Latest news and stories about cost of living in Coimbra, Portugal for expats and residents.
Socialist Party leader José Luís Carneiro has criticised the Portuguese government for its handling of housing and the cost of living crisis. Speaking in Coimbra, Carneiro called for the suspension of new rental laws that could ease evictions and pledged that the PS will present fully-financed counter-proposals to support affected families.
Coimbra Mayor Ana Abrunhosa asserts that solving the housing crisis requires more than just increasing supply, emphasizing affordability for young people while noting that past government policies and property tax increases have failed to resolve the issue.
For two weeks, restaurants and shops in Coimbra have had no customers and many have closed after flooding. Owners attempted ad-hoc salvage measures, raising appliances onto chairs and other structures to protect equipment from water. The disruption has halted normal commercial activity and risks prolonged economic strain for small businesses, highlighting the immediate need for coordinated recovery support and assessments of flood resilience for local storefronts.
Upon arriving at a meeting of socialists in Coimbra, the PS secretary-general demanded explanations from the prime minister and several other members of the Government.
At the start of a socialist meeting in Coimbra, the PS secretary-general demanded explanations from the prime minister and several other members of the Government.
The PS leader says that “people have already realised that this is a law that will facilitate evictions” and that PS measures sought to “address the Cristas law.”
In the Baixa district of Coimbra, whether or not they were organisers of the initiative, participants held up various placards featuring slogans such as “Police violence is the first sign”, “Let Luís speculate”, and “I exist, therefore I inhabit”.
People from Viseu, Braga and Castelo Branco travelled to Coimbra to join the demonstration called by the CGTP this Saturday. They are demanding better working conditions, a salary increase and more State support to manage the cost of living, which continues to rise. This is according to Luísa Silva, coordinator of the Coimbra Union of Trade Unions, speaking to CNN Portugal at the scene.
Several protesters are heading to Praça 8 de Maio in Coimbra this Saturday.
The Coimbra City Council has approved an update to the Águas de Coimbra tariff, justified by the price increase charged by Águas do Centro Litoral. The social tariff remains frozen.
The Left Bloc (BE) coordinator announced that the party will vote against the 2027 State Budget proposal, refusing to endorse what they call the Prime Minister's 'bad governance cheque'. José Manuel Pureza criticised the Socialist Party (PS) for their decision to abstain, calling it a 'very serious' move that effectively gives Luís Montenegro a blank cheque. Pureza further claimed that while Chega provides the rhetoric, the PS provides the necessary votes, leaving the Prime Minister satisfied. He predicted the budget would lack courageous measures to address housing speculation, rising food costs, and high fuel prices, offering only temporary, ineffective solutions.
José Manuel Pureza, the party's coordinator, states that the situation regarding the budget is clear: Chega provides the rhetoric, the Socialist Party provides the votes, and Luís Montenegro is left laughing.
The Minister of Environment noted a significant rise in fuel consumption, pointing out the country's need to save in this area. Regarding the support demanded by various economic sectors and the Portuguese people in general, Maria da Graça Carvalho argues that it should be directed to those in need.
The motion of no confidence in the PSD/CDS-PP Government presented by Chega, against the retention of Luís Neves as Minister of Internal Administration, was rejected this Tuesday.
Helena and João Paulo once had a normal life, but now live in an old van parked in Eiras, Coimbra. While a medieval fair takes place nearby, they are forced to wash their clothes at a public fountain and bathe with a watering can. Their story highlights the growing crisis of elderly people being evicted and left homeless due to rising rents. The author questions why political parties fail to propose solutions for the most vulnerable, such as creating dedicated shelters or repurposing abandoned villages to provide dignity to those who spent their lives working.
In Coimbra, a third of those in private accommodation do not have a contract. The city is not in the top 10 most expensive, where Lisbon leads. However, a survey shows the distress caused by high prices.
More than half of the students surveyed in Coimbra state that the price and availability of housing influenced their choice of institution. The average price for a room is around 312 euros.
A survey points to an average room price of 312 euros, with about two-thirds (65.2%) paying 300 euros or more for a room in Coimbra.
A survey conducted by the Coimbra Academic Association (AAC) concludes that a quarter of students have considered dropping out of higher education due to costs, with two-thirds paying 300 euros or more for a room. According to the online survey conducted in August among the academic community, with a total of 1,039 responses...
Home News Coimbra records Portugal’s fastest-growing rental demand Coimbra records Portugal’s fastest-growing rental demand The demand for rental housing in Portugal continued to accelerate during the second quarter of 2026, with Coimbra emerging as the country’s fastest-growing market for tenant
The initiative is part of the national week of struggle for housing and aims to expose the problems of rising rents, landlord demands, and the difficulties of accessing decent housing.
The association regrets that the response received has relied essentially on a partial reduction of the tax on petroleum products.
Sardines cost double what they did last year. Diesel prices and the reduction in fishing quotas are responsible for this price increase.
Animal food and veterinary care remain subject to a 23% VAT rate, a situation that the PAN party considers 'unacceptable'.
During a visit to Coimbra, Inês Sousa Real also took the opportunity to once again appeal to the Government to deliver, as soon as possible, the support already approved for the populations affected by the storms.
The impact of rising fuel prices is “severe in the interior territories,” where companies are being “pushed to the limit,” says the Business Council of the Coimbra Region.
The Business Council of the Coimbra Region has appealed to the Government for an immediate and effective intervention, with concrete measures to halt this worsening situation.
