Cost of living in Portugal is 26% cheaper than UK, latest figures reveal
New 2023 figures from Numbeo have revealed that the cost of living in Portugal is, on average, now 26.3% lower than in the UK. Key to the more affordable lifestyle in Portugal is the cost of food, with everything from everyday groceries to eating out costing more in the UK.
A meal in an inexpensive restaurant in Portugal costs €8.25 according to Numbeo, while a three-course meal for two in a mid-range restaurant comes in at €40.00. Equivalent meals in the UK cost £15.00 and £55.00 respectively. In the supermarket, meanwhile, small price difference on everyday items quickly add up. A litre of milk in Portugal costs €0.74; in the UK it is £0.99. A kilo of rice costs €1.08 in Portugal; in the UK it is £1.38. A mid-range bottle of wine in Portugal will set you back €4.00, while in the UK you would pay £7.00.
Utilities are also significantly cheaper in Portugal, averaging €110.95 per month for an 85m2 apartment, compared with £186.73 in the UK.
While affordable homes in the sun are often firmly in the sights of retirees, families with young children can also benefit from the lower cost of living in Portugal. A month of preschool/kindergarten costs an average of €347.48 in Portugal, compared to an eye-watering £1,023.97 in the UK. Attendance at an international primary school is also twice as expensive in the UK as it is in Portugal (£13,579.95 per year versus €7,523.69 respectively).
Portugal is well suited to families in other respects too. Numbeo’s data scores it as high (68.47) for safety, while the UK scores moderate (52.92). Portugal’s pollution score, meanwhile, is low (30.55) while the UK’s is moderate (40.44).
Property is also far cheaper in Portugal than it is in the UK. In Portugal, the average price per square meter to buy an apartment is €2,938.35 in city centre locations and €2,036.29 elsewhere. In the UK, those costs rise to £4,349.62 per square metre in the city centre and £3,208.30 outside of it.
“Portugal is so much more affordable than the UK in property terms. The average house price in the UK was £281,272 in December 2022. Here in Portugal, that’s enough for a brand new apartment by the sea, with extensive on-site sporting and dining facilities. Buyers can get far more value for their money in Portugal, which is why so many choose to purchase homes here.”
Alda Filipe, Sales and Marketing Director, Kronos Homes
