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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,696 in Portugal versus $366 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,496 in Portugal versus $581 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,295 in Portugal versus $795 in India.

Living in Portugal is roughly 363% more expensive than in India on average.

Portugal (23% above) and India (73% below) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Portugal: monthly costs span $1,071 to $2,306, compared to $228$810 in India. City choice carries more weight in Portugal.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Portugal
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.87 €11.96
$2.15 ₹205
545.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.4 €44.31
$10.42 ₹996
393.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.27 €8.86
$3.59 ₹343
186.07%
Cappuccino
$2.15 €1.85
$1.67 ₹160
28.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 €1.74
$0.39 ₹37.26
417.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$0.17 ₹15.92
717.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.85 €2.46
$1.87 ₹179
52.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 €2.98
$3.18 ₹304
8.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Portugal
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 €0.98
$0.64 ₹61.1
76.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 €1.41
$0.45 ₹42.66
264.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 €1.39
$0.63 ₹59.9
157.14%
Eggs
$3.45 €2.97
$0.87 ₹83.5
296.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.90 €10.26
$4.62 ₹442
157.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.87
$2.86 ₹273
178.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.07 €12.99
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.25 €1.94
$1.95 ₹186
15.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 €1.28
$0.67 ₹64.3
122.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 €1.58
$0.99 ₹94.3
84.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.49 €2.15
$0.51 ₹48.45
388.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.74 €1.50
$0.35 ₹33.23
397.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 €1.77
$0.42 ₹39.69
390.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 €1.33
$0.44 ₹41.87
250.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$0.31 ₹29.80
158.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.38 €5.50
$5.14 ₹491
24.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.76 €4.96
$7.58 ₹724
-24.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 €1.16
$1.67 ₹160
-19.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 €2.05
$2.79 ₹266
-14.70%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.36 ₹512
-
🚌 Getting Around
Portugal
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.29 €1.97
$0.25 ₹23.64
816.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.69 €39.39
$8.53 ₹815
435.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.97 €3.42
$0.94 ₹89.4
322.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.13 €0.98
$0.27 ₹25.96
318.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.70 €15.26
$1.60 ₹153
1006.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.79
$1.12 ₹107
85.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K €29.7K
$12.4K ₹1.2M
177.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.1K
$20.2K ₹1.9M
95.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portugal
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$142 €122
$37.28 ₹3,562
280.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91 €18.02
$3.49 ₹334
499.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.83 €36.06
$7.20 ₹688
480.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Portugal
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.28 €37.31
$14.69 ₹1,403
194.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.38 €14.12
$7.31 ₹698
124.08%
Cinema Ticket
$9.39 €8.09
$3.08 ₹294
204.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Portugal
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$508 €438
$59.1 ₹5,646
759.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K €10.3K
$1,693 ₹161.8K
608.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Portugal
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 €77.2
$23.25 ₹2,221
285.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.94 €35.29
$24.03 ₹2,296
70.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.0 €79.3
$40.99 ₹3,917
124.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 €88.5
$30.46 ₹2,911
236.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Portugal
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,079 €930
$143 ₹13.7K
653.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$848 €731
$93.2 ₹8,902
810.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,827 €1,575
$332 ₹31.7K
450.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,392 €1,200
$214 ₹20.4K
552.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,103 €3,537
$1,203 ₹115.0K
240.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,904 €2,504
$643 ₹61.5K
351.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Portugal
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,364 €1,176
$441 ₹42.1K
209.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.77
8.93
-57.78%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Portugal: September 7, 2026

Last update for India: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $989 in Portugal, $121 in India. Capital cities: $1,661 in Lisbon vs $272 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $1,332 in Portugal, $410 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 717% higher in Portugal.

Dining out costs 400% more in Portugal.

Public transport is 457% more expensive in Portugal.

Salaries are 225% higher in Portugal, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.

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
Portugal vs India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Portugal?
At $519 per month in India and $1,689 in Portugal, there's a 225% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in India: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 in Portugal?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Portugal it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to 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.

Portugal vs other spots: cost of living compared

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