Latest news and stories about construction costs in Portugal for expats and residents.
Addressing the housing crisis requires a cohesive, long-term strategy that integrates land use, transportation, regulatory licensing, and fiscal policy rather than relying on fragmented interventions.
An analysis of the critical role engineers play in construction projects, highlighting the disparity between their high value and relatively low cost.
Construction costs for new housing rose 4.0% in 2025 versus 2024, accelerating from a 3.4% increase the prior year, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE). The rise was driven chiefly by a 7.7% increase in labour costs — the largest component — although that labour increase actually eased compared with 2024. The data point suggests mounting pressure on housing affordability and margins for developers, with labour market dynamics continuing to be the main cost-side risk for the sector.
An inquiry into whether the construction of more affordable housing is currently achievable in Portugal.
Construction costs for new residential properties rose by 7.5%.
Construction costs for new housing increased by 7.5% year-on-year in August, with materials rising by 7.1% and labour by 8.0%, according to INE estimates. The National Statistics Institute (INE) noted that this rate is 1.0 percentage points higher than the previous month. Labour costs contributed 3.7 percentage points to the annual increase, while materials contributed 3.8 percentage points. Major price increases were observed in diesel, copper wire, PVC piping, and insulation materials. No materials saw a year-on-year price reduction. The month-on-month variation was 0.5%.
New construction costs increased by 6.8% in July year-on-year, with materials rising by 6.3% and labour by 7.3%, according to an estimate released today by the National Statistics Institute (INE).
Bitumen, bare and coated copper wire, and PVC pipes rose by 35% and 25% respectively, contributing to the variation. Labour costs rose by 8.0% and materials by 6.5%, compared to 2025.
In June, material prices increased by 6.5%, compared to 6.4% in May, and labour costs rose by 8.0%, 0.4 percentage points more than in the previous month.
The costs of new housing construction increased by 7.2% in June, year-on-year, according to data released this Monday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). The rise represents an increase of 0.3 percentage points compared to the variation observed in the previous month. Labour costs were the factor that contributed most to this increase.
The costs of new housing construction increased by 6.9% year-on-year in May, according to the National Statistics Institute
According to the INE, among the materials that most positively influenced the aggregate price variation are bitumen and diesel, with an increase of about 30%, as well as bare and coated copper wire.
The costs of new housing construction rose 6.9% year-on-year in May, with increases in the price of materials (6.4%) and labour (7.5%), according to the INE estimate released today.
Material prices increased by 4.7% year-on-year, and labour costs rose by 7.3%, compared to 3.7% and 8.1% respectively in the previous month, and 0.8% and 7.2% a year earlier.
The costs of new housing construction rose 5.9% year-on-year in April, with increases in the price of materials (4.7%) and labour (7.3%), according to the INE estimate released today.
The costs of new housing construction rose 5.9% year-on-year in April, with increases in the price of materials (4.7%) and labour (7.3%), according to the INE estimate released today.
New housing construction costs rose by 5.9% year-on-year in April, according to estimates released this Tuesday, the 9th, by the National Statistics Institute (INE). This rate is 0.2 percentage points higher than that observed in March. The increase reflects price hikes in materials (4.7%) and labour (7.3%). In March, these figures were 3.7% and 8.1% respectively, and a year earlier 0.8% and 7.2%. Labour contributed 3.4 percentage points to the year-on-year change in the New Housing Construction Cost Index (ICCHN), compared to 3.7 p.p. the previous month, while materials contributed 2.5 p.p. (2.0 p.p. in March). Among the materials exerting the most pressure on the aggregate change were diesel, with a rise of about 30%, and bare and coated copper wire and tiles, with increases of around 15%. Conversely, air conditioning units fell by about 25% and pre-fabricated concrete products dropped by 5%. The monthly change in the ICCHN (April compared to March) was 0.8%, 0.4 p.p. less than in March and 0.1 p.p. above April 2024. For the monthly change, labour contributed 0.1 p.p. and materials 0.7 p.p. (0.2 and 1 p.p. in March, respectively). The INE also revised the March rate downwards by 0.1 p.p. as a result of a correction in labour costs.
The costs of new housing construction in Portugal rose by 5.9% in April year-on-year, accelerating by two percentage points compared to the previous month, according to an estimate released this Tuesday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). The index is at its highest level ever, and one must go back to March 2023...
Construction costs have become the main obstacle to real estate development in Portugal, surpassing bureaucracy for the first time with a pressure index of 84%, according to data from Confidencial Imobiliário, with approximately 59,000 planned housing units failing to proceed due to a lack of economic viability. In this context, Verlingue Portugal has decided...
The cost of new housing construction increased by 5.8% in March compared to the same month in 2025, with labour costs rising by 8.2% and materials by 3.7%, according to an estimate released this Monday (May 11) by the INE. According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), the 5.8% year-on-year change in the New Housing Construction Cost Index (ICCHN) in March is one percentage point higher than that recorded in February and two percentage points higher than in March 2025. In the month under review, material prices increased by 3.7%, compared to 1.7% in February, while labour costs rose by 8.2%, 0.3 percentage points less than in the previous month. Labour costs contributed 3.8 percentage points to the year-on-year ICCHN change, while materials contributed 2.0 percentage points. Among the materials with the most positive influence on price variation were glass, mirrors, and diesel, with increases of around 20%, while bitumen prices fell by approximately 15%.
The costs of new housing construction in Portugal rose by 5.8% in March, year-on-year, accelerating by one percentage point compared to the 4.8% increase recorded in the previous month, according to an estimate released this Monday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). The rise in this indicator is mainly influenced by the increase in the cost of...
The cost of new housing construction increased by 4.7% in February compared to the same month in 2025, with labour costs rising by 8.2% and materials by 1.7%, according to estimates released by the INE this Thursday, the 9th. In February, the year-on-year change in the New Housing Construction Cost Index (ICCHN) reached 4.7%, an increase of 0.9 percentage points (p.p.) compared to January and higher than the 3.2% recorded in the same month last year. The data, released today by the National Statistics Institute (INE), shows that material prices grew by 1.7% in February, compared to 0.7% in January, while labour costs rose by 8.2%, up from 7.5% the previous month. Labour was the primary driver of the year-on-year index, contributing 3.8 p.p. to the variation, while materials contributed 0.9 p.p. According to the INE, materials with the most significant positive impact on price variation included glass and mirrors, which rose by approximately 20%, and bare copper wire, tiles, and mosaics, which saw increases of over 15% compared to the same period last year. Conversely, bitumen prices fell by 20%, and materials for cladding, insulation, and waterproofing dropped by about 10%. On a monthly basis, the ICCHN variation rate was 1.0% in February, 0.1 p.p. higher than the previous month and 0.8 p.p. above February of last year. For the monthly variation, labour contributed 0.2 p.p. and materials 0.8 p.p. The INE also revised the index variations for January and December 2025 upwards by 0.1 p.p. each, to 3.8% and 4.0% respectively.
Thinking of building a house? Prepare to pay more than you did a year ago. The 4.7% rise in new housing construction costs recorded in February is mainly explained by the increase in labour costs. This represents an acceleration of almost one percentage point compared to January. For those who have already looked...
On a day featuring another Council of Ministers meeting and António José Seguro's tour of the Central region as part of his first Open Presidency, the UGT national secretariat is expected to decide on action strategies regarding the labour reform proposal. Also, the INE will release the February construction cost index.
The real estate market may face new difficulties. The president of the country's largest construction company, Mota-Engil, makes harsh criticisms of the Government's measures and warns of possible consequences for the sector. Carlos Mota Santos also predicts that the increase in fuel prices will put pressure on construction costs, which could be reflected in a new rise in the housing market.
The real estate market may face new difficulties. The president of the country's largest construction company, Mota-Engil, criticises public tenders and warns of potential consequences for the sector. Carlos Mota Santos also predicts that rising fuel prices will put pressure on construction costs, which could be reflected in a new price hike in the housing market.
Carlos Mota Santos, CEO of Mota-Engil, predicts that the rise in fuel prices will impact the increase in construction costs, with consequences for the housing market, and could lead to a postponement of investments to keep public accounts balanced.
The increase in fuel prices will impact the rise in construction costs, with consequences for the housing market, and could lead to a postponement of investments to keep public accounts balanced.
The increase in fuel prices will impact the rise in construction costs, with consequences for the housing market, and could lead to a postponement of investments to keep public accounts balanced.
The index related to labour costs saw the highest increase, rising by 7.7% over the year. However, this still represents a slowdown compared to 2024.
