Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Portugal Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Portugal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $389 in India versus $1,638 in Portugal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $618 in India versus $2,407 in Portugal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $846 in India versus $3,176 in Portugal.

Living in India costs about 76% less than in Portugal on average.

India (71% below) and Portugal (22% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Portugal: monthly costs span $1,043 to $2,441, compared to $270โ€“$887 in India. City choice carries more weight in Portugal.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
India
Portugal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.58 โ‚น243
$11.80 โ‚ฌ10.07
-78.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.07 โ‚น1,327
$51.9 โ‚ฌ44.24
-72.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.14 โ‚น390
$9.28 โ‚ฌ7.92
-55.39%
Cappuccino
$1.81 โ‚น170
$2.14 โ‚ฌ1.82
-15.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 โ‚น40.65
$1.97 โ‚ฌ1.68
-78.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 โ‚น15.39
$1.37 โ‚ฌ1.17
-88.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 โ‚น185
$2.96 โ‚ฌ2.53
-33.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 โ‚น328
$3.42 โ‚ฌ2.92
1.46%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
India
Portugal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 โ‚น68.0
$1.06 โ‚ฌ0.91
-32.08%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 โ‚น45.89
$1.57 โ‚ฌ1.34
-68.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.67 โ‚น63.4
$1.62 โ‚ฌ1.38
-58.64%
Eggs
$0.99 โ‚น93.3
$3.14 โ‚ฌ2.68
-68.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.14 โ‚น485
$11.98 โ‚ฌ10.22
-57.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.20 โ‚น302
$7.62 โ‚ฌ6.50
-58.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$14.38 โ‚ฌ12.27
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.21 โ‚น208
$2.29 โ‚ฌ1.96
-3.49%
Banana (1kg)
$0.70 โ‚น65.8
$1.51 โ‚ฌ1.29
-53.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 โ‚น98.6
$1.80 โ‚ฌ1.54
-41.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 โ‚น49.71
$2.51 โ‚ฌ2.14
-78.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.43 โ‚น40.31
$1.69 โ‚ฌ1.44
-74.56%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 โ‚น45.82
$1.92 โ‚ฌ1.64
-74.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 โ‚น48.87
$1.63 โ‚ฌ1.39
-68.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32 โ‚น30.60
$0.81 โ‚ฌ0.69
-60.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 โ‚น389
$6.34 โ‚ฌ5.41
-34.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.55 โ‚น712
$5.77 โ‚ฌ4.92
30.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 โ‚น172
$1.31 โ‚ฌ1.12
38.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 โ‚น272
$2.51 โ‚ฌ2.14
14.74%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.63 โ‚น531
-
-
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
India
Portugal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 โ‚น31.65
$2.26 โ‚ฌ1.93
-84.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.70 โ‚น915
$46.87 โ‚ฌ39.98
-79.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.97 โ‚น91.1
$3.93 โ‚ฌ3.36
-75.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 โ‚น26.08
$1.01 โ‚ฌ0.86
-72.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.70 โ‚น160
$17.18 โ‚ฌ14.66
-90.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 โ‚น116
$1.92 โ‚ฌ1.64
-35.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.7K โ‚น1.3M
$34.3K โ‚ฌ29.3K
-59.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K โ‚น2.2M
$39.9K โ‚ฌ34.0K
-42.27%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Portugal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.37 โ‚น3,806
$136 โ‚ฌ116
-70.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.90 โ‚น368
$21.19 โ‚ฌ18.07
-81.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.98 โ‚น752
$42.83 โ‚ฌ36.53
-81.37%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
India
Portugal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.26 โ‚น1,533
$44.53 โ‚ฌ37.99
-63.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.63 โ‚น719
$16.86 โ‚ฌ14.38
-54.74%
Cinema Ticket
$3.56 โ‚น335
$8.76 โ‚ฌ7.48
-59.36%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
India
Portugal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$70.8 โ‚น6,671
$508 โ‚ฌ433
-86.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,810 โ‚น170.6K
$12.5K โ‚ฌ10.6K
-85.49%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
India
Portugal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.95 โ‚น2,353
$92.3 โ‚ฌ78.7
-72.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.83 โ‚น2,530
$38.96 โ‚ฌ33.23
-31.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.39 โ‚น4,279
$89.5 โ‚ฌ76.3
-49.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.38 โ‚น3,147
$105 โ‚ฌ89.8
-68.28%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
India
Portugal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$173 โ‚น16.3K
$1,089 โ‚ฌ929
-84.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$113 โ‚น10.7K
$862 โ‚ฌ735
-86.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$412 โ‚น38.9K
$1,840 โ‚ฌ1,569
-77.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$257 โ‚น24.3K
$1,322 โ‚ฌ1,128
-80.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,260 โ‚น118.8K
$3,995 โ‚ฌ3,408
-68.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$631 โ‚น59.5K
$2,873 โ‚ฌ2,451
-78.04%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
India
Portugal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$432 โ‚น40.7K
$1,351 โ‚ฌ1,152
-68.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.02
4.83
86.75%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for India: April 27, 2026

Last update for Portugal: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $127 in India, $936 in Portugal. Capital cities: $242 in Delhi vs $1,604 in Lisbon.

National salary averages: $401 in India, $1,328 in Portugal. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money โ€“ weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 637% higher in Portugal.

Dining out costs 336% more in Portugal.

Public transport is 356% more expensive in Portugal.

Salaries are 231% higher in Portugal, giving India stronger purchasing power.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
India vs Portugal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Portugal?
At $579 per month in India and $1,742 in Portugal, there's a 201% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city โ€“ the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Portugal beats India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or Portugal?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Portugal, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital โ€“ you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or Portugal?
It depends on what you're after. India wins on affordability; Portugal may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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