Working in Portugal in 2025: How much you earn, how much you spend, and whether it's worth migrating

Many Brazilians dream of a more stable life in Europe, but the big question remains: does Portugal’s minimum wage truly offer quality of life? The answer is not simple. While the Portuguese minimum wage reaches €870 monthly in 2025, the cost of living comfortably in major cities can consume a large part of that income. In this article, we decode the real numbers: from how much you actually receive after deductions to what your income can buy on the streets of Lisbon and Porto.

The real cost of living in Portugal: numbers that matter

Before focusing solely on the salary, it’s important to understand how much it costs to put food on the table, have a roof over your head, and get around. According to data from Expatistan, a single person spends approximately €1,800 per month, while a family of four needs €3,304. Portugal ranks as the second most affordable country in Western Europe, but that doesn’t mean it’s cheap.

Actual breakdown of monthly expenses:

Housing is the biggest expense: a two-bedroom apartment (85m²) in a desirable neighborhood costs €1,518, while in more peripheral areas, rent drops to €1,005. A studio in a common area costs around €729.

In food, a set menu at a popular restaurant costs €12, chicken costs €3.36 per kilo, and cheese €4.90. Monthly public transportation costs €35, gasoline €1.69 per liter.

Basic bills (electricity, water, gas) amount to around €112. Gym, €34. Medical consultation, €65.

Portugal minimum wage 2025: how much comes in and how much goes out

In 2025, Portugal’s minimum wage reached €870 per month on the mainland — an increase from €820 in 2024. In the autonomous islands, the amount rises slightly: Madeira offers €913.50 and Azores €915.

Converting to Brazilian reais, this amount corresponds to approximately R$ 5,584, which seems considerable to someone coming from Brazil. However, this impression radically changes when you understand the mandatory deductions.

How the money disappears from your account:

Social Security deducts 11% non-negotiably — €95.70 is taken directly from your paycheck. The Portuguese Income Tax (Imposto de Renda Português) applies only above the minimum in many cases, varying depending on dependents and family status.

In practice: gross salary of €870, minus €95.70 for Social Security, leaves €774.30 before any tax withholdings. If income tax applies, this number shrinks even further.

This means that, in reality, those earning the Portuguese minimum wage have about €770 to spend — a significant reduction from the nominal amount.

The impossible equation: €770 versus €1,800 monthly

Here’s the dilemma. If you earn Portugal’s minimum wage (around €770 net) and living costs are €1,800 for a single person, there’s a monthly gap of €1,030. This explains why living solely on the minimum in big cities is practically unfeasible without additional financial support.

However, reality changes depending on:

Location: Medium-sized cities consume significantly less than Lisbon and Porto. Covilhã, Castelo Branco, or Viseu offer a 30-40% lower cost of living.

Lifestyle: Sharing housing, cooking at home, and using public transportation dramatically reduce expenses.

Professional development: Most workers migrating to Portugal don’t stay at the minimum for long. Skilled professions earn 2, 3, or even 4 times more per hour.

Portugal minimum wage versus Brazil: what has changed?

A Brazilian earning R$ 1,518 (Brazilian minimum wage) is impressed by the converted €870 — after all, it’s more than 3.5 times higher in nominal values. The trap is ignoring that Portugal charges proportionally more to live.

In Brazil, a worker with a minimum wage usually retains more disposable income after deductions (generally less than in Portugal). Renting a room in a peripheral area costs R$ 300-600, and food is proportionally more affordable in certain regions.

In Portugal, even earning nominally more, the free income after essential expenses may not be as much as the numbers suggest.

The Portuguese advantage appears for those with education, experience, or in-demand professions: electricians, engineers, IT professionals, nurses, and others earn 40-60% above the minimum, sometimes much more.

Professions and salaries: where is the potential

Portugal’s minimum wage is just a floor. The market offers much more for those with qualifications:

• IT professionals: €1,800-€2,800 initially
• Engineers: €1,600-€2,500
• Nurses: €1,400-€2,000
• Electricians and plumbers: €1,200-€1,800
• Salespeople: €1,000-€1,600

The standard workweek is 40 hours (176 hours per month), which puts the hourly rate in Portugal’s minimum around €4.94. Qualified professionals can earn €15, €20, or more per hour.

Is it worth migrating? The uncomfortable truth

Yes, it can be worth it — but with clear caveats.

For those earning only the minimum: It requires extreme budgeting discipline, shared housing, and better to be in smaller cities, not Lisbon or Porto. Quality of life doesn’t automatically improve.

For experienced or educated professionals: There’s real gain. Higher salaries, a more robust social security system, access to quality public health, and growth prospects.

For those seeking stability: Portugal offers strong labor protections, a reliable pension system, and a predictable political and legal environment — factors that Portugal’s minimum wage alone cannot convey.

Conclusion: Realistic numbers for a realistic decision

Portugal’s minimum wage of €870 in 2025 is significantly higher than the Brazilian minimum, but this nominal difference disappears when you confront the cost of living, mandatory deductions, and purchasing power reality.

The best strategy is not to compare only salary floors but to analyze:

• What is your specific salary floor? Do you earn above the minimum?
• Which city do you want to move to?
• Can you live with roommates to reduce rent?
• Is your profession in demand in Portugal?
• Are you financially prepared for the initial months of adaptation?

Migrating to Portugal can be an excellent decision — as long as it’s based on real numbers, not promises of salaries that seem higher on paper.