Contents
Introduction
Porto, Portugal is a city that’s full of charm and character, making it a popular destination for digital nomads and expats alike. But one question that often comes up when considering a move is how much is the cost of living in Porto?
Before we get into the details, it’s important to remember this is a Western European city, so the cost of living is always going to be more than may parts of the world, the Euro is a strong currency and costs in all of Western Europe are high as a result. If you’re wanting to become a digital nomad on a shoestring budget (<$1000 / month) then you’re best off heading to South East Asia or South America.
That said, relative to much of the continent, Portugal, and in particular Porto, compare very favourably. Versus Paris, Porto is about 30-40% cheaper, Berlin is similarly about 30% more expensive than Porto, and let’s not even talk about London (40-50% more expensive!).
So your money can go a lot further here, it’s possible to live in a good apartment, eat well and travel without needing a huge income. Porto is therefore an excellent place to experience one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, without breaking the bank.
In this article, I’ll be taking a more detailed look at the cost of living in Porto, so you can get a better idea of what to expect if you’re thinking of making a move. We’ll break down all the key expenses you might expect in your time here and end with some great tips to keep costs down for those on a tight budget.
If you’d like to learn more about moving to Porto as a digital nomad, then be sure to check out our complete guide to Porto for all the details.
Is Porto Cheaper Than Lisbon?
If you’re thinking about moving to Porto, chances are you’re also giving Lisbon a good look too, or you may be living in Lisbon right now and wanting to experience another part of Portugal. Well, the good news is that Porto is generally about 10-20% cheaper than Lisbon in most respects, the key one being accomodation (about 20-30% cheaper)
Other than groceries, which are about the same, eating out, drinking, travel will all be noticeably cheaper in Porto. So if you want a taste of Portugal for less, this is a great place to start. The city has all the best bits of Portuguese culture, while being compact, and importantly, affordable.
The Changing Cost of Living in Porto
I’m writing this article in January of 2023, and it’s fair to say that a lot has changed in the past decade. Portugal, and Porto, used to be considered one of the lesser known corners of Europe, with tourists favoring Paris, Rome and the other big name cities on the continent.
In the past decade however, Portugal has risen to become one of, if not the hottest destination in Europe, and Porto in particular has become extremely popular, winning Best European City Break of the Year 4 times in the past decade at the World Travel Awards.
Because of this popularity, and rapid growth of the Portuguese economy and in particular tourism; costs in all of Portugal, and it’s main cities, have grown quickly.
5 years ago you might have been able to rent an apartment here for €500-600, and €1,000 per month would have been enough for a reasonable standard of living.
Today, I’d recommend a budget of at least €1500 per month to live well in Porto. This will get you a reasonable one bed apartment walkable to the city center, and leave enough money to dine out a couple of times a week and explore the city. For this you can live well; 10 years ago you’d have lived like a King!
That said, the quality of the offer in the city has much improved, the digital nomad community is thriving, and the quality of life here is sky high, so it’s not all bad news!
Accommodation Costs in Porto
Let’s start with the biggest expense for most people: accommodation. The cost of renting or buying a home or apartment in Porto varies a lot depending on the location and type of property.
If you’re looking to rent, expect to pay around €700-1400 per month for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center. Prices will be slightly lower if you’re willing to live a bit further out or in a less trendy neighborhood. Buying a property in Porto is also quite affordable compared to other European cities, with the average price per square meter being around €2,000.
Renting an apartment
As a digital nomad, chances are you’re going to be renting when you come to Porto. The good news is, there are plenty of good deals to be had, if you’re willing to shop around and aren’t too fixed on your requirements.
Short Term Lets
Most people who are unfamiliar with the town before arriving, like to start out with a short term rental via AirBnb or similar. These will be more expensive than a long term rent, but are ideal to help you find your feet and do some searching for something longer term.
Most hosts offer a discount for bookings longer than 1 month, which can be considerable, so it’s worth searching for stays longer than 30days on Airbnb to see these discounted rates.
A one bed private apartment, fairly central, will set you back around €1100-1500; depending on location, this can be quite pricey, although remember this does include bills etc.
If you want to keep the costs down when you arrive, a private room within a shared apartment can be had for a lot less, more like €600-900, or if you’re feeling really friendly, a bed in a shared room can be as cheap as €300-400 for the month. The great thing with these shared options is there will be plenty of opportunities to make new friends and meet people from day 1.
Longer Term Rentals
Longer rentals can save you money, although you’ll be locked in usually for 12 months (the Portuguese aren’t keen on shorter break clauses etc. trust me, I’ve tried!)
If you’re just looking for a place for yourself, a studio flat (called a T0) or a one bed apartment (T1) will cost anywhere from €600, for a small studio apartment, a little outside of the center; through to €1400-1500 for a smart, furnished city center pad.
A great option can be to share with a friend, or two, and get yourself a T2 or T3 place. Prices for these tend not to be wildly higher than the T1s, ranging from €1400-2100 for a good quality place. The other great thing with sharing is you can split the utilities too (more on those later)
Neighbourhood Comparison
Prices in Porto do vary between neighbourhoods, but not by huge amounts. Unsurprisingly, the city centre is particularly expensive, and the Ribiera is general will cost more than being further afield.
To the North, Ramalde and Paranhos districts are around 20-25% cheaper than the center. There is plenty of good housing in these parts and some interesting streets to explore.
Going East, prices will progressively drop. Bonfim has some trendy areas, but prices are around 10-15% below the center. Keep going out to Campanha and prices will really start to drop, as much as 40% cheaper, but you start paying a different price, by being removed from the charms of the main city, and the housing offer is poorer out here.
Going West from the center towards the sea, prices stay about the same, and can actually get more expensive once you get the sea-view apartments out by the beach.
If you’re new to Porto, I’d recommend starting with a month in the city center in a short term let, and exploring the various districts to get an idea of where you might want to try, if the center is out of your budget.
Buying an apartment in Porto
Property in Porto is comparatively cheap compared to most major European cities, with the average price per square meter sitting at around €3,000/m2 in the center, and €2000/m2 further out.
Prices have risen sharply over the past few years, with yearly growth above 10% being quite common.
Increasingly Portugal, and the cities in particular, is being seen as a good investment market, with favorable tax incentives.
Where to Find Apartments in Porto
When it comes to long term rentals and buying apartments, my first stop is always Idealista, this is a huge site with 10s of thousands of listings.
Other great sites include:
- Flatio: Great for mid-short term rentals
- Uniplaces: Popular for flat shares and a good place to start if you’re looking for cheaper places.
- Nestpick: Scans other portals so is great to cover all of the market
- Sapo: A large classifieds portal, where you can find plenty of rooms and apartments available
Of course, other than dedicated sites, be sure to check out Facebook groups, where you can often pick up a bargain (although be on the look out for scams!)
Utilities and Bills in Porto
Utilities are generally cheaper in Portugal than most European countries. The main bills you’ll expect to pay in Porto as a Digital Nomad are:
- Electricity: approx. €60-80 per month – can be quite expensive
- Water: €15-30 – charged based on usage, so you get what you pay for
- Internet: €20-40 – for a decent package, with high speeds or alternatively for around €60 per month you can get a good deal that includes wifi, TV and a mobile sim with unlimited data through companies like NOS, MEO or Vodafone.
- Heating: €20-50 depending on the season, for a small apartment. Gas prices can be pretty high in Portugal, and houses are almost always terribly insulated. Most people I know end up with an electric heater to supplement any heating, so anticipate you utilities costs to be a lot higher mid-winter.
All in all, for a small studio apartment, I would €150 for your basic utilities in Porto, which may jump a little in winter. For a T2 or T3 – more like €140-150 per month.
Transport and Getting Around Porto
The cost of getting around Porto is relatively low, and as a very compact city, there’s a good chance you won’t need to use transport all that often to get around. The city’s metro system is efficient and affordable, there are plenty of bikeshare and taxi apps, and if you prefer to drive, gas prices are also reasonable (for Europe), and it’s easy to find a parking spot in most areas.
Public Transport Costs
Porto has a comprehensive transport infrastructure, with a metro, overground train network, tram system and buses.
To get around, you’ll need to get yourself an Andante Card – you’ll be able to pick this up at metro stations, train stations, tourist information centres, and some hotels and shops. You can top this card up as necessary.
Single fares are charged on how far you are going, measured in zones, with costs ranging from €1.30 to travel locally up to €4.30 to get right across the municipality.
You can also get a day pass, with the same zoning system. These range from €4.70 up to €15.25
If you’re here for a while though, and keen to explore, then it’s definitely worth getting a monthly pass. For the city’s central districts, this will set you back €30 for the month, to cover the wider area of the municipality it’s €40.
There are numerous taxi app companies working in the Porto area, so it pays to download one or two (they often have signup bonuses). Uber is present (as with everywhere!) but there are alternatives like Kapten, Bolt and Cabify which can be cheaper.
Prices for taxis are comparatively low versus most European cities, which is a welcome relief after living in London where Uber is now pretty expensive. A 10 minute uber ride, which covers most of the city, will be €6-8. A taxi from the airport to the city center should be €11-15.
For an alternative way of getting round the city, there are a number of bike hire and scooter hire apps you should also check out. There is Bird, Circ, Lime etc. You’ll see plenty of scooters etc. dotted around so download the apps for whichever is closest to you and explore!
Coworking and Office Space Costs in Porto
Porto is a brilliant city for Digital Nomads, but if there’s one thing we all need, it’s a great Cowork space to get some serious work done.
Fortunately, Porto has plenty to offer, and many are reasonably priced when compared to many other major cities.
Typical CoWork Costs in Porto
Prices vary massively, reflecting variety in quality and location. As a general rule of thumb, in the center you can expect to pay €120-200 per month for a good cowork desk. Outside the center you can grab some great bargains, with places charging less than €100 per month.
Day passes are usually around €10-15 just about everywhere you go. If you want to try out a few different places, then grab the Croissant app which is an easy way to book on the fly.
Best Cowork Spaces in Porto for Your Budget
Here are a few of our favorites for different price points:
- Selina Navis Cowork – High End Thus is a great space from the well known international cowork leaders Selina. A desk here for the month is €200, on the pricey side for Porto, but they put on a great schedule of events, ideal for those new to town. And as a bonus, they have rooms and dorms you can stay in too!
- Porto.io – Mid-level:** With 3 locations in Porto, Porto.io is a great option to try out different parts of town. They offer lots of different pricing systems, from day passes to multi-day packs, as well as a particularly affordable private office rate, if you’re planning to be in town for a while. A monthly pass €150
- OpoLab – Affordable Coworking: Based a short walk from the center, Opolab is a great value for money offering, in a maker space FAbLab that also has desks for coworking. This place is super cheap, at only €80 per month for a desk – with mailbox access too.
Food and Drink Costs in Porto
Food and drink are one of life’s great pleasures, so it would be nice not to have to worry about the costs too much when enjoying yourself. Fortunately Porto is comparatively pretty affordable, with a wide range on offer from bargain eateries through to michelin star restaurants.
Typical Grocery Costs in Porto
Groceries in Porto are comparable to the rest of Portugal, as 3 or 4 companies dominate the supermarket arena. In central Porto, you’ll likely only find small mini-mercados which tend to be more expensive, so it pays to travel out to the bigger stores out of the centre for more choice and cheaper prices.
For reference, typical groceries for a one person, using local goods and ingredients, shouldn’t exceed €30-40 per week. If you like to cook more international foods, or eat a lot of meat and fish etc. then budget more like €50-70. When compared to other major cities, prices are a lot cheaper, for example, versus New York groceries should be 50-60% less expensive! Portugal grows lots of great produce, so fruit and vegetables in particular cost a fraction of what they do elsewhere.
For the cheapest meat and fish, head to a butcher or fishmonger rather than the supermarket – you can get great deals for very little.
Dining Out in Porto
Porto has a great food and drink scene, one of the best attractions of the city. I’d go so far as to say food in Porto is generally better than Lisbon, I’ve had far fewer bad experiences here than in the capital.
As a digital nomad, experiencing the city, socialising and immersing yourself in another culture are fundamental to the experience, so it’s nice not to have to worry too much about the bank balance when eating out and meeting people.
In the morning, you’ll find plenty of affordable Pasterlerias where you can grab a traditional pastry (€2) and a coffee (€1-2). At a more upmarket, hispter coffee shop expect to pay more like €3 for a flat white and the same for a good pastry. Pastel de Nata are universally cheap and delicious – you shouldn’t need to pay more than €1 for one.
Plenty of places do great brunch menus where you can get a big spread of pastries, granola, fruit, with a coffee, for around €15 – perfect for a Saturday morning with friends.
Many places do lunch menus, offering a main course, dessert, drink and a coffee for €10-15 – which is a great option, otherwise a la carte mains are generally €10-15 themselves.
You can grab one of Porto’s famous Francesinha sandwiches for €6-10 – a huge mass of bread, meat, cheese and sauce – often enough for 2 people! (which is why many places will do a half portion!)
Dinner can vary hugely in price, you’ll be able to find cheap local restaurants where you’ll get a big meal for under €10, but don’t expect the finest quality. On the other side, there are some great high end restaurant tasting menus to be found for under €50 if you want to have a fine dining experience for much less than in many other cities.
Drinks in Porto
Wine, unsurprisingly is cheap in Porto and Portugal on the whole. Portugal produces many great local wines, especially in the Douro Valley around Porto so explore the local varieties and save a few euros.
Most restaurants will have a house wine for €10-15, and local wines will be comparatively cheap versus places like the UK and USA – €20-30 will get you a nice bottle in most places.
Imported wine, will be a little more, as is to be expected, but still cheaper than many places.
Porto, the local fortified wine named after the city, makes for a great digestif, with a glass ranging from €5-10 depending on the quality. Or, for some refreshment in the heat, go for a Porto Tonico, a great alternative to a Gin and Tonic which will be somewhere from €5-10 depending on how touristy the bar is that you’re in.
Beer is growing in popularity throughout Portugal, and Porto in particular is now home to a bunch of great micro-breweries to explore. A small glass of commercial beer (a ‘fino’ in Porto) will be €1-2, a large 500ml glass (’caneca’) more like €3-4. For a craft beer add an extra euro to each generally.
Entertainment and Leisure
Sport and Fitness Costs in Porto
The hills of Porto will have you fit in no time, walking down to the river and back up again constantly. But for those who need a little extra work out, there are some great gym options in town:
- Fitness Hut: There are locations dotted all over Portugal, offering affordable membership with decent equipment. Their main membership costs just €32 per month and gives you access to 14 clubs around the country
- Holmes Place: For an upmarket experience with pool and jacuzzi, Holmes Place is the place to go. Centrally located, it is a little pricier, prices starting from €80
- Solinca: Another chain of gyms, with multiple locations in Porto – prices start from €50
Healthcare & Dental Costs in Porto
Wherever you travel in the world, there are certain costs that need to be taken seriously and organised in advance – healthcare and insurance are important to get right, they’re not something you want to be figuring out in an emergency!
Medical Insurance and Treatment
Medical care in Portugal is comparatively cheap, although not always the fastest, and involves lots of bureaucracy. Private healthcare options can be faster and are generally of a high quality.
Many long term expats with Portuguese residency will register with the local healthcare system. As a resident you’ll have access to free healthcare at the point of use, a huge benefit vs the American system for instance. Alternatively
Digital Nomads staying for shorter periods however are recommended to pick up a health insurance policy, to cover any issues that may arise during their stay.
There are plenty of great insurance options to be found online, including some Digital Nomad specific insurers who cater to the unique needs of long term travelling workers. Expect to pay €40-80 per month for insurance coverage, depending on your needs.
These insurances can get you faster access to private medical care, and are a good ways to go if you are planning to move around between countries.
If you’re only in Porto for a short period, typical travel insurance may provide sufficient coverage for you for emergencies, but be sure your travel insurer will cover you if you are working while travelling.
If you’re a European citizen, you can use an EHIC card to get assistance will medical bills in Porto, avoiding the need for a separate health insurance.
Dental Costs in Porto
Unlike state funded healthcare, dental care in Portugal is private. You can add some element of dental cover to many of the health insurance packages available, but generally speaking, people ‘pay as you go’ for dental.
The good thing however, is that dental costs in Porto are very cheap compared to many countries. A routine appointment can be from €20-30, and treatments are similarly cheap, with a new filling costing €70-100 and root canal from €100-200.
Conclusion – Is Porto an Expensive City for Digital Nomads?
Overall, I’ve found the cost of living in Porto to be quite reasonable, compared to most other European cities. Accommodation, transportation, food, entertainment, and healthcare are all relatively affordable, and the taxes are also quite low.
Example Budgets:
To sum up, here are two example budgets you might reasonably expect as a digital nomad in Porto in 2023 to get you started thinking about your plans.
The ‘Bootstrap’ Nomad – €1000-1500 per month
This is a budget for someone who doesn’t need total luxury, but still wants to socialise a few times a week and have the occasional hispter coffee.
- Studio apartment (T0) in Bonfim – €600-800/month
- Utilities – €100/month
- Travel pass – €30/month
- Cowork space – €100/month
- Groceries (local foods) – €150-200
- Dining out (2 x per week, budget to mid-level) – €100-150
- Nightlife / Drinks (1 night out per week, beer and wine) – €100-150
- Insurance – €50/month
Total – €1250-1550
Mid-Level Traveller – €1800-2400 per month
This is an example budget for someone who wants their own space, in a good neighbourhood, and wants to hit the town on the weekend.
- One bed apartment (T1) in the center – €1000-1300/month
- Utilities – €130/month
- Travel pass – €30/month
- Taxis – €30
- Cowork space – €150/month
- Groceries (local foods and some foreign) – €200-250
- Dining out (3-4 x per week, mid-level) – €150-250
- Nightlife / Drinks (1 night out per week, cocktails etc.) – €150-250
- Gym membership – €50/month
- Insurance – €50/month
Total – €1800-2400
As you can see, Porto is a great city for digital nomads and expats, with a low cost of living and a great quality of life compared to many cities. If you’re thinking of making a move, I hope this article has given you a better idea of what to expect.