Living in Portugal with the minimum wage in 2025: financial reality for those moving from Brazil

When it comes to working in Portugal, the first question that always arises is: how much do you really earn? And more importantly: how much is left at the end of the month after paying the bills? The answer is more complex than it seems. In 2025, Portugal’s minimum wage reached €870 per month in the mainland region, representing a significant increase compared to €820 the previous year. However, this gross number doesn’t tell the whole story. Mandatory deductions, the cost of living in major cities, and specific opportunities in your profession are factors that truly determine whether the move is worthwhile.

What actually goes into your bank account?

Many Brazilians are surprised to discover that earning €870 doesn’t mean having €870 available. The Portuguese tax system applies automatic deductions that significantly reduce the final amount:

• Social Security: 11% of gross salary (€95.70)
• IRS (Income Tax): varies depending on dependents and family situation

In practice, a worker with the minimum wage and no dependents takes home approximately €770 net per month. This is the amount you really need to organize your finances around.

The numbers that matter: how much does it cost to live in Portugal?

Meanwhile, the cost of living in Portugal varies dramatically depending on the location. In large metropolises like Lisbon and Porto, monthly expenses for one person range around €1,800 to €2,000 just for essentials. For a family of four, this amount rises to approximately €3,304.

Some examples of actual expenses:

Housing (main cost):

• T2 apartment in central area: €1,518
• T2 apartment in peripheral neighborhood: €1,005
• Studio in common region: €729

Groceries (shopping):

• 500g chicken: €3.36
• 500g cheese: €4.90
• Set menu at a restaurant: €12

Basic infrastructure:

• Gasoline: €1.69/liter
• Transport pass: €35
• Electricity, water, and gas: €112

Health and wellness:

• Gym membership: €34
• Private medical consultation: €65

Is it feasible? It depends on where you choose to live

The honest answer is: with the minimum wage in Lisbon or Porto, you’ll live on a tight budget. Rent alone can consume 60-70% of your net income, leaving little for other expenses. Medium-sized cities offer better viability, with rents starting from €600-800, allowing for a more balanced budget distribution.

The conclusion is clear: for those earning only the minimum wage in Portugal, the financial experience will be tight in big cities but manageable in smaller regions with careful planning.

The real advantage: qualified professions earn much more

Here’s the turning point for many Brazilians: if you have professional qualifications, the outlook changes completely. Engineers, developers, healthcare professionals, and tech specialists earn between two to four times the Portugal minimum wage. In these cases, salaries reach €2,500, €3,500, or even higher, depending on experience and sector.

For these professionals, Portugal offers an attractive combination: European stability, quality of life, and purchasing power significantly higher than what they would have in Brazil.

Conversion to reais: the Brazilian perspective

Converting to Brazilian currency, Portugal’s minimum wage of €870 is approximately R$5,500-5,600, depending on the exchange rate of the day. At first glance, this seems like an impressive amount compared to the R$1,518 minimum wage in Brazil. However, when considering that the Portuguese cost of living is also much higher, the real advantage diminishes considerably.

The issue isn’t just how much you earn in euros, but how much you can save or use to improve your quality of life.

Autonomous regions: a more accessible alternative?

Madeira and the Azores offer a slightly higher minimum wage (€913.50 and €915, respectively), but the cost of living is also different due to geographic isolation. Rent and some products can be even more expensive because of import logistics.

Planning before making the move

Before making any decision, consider:

• Your earning potential: How much could you earn with your professional experience in Portugal, not just the minimum?
• City choice: Lisbon requires a much larger budget than Covilhã or Évora
• Time perspective: Your first months may be financially tough, but is there room for progression?
• Growth opportunities: Does Portugal invest in certain sectors? Is your profession in demand?

Conclusion: more than numbers, a contextualized decision

Portugal’s minimum wage in 2025 is just a starting point. The true decision to move to the European country should consider the whole picture: your salary negotiation power, the specific cost of living in the chosen city, your personal expenses, and above all, your long-term professional prospects.

For workers with valued skills in the European market, Portugal offers a promising future. For those earning only the minimum wage, it is possible to live, but it will require strict budget discipline and strategic choice of location. In any case, the move only makes sense with a realistic and comprehensive analysis of your personal financial situation.