Portugal answers, cost of living
How much does a family of four need to live in Porto compared with Lisbon?
On the same basis, a family of four spends a few hundred euros a month less in Porto than in Lisbon. Rent explains most of the gap; school choice changes the total far more than the city does.
The same family in both cities
Two adults, two school age children, a three bedroom flat, no car, children in a Portuguese public school. Everyday costs and rents are Numbeo's, updated on 23 September 2026 for Porto and 24 September 2026 for Lisbon.
| Line, euros a month | Porto | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday costs, family of four, excluding rent | 2,571.40 | 2,745.70 |
| Three bedroom, outside the centre | 1,465.00 | 1,767.39 |
| Three bedroom, city centre | 2,013.85 | 2,526.09 |
| Total, outside the centre | about 4,036 | about 4,513 |
| Total, city centre | about 4,585 | about 5,272 |
The gap is about 477 euros a month outside the centre and about 687 in it. Numbeo's own comparison puts Porto 12.1 percent cheaper than Lisbon with rent counted.
School moves the total more than the city
Public school is free, and the family pays mainly for meals and extended hours. With international school the picture changes in both cities. In Porto, Oporto British School charges 11,105 euros a year for Forms 1 to 5 in 2026/2027, so two children in those years cost about 1,850 euros a month over twelve months. In Lisbon, St Julian's lists 16,416 euros for Grade 2 and 19,323 for Grade 6, about 2,980 euros a month for that pair. International school widens the gap between the cities to about 1,600 to 1,800 euros a month.
What applies in both
Creche Feliz makes creche free for eligible children at participating creches, with the state paying the creche 551.50 euros per child per month. The monthly transport pass is 40 euros in both metropolitan areas. On signing day, expect about four months of rent upfront, and no more than five under the legal caps: roughly 5,900 euros on a 1,465 euro Porto T3.
The Lisbon side, line by line with health insurance and school scenarios, is in a family of four in Lisbon: a real 2026 monthly budget. The Porto side is in our Porto cost of living guide.
Sources
- Numbeo, cost of living in Porto, updated 23 September 2026 (family of four 2,571.40 euros excluding rent, three bedroom 2,013.85 centre and 1,465 outside), accessed .
- Numbeo, cost of living in Lisbon, updated 24 September 2026 (family of four 2,745.70 euros excluding rent, three bedroom 2,526.09 centre and 1,767.39 outside), accessed .
- Numbeo, Lisbon and Porto comparison (Porto 12.1 percent cheaper including rent), accessed .
- Oporto British School, school fees 2026/2027 (Forms 1 to 5 at 11,105 euros a year), accessed .
- International Schools Database, St Julian's School fees 2026/2027 (Grade 2 at 16,416 euros, Grade 6 at 19,323), accessed .
- Portuguese Government, communiqué of 15 April 2026 (creche payment raised from 515.90 to 551.50 euros per child per month, backdated to January 2026), accessed .
Facts in this answer last verified .
Read the full guide
- Cost of living in Porto in 2026: what a month really costs
Porto cost of living in 2026: about 1,550 to 2,000 euros a month for one person with rent. Sourced budgets, rent by area, bills, transport and schools.