Portugal it's suddenly great.
Like parts of the UK people are also lazy and how food is prepared is different. Let's face it that even in the UK (especially Northern Ireland or Scotland) you have the most amazing meat. You could also go to a local farmer or butcher and make a deal but people don't. In Portugal many people have to grow their own food because they have less money. In the UK or here growing your own is more a hobby. Even when you travel to Scotland it's often the tourists buying the salmon. Be it Spain, Portugal or UK I don't see a huge difference in price. The habits are just different.
Like parts of the UK people are also lazy and how food is prepared is different. Let's face it that even in the UK (especially Northern Ireland or Scotland) you have the most amazing meat. You could also go to a local farmer or butcher and make a deal but people don't. In Portugal many people have to grow their own food because they have less money. In the UK or here growing your own is more a hobby. Even when you travel to Scotland it's often the tourists buying the salmon. Be it Spain, Portugal or UK I don't see a huge difference in price. The habits are just different.
We do know expats who live and eat as they did in the UK rarely visit markets, local butchers or try brands they are not familiar with.
They do not realise that herbs that sit in their cupboards for years can be picked fresh when required.
They come to us for a cataplana , seafood rice , chicken piri piri or fish grilled on the BBQ.
Their cost of living may well reflect that which others have posted
The first time we bought bachalau the girl at the checkout actually asked us if we knew what it was and how to cook it.
She said that we were the first Brits she had ever seen buying it and gave us a recipe to cook it.
Much to the amusement of those in the queue behind us.
Dec 28th 2017, 10:33 am
#62
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: Monthly Living Costs in Portugal
I think that the reason many from the UK buy squid as just one example us that we also bought and ate squid in the UK.
We do know expats who live and eat as they did in the UK rarely visit markets, local butchers or try brands they are not familiar with.
They do not realise that herbs that sit in their cupboards for years can be picked fresh when required.
They come to us for a cataplana , seafood rice , chicken piri piri or fish grilled on the BBQ.
Their cost of living may well reflect that which others have posted
The first time we bought bachalau the girl at the checkout actually asked us if we knew what it was and how to cook it.
She said that we were the first Brits she had ever seen buying it and gave us a recipe to cook it.
Much to the amusement of those in the queue behind us.
We do know expats who live and eat as they did in the UK rarely visit markets, local butchers or try brands they are not familiar with.
They do not realise that herbs that sit in their cupboards for years can be picked fresh when required.
They come to us for a cataplana , seafood rice , chicken piri piri or fish grilled on the BBQ.
Their cost of living may well reflect that which others have posted
The first time we bought bachalau the girl at the checkout actually asked us if we knew what it was and how to cook it.
She said that we were the first Brits she had ever seen buying it and gave us a recipe to cook it.
Much to the amusement of those in the queue behind us.
That's the thing, anywhere in the world you can grow your own herbs on a window sill and it's not expensive to cook from scratch. You have those Brits who buy British products in Portugal, just like you have Brits who have to move to Portugal or elsewhere to realise that you can use other ingredients or cook in a different way.
I've seen people here live next to the ocean and they never knew you can grill fish on a bbq, or that mussels can be collected on the beach
. It started with the Polish who were probably the first to catch fish and actually grill them and since more immigrants have arrived, especially Spanish, Italian and Brazilian you see more and more people having bbq's and using the ingredients we have. Even people with gardens never realised that you can actually plant a tree and grow your own fruit. That we can grow apples, pears, kiwis/figs here seemed to be unknown.
Last edited by Moses2013; Dec 28th 2017 at 10:43 am.
Dec 28th 2017, 11:26 am
#63
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 257
Re: Monthly Living Costs in Portugal
Something related to the living costs, Just received email from EDP, the price will rise from Jan. daily standing charge will be € 0.532 per day for potencia 10.35 kva, unit price will be 0.162 per kWh. I found this is quite expensive compared to what we pay in UK. Wonder if there’s cheaper option or worth changing to bi or trio Horario rate?
Dec 28th 2017, 1:22 pm
#64
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 360
Re: Monthly Living Costs in Portugal
Our kids live in the Cotswold region and they have a LIDL and TESCO near them and we were shocked at the high prices. Up to 3 times higher than here in PT for food.
Our rent is €375 pm but is a fully furnished 2 bed modern flat.
Our rent is €375 pm but is a fully furnished 2 bed modern flat.
Dec 28th 2017, 1:35 pm
#65
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: Monthly Living Costs in Portugal
Well it just depends and you can still rent decent enough flats or houses under £500 in some parts. Of course if someone is focused on one specific area (Cotswold) it gets harder. But even if you are an hour or two away by car still closer to kids than before. And if you're lucky enough you might be right next to a lidl or aldi. Saves petrol money:-)
Dec 28th 2017, 3:07 pm
#66
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,320
Re: Monthly Living Costs in Portugal
Something related to the living costs, Just received email from EDP, the price will rise from Jan. daily standing charge will be € 0.532 per day for potencia 10.35 kva, unit price will be 0.162 per kWh. I found this is quite expensive compared to what we pay in UK. Wonder if there’s cheaper option or worth changing to bi or trio Horario rate?
Then look at dual tariff, we use Galp and they offer it . Look for their Plano Base Galp On Eletricidade BH (FE+DD) - 25%
As a postscript I find electricity remarkably cheap when compared to Spain.
Dec 28th 2017, 5:21 pm
#67
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,032
Re: Monthly Living Costs in Portugal
Few people need 10kw; often things are set up to avoid nuisance trips when, on rare occasions, your AC, hot water heater, and some other heavy user[s] [kettle, heating cycle in washing machine] are all on at once for a moment. Especially in houses wired for foreigners, who have the reputation of being more upset about tripped breakers than they are about high bills.
Bi horario will surely save you money as well, especially if you get clever and use a storage hot water heater only at night, washing machine and any pumps [pool, irrigation] too. The day rate is about the same as you pay now, but the night rate is half.
As with the rest of this thread, what you spend depends on your habits, needs, and situation. energy bill too high? Turn some things off.
Second hand cars are really more expensive here, but again, it depends how you approach the problem.
If you start out with the premise that you will drive car X, built in year X, you will pay more to buy it here.
On the other hand, if you say my car budget is X euros, then see what you can get, you'll have less of a car, but you'll be spending the same money.
Repairs are cheaper and the roads are not salted, if you have a garage to keep it out of the sun, cars last a lot longer than in northern areas.
Everyone goes on about food costs, but food is likely 20% of your expenses, and easily changed [in either direction] according to your needs and wants.
Health expenses; now there's a minefield of conflicting opinions!
Bi horario will surely save you money as well, especially if you get clever and use a storage hot water heater only at night, washing machine and any pumps [pool, irrigation] too. The day rate is about the same as you pay now, but the night rate is half.
As with the rest of this thread, what you spend depends on your habits, needs, and situation. energy bill too high? Turn some things off.
Second hand cars are really more expensive here, but again, it depends how you approach the problem.
If you start out with the premise that you will drive car X, built in year X, you will pay more to buy it here.
On the other hand, if you say my car budget is X euros, then see what you can get, you'll have less of a car, but you'll be spending the same money.
Repairs are cheaper and the roads are not salted, if you have a garage to keep it out of the sun, cars last a lot longer than in northern areas.
Everyone goes on about food costs, but food is likely 20% of your expenses, and easily changed [in either direction] according to your needs and wants.
Health expenses; now there's a minefield of conflicting opinions!
Dec 30th 2017, 12:29 am
#68
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Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Península de Setúbal
Posts: 407
Re: Monthly Living Costs in Portugal
Few people need 10kw; often things are set up to avoid nuisance trips when, on rare occasions, your AC, hot water heater, and some other heavy user[s] [kettle, heating cycle in washing machine] are all on at once for a moment. Especially in houses wired for foreigners, who have the reputation of being more upset about tripped breakers than they are about high bills.
Bi horario will surely save you money as well, especially if you get clever and use a storage hot water heater only at night, washing machine and any pumps [pool, irrigation] too. The day rate is about the same as you pay now, but the night rate is half.
As with the rest of this thread, what you spend depends on your habits, needs, and situation. energy bill too high? Turn some things off.
Second hand cars are really more expensive here, but again, it depends how you approach the problem.
If you start out with the premise that you will drive car X, built in year X, you will pay more to buy it here.
On the other hand, if you say my car budget is X euros, then see what you can get, you'll have less of a car, but you'll be spending the same money.
Repairs are cheaper and the roads are not salted, if you have a garage to keep it out of the sun, cars last a lot longer than in northern areas.
Everyone goes on about food costs, but food is likely 20% of your expenses, and easily changed [in either direction] according to your needs and wants.
Health expenses; now there's a minefield of conflicting opinions!
Bi horario will surely save you money as well, especially if you get clever and use a storage hot water heater only at night, washing machine and any pumps [pool, irrigation] too. The day rate is about the same as you pay now, but the night rate is half.
As with the rest of this thread, what you spend depends on your habits, needs, and situation. energy bill too high? Turn some things off.
Second hand cars are really more expensive here, but again, it depends how you approach the problem.
If you start out with the premise that you will drive car X, built in year X, you will pay more to buy it here.
On the other hand, if you say my car budget is X euros, then see what you can get, you'll have less of a car, but you'll be spending the same money.
Repairs are cheaper and the roads are not salted, if you have a garage to keep it out of the sun, cars last a lot longer than in northern areas.
Everyone goes on about food costs, but food is likely 20% of your expenses, and easily changed [in either direction] according to your needs and wants.
Health expenses; now there's a minefield of conflicting opinions!
I am totally used to trips when I forget not to put the kettle on when the washing machine is heating, it's just a part of life in all the rented accommodation I have lived in over the years
2nd hand cars are very expensive but not rusty. I have driven a UK registered car here for more years than I should have (long ago when things were more relaxed here), imported a UK car using up my 'free import' card, and bought various PT cars; and my personal choice is that its easier to bite the bullet, fix your price and buy what you can here. Cars outside Lisbon area are generally significantly cheaper.
Food is not a big outlay, relatively, and eating out is cheap away from tourist areas
Above all, Life is good here
Mar 25th 2018, 7:01 am
#69
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 16
Re: Monthly Living Costs in Portugal
After reading through this thread, which seem to be a discussion more about UK prices than Portuguese prices am I correct to summarise the price for an individual in the following way;
1. €1000 p/m, Bare bones for a budget in the large cities, will always be looking at ways to cut down costs. Comfortable in a lower cost region such as small cities/towns once you are happy to live a simply life with little luxuries and little disposable income to take trips home or even to other areas in Portugal.
2. €1500 p/m, comfortable in larger cities but will not be splurging on fancy meals and going to events more than a few times a month. A good figure to live well in the smaller cities across Portugal and could have the odd trip domestically and maybe even internationally if planned out well.
3. €2000 p/m, can live well in Lisbon and other big cities but not splurging weekly. Plenty of disposable to go out once or twice a week within reason. Very comfortable in the smaller towns with plenty of scope to travel at home qnd abroad throughout the year.
4. €2500-3000 p/m, a healthy budget that allows scope to live well anywhere in Portugal, with less touristic regions offering a very carefree life. Can have an active social life and not have to worry about eating out a few times a week. When your phone/laptop breaks down and you need to buy another one, no stress I have put away a few hundred every month for such an event out of above budget and can afford to buy a new MacBook to replace my older one.
I have looked at many countries from Asia to S America to Eastern Europe and beyond and the cost of living in these “cheaper” places usually end up running the same as more “developed” western countries like UK, Australia, US etc. if you want a like for like standard of living. it seems to always for me at least come back to that figure of approx €2000 pm. Maybe my goals/expectations of how I want to live are higher than others I’m not sure but for me I don’t think I would consider the move unless I had €1500 at a minimum of monthly budget scope.
Please tell me where I have gone wrong?
1. €1000 p/m, Bare bones for a budget in the large cities, will always be looking at ways to cut down costs. Comfortable in a lower cost region such as small cities/towns once you are happy to live a simply life with little luxuries and little disposable income to take trips home or even to other areas in Portugal.
2. €1500 p/m, comfortable in larger cities but will not be splurging on fancy meals and going to events more than a few times a month. A good figure to live well in the smaller cities across Portugal and could have the odd trip domestically and maybe even internationally if planned out well.
3. €2000 p/m, can live well in Lisbon and other big cities but not splurging weekly. Plenty of disposable to go out once or twice a week within reason. Very comfortable in the smaller towns with plenty of scope to travel at home qnd abroad throughout the year.
4. €2500-3000 p/m, a healthy budget that allows scope to live well anywhere in Portugal, with less touristic regions offering a very carefree life. Can have an active social life and not have to worry about eating out a few times a week. When your phone/laptop breaks down and you need to buy another one, no stress I have put away a few hundred every month for such an event out of above budget and can afford to buy a new MacBook to replace my older one.
I have looked at many countries from Asia to S America to Eastern Europe and beyond and the cost of living in these “cheaper” places usually end up running the same as more “developed” western countries like UK, Australia, US etc. if you want a like for like standard of living. it seems to always for me at least come back to that figure of approx €2000 pm. Maybe my goals/expectations of how I want to live are higher than others I’m not sure but for me I don’t think I would consider the move unless I had €1500 at a minimum of monthly budget scope.
Please tell me where I have gone wrong?
Mar 25th 2018, 9:49 am
#70
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 257
Re: Monthly Living Costs in Portugal
Is the accomodation cost included or not?
Mar 25th 2018, 10:25 am
#72
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Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Haworth United Kingdom
Posts: 162
Re: Monthly Living Costs in Portugal
You obviously have a very extravagant life style.
I pay a fraction of that, living most of the time in the UK, but then again I am from Yorkshire.
I pay a fraction of that, living most of the time in the UK, but then again I am from Yorkshire.
Mar 25th 2018, 10:47 am
#73
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 16
Re: Monthly Living Costs in Portugal
Breaking it down crudely this is my estimates (limited research please correct) ;
Big city living:
Rent 1/2 bed apart - E500-1000, maybe E400 if willing to share.
Bills - E150 which will include Elec, Gas, Water, Waste
Food - E400 which includes toiletries, house cleaning products, medication/vitamins
Transport - E100, How expensive are taxis(Uber?), public transport late at night an option?
Comms - E100, Phone, internet, Tv for some I dont really watch it unless I downloaded it
Entertain - E400, beers, cinema, dating, language class, fitness, concerts/sports etc
Then you could add in travel on top of this, if you have pets or not, maybe health insurance if not covered and doesnt include a contingency for replacing broken phone (is phone included in bill or prepay for E50?) , laptop, buying a bicycle, dentist/doctor visits etc etc. Your talking E2k for a comfortable existence?
Then when you look at more rural or better value for money location:
Rent - E400- 800
Bills - E100-150 which will include Elec, Gas, Water, Waste
Food - E400 which includes toiletries, house cleaning products, medication/vitamins
Transport - E50, How expensive are taxis(Uber?), public transport late at night an option?
Comms - E100, Phone, internet, Tv for some I dont really watch it unless I downloaded it
Entertain - E200, beers, cinema, dating, language class, fitness, concerts/sports etc
Approx E1500 in this case…….
Big city living:
Rent 1/2 bed apart - E500-1000, maybe E400 if willing to share.
Bills - E150 which will include Elec, Gas, Water, Waste
Food - E400 which includes toiletries, house cleaning products, medication/vitamins
Transport - E100, How expensive are taxis(Uber?), public transport late at night an option?
Comms - E100, Phone, internet, Tv for some I dont really watch it unless I downloaded it
Entertain - E400, beers, cinema, dating, language class, fitness, concerts/sports etc
Then you could add in travel on top of this, if you have pets or not, maybe health insurance if not covered and doesnt include a contingency for replacing broken phone (is phone included in bill or prepay for E50?) , laptop, buying a bicycle, dentist/doctor visits etc etc. Your talking E2k for a comfortable existence?
Then when you look at more rural or better value for money location:
Rent - E400- 800
Bills - E100-150 which will include Elec, Gas, Water, Waste
Food - E400 which includes toiletries, house cleaning products, medication/vitamins
Transport - E50, How expensive are taxis(Uber?), public transport late at night an option?
Comms - E100, Phone, internet, Tv for some I dont really watch it unless I downloaded it
Entertain - E200, beers, cinema, dating, language class, fitness, concerts/sports etc
Approx E1500 in this case…….
Mar 25th 2018, 11:07 am
#74
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Haworth United Kingdom
Posts: 162
Re: Monthly Living Costs in Portugal
Is this breakdown for 2 people, or just 1 ? The amount allocated for food etc does seem quite a large amount compared to the amount I spend for 2 people here in the UK.
However we are vegetarians which makes a lot of difference.
This must be for one person, I've just noticed on your entertainment a you have factored in the price of dating, so I'm sure with more cooking everything yourself with local ingredients you could save quite a bit on the food aspect and still go out socialising and enjoying yourself with the surplus from that.
However we are vegetarians which makes a lot of difference.
This must be for one person, I've just noticed on your entertainment a you have factored in the price of dating, so I'm sure with more cooking everything yourself with local ingredients you could save quite a bit on the food aspect and still go out socialising and enjoying yourself with the surplus from that.
Mar 25th 2018, 11:28 am
#75
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 16
Re: Monthly Living Costs in Portugal
Is this breakdown for 2 people, or just 1 ? The amount allocated for food etc does seem quite a large amount compared to the amount I spend for 2 people here in the UK.
However we are vegetarians which makes a lot of difference.
This must be for one person, I've just noticed on your entertainment a you have factored in the price of dating, so I'm sure with more cooking everything yourself with local ingredients you could save quite a bit on the food aspect and still go out socialising and enjoying yourself with the surplus from that.
However we are vegetarians which makes a lot of difference.
This must be for one person, I've just noticed on your entertainment a you have factored in the price of dating, so I'm sure with more cooking everything yourself with local ingredients you could save quite a bit on the food aspect and still go out socialising and enjoying yourself with the surplus from that.
My figures were aimed just for me but I think its doable also as a couple if needs be given accommodation wont change and bills wont change too much. I like to choose organic/grass fed type food if possible but I still think E400 is middle of the road in that regard including the other sundries mentioned. Im not a big guy but I like to eat, not a great cook but dont mind cooking.