Latest news and stories about cost of living in culture in Portugal for expats and residents.
A Católica-Lisbon SBE study reveals acute public concern over housing, with 92.1% worried about rising prices and 85.1% about access, driving prudent financial habits amid broader cost-of-living anxieties.
New legislation regulating Portugal's affordable rental scheme sets monthly rates between 224 euros for studio apartments and up to 2,066 euros for a five-bedroom property in Lisbon. Landlords who offer rents at least 20 percent below the market median receive tax exemptions, supported by a newly launched IHRU platform to manage submissions and contracts.
Thousands of protesters have gathered across major Portuguese cities including Lisbon and Porto to demonstrate against the soaring cost of living and housing crisis, drawing inspiration from similar movements in Spain.
Liberal Initiative MP Mariana Leitão outlines the party's focus on significantly lowering IRS and ISP taxes in the 2027 State Budget to ease living costs, while signalling a likely vote against the final proposal pending review.
Natural gas prices in the regulated market have increased by an average of 6.4% for the 2026-2027 gas year, impacting approximately 431,000 customers.
Rental prices in Portugal have reached record highs, with the cost per square metre surpassing ten euros in the second quarter, highlighting a widening gap between housing costs and wage growth.
The Portuguese housing market faces a deepening crisis as prices surge and affordability declines, prompting calls for state intervention through public property utilization and increased supply.
Luís Paulo Rodrigues of the Chega party has criticized the government's inaction regarding rising fuel prices and the cost of living, while economists warn of further economic strain and limited policy options.
Portuguese unions UGT and CGTP are pushing for a minimum wage increase to 1,000 euros by 2027, challenging the existing tripartite agreement of 970 euros, while employers and the government remain resistant to reopening negotiations.
ERSE has announced a 2.7% average increase in regulated electricity bills starting October 1st, citing rising energy costs driven by geopolitical tensions as the primary factor.
Oil prices surged above 100 dollars per barrel at the start of the week, driven by supply concerns following a pipeline closure in Saudi Arabia and security incidents in the Strait of Hormuz.
Portugal led Europe in residential property price growth during the first quarter, highlighting a severe affordability crisis where average salaries struggle to cover housing costs.
A heated political dispute has erupted between Chega leader André Ventura and PS secretary-general José Luís Carneiro over conflicting claims regarding VAT reduction proposals on fuel and essential goods, with both sides accusing the other of deception and parliamentary obstruction.
Former Economy Minister António Costa Silva warns that fuel prices are likely to remain volatile and potentially increase further, reflecting a challenging new economic reality for consumers and businesses.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has triggered significant economic strain in Portugal, characterized by soaring fuel prices, increased tax burdens, and rising mortgage costs, prompting calls for fiscal reform and strategic economic protection.
Competition Law expert José Caramelo Gomes argues that while there is no formal cartel in the Portuguese fuel market, the lack of competition results in cartel-like pricing, necessitating government intervention to separate infrastructure and refining operations.
Extreme heatwaves are emerging as a critical economic risk, directly impacting European GDP, labor productivity, and inflation. As climate change intensifies, the cost of inaction is becoming a significant threat to economic stability, necessitating urgent investment in climate adaptation and resilient infrastructure.
PSD leader Luís Montenegro announced that a new 20-euro monthly public transport pass will be implemented in the Lisbon and Porto metropolitan areas beginning in September.
José Caramelo Gomes argues that the corporate culture of the Estado Novo persists in modern Portugal, as evidenced by public demand for government intervention in fuel pricing despite claims of a non-existent cartel.
Portugal's housing market reached record price levels in the first quarter, driven by increasing foreign capital and corporate investment, highlighting a growing disparity in home affordability.
Data from the INE reveals that median housing prices in Portugal surged to 2,337 euros per square metre in the first quarter, marking a nearly 20 percent year-on-year increase driven by foreign investment.
The president of AICCOPN warns that it will take at least three years to address the 300,000-home shortage in the housing sector, assuming current construction rates and optimal conditions.
Portugal recorded the fourth-highest global increase in housing prices during the first quarter, reflecting significant market growth.
Despite rising costs for essential food items like vegetables and fish, olive oil prices are stabilizing at under seven euros per unit.
An analytical exploration of the cultural and economic differences between Brazilians and the Portuguese, focusing on their contrasting attitudes toward spending and saving money.
Multiple political parties are urging the government to increase the financial support provided by the 'Mais Pessoas' social card to address the rising costs of essential food items.
A study reveals that income inequality in Portugal increased during the final years of the António Costa administration, as personal income tax reforms failed to effectively redistribute wealth due to capital income largely escaping progressive taxation.
The departure of immigrant workers from Portugal has resulted in a shortage of approximately one thousand drivers for ride-hailing platforms such as Uber and Bolt, highlighting the country's reliance on foreign labor.
Portugal faces a severe cost-of-living crisis as surging food and energy prices, coupled with an extreme housing market in major cities, outpace wage growth and threaten the financial stability of households.
Household debt rose again at the start of this year, consolidating a trend observed since the fourth quarter of 2024. The data comes from the Banco de Portugal and reveals a reversal in the deleveraging process seen in recent years, showing that family income, after taxes and payments...
