Latest news and stories about cost of living in culture in Portugal for expats and residents.
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...
Jerónimo Martins closed the first three months of the year with a net profit of 119 million euros, a result 6.8% lower than the 127 million reported in the same period of 2025, in a period marked by the worsening of 'levels of uncertainty faced by companies and consumers'. Faced with 'the already evident rise in...
This is the highest value since the start of the series in 2013, both for the number and the amount of new loans, surpassing the now second-highest value reached in October 2025.
José Luís Carneiro criticizes Prime Minister Luís Montenegro for his perceived lack of sensitivity toward the rising cost of living, labeling him disconnected from reality following the release of the first-quarter 2026 budget execution data.
Monday brings a decrease in fuel prices, the release of March's final inflation data, and a key meeting between the government, unions, and employers to discuss labor policies.
The Governor of the Bank of Portugal identifies the housing crisis as the nation's primary internal risk, as prices have surged 180% over the last decade with no signs of decline.
Fuel prices are set to rise significantly next week, with diesel increasing by seven cents and petrol by two and a half cents, despite government tax relief measures.
Supermarket chains warn that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East will lead to a more significant impact on food retail prices starting in April, following weeks of rising costs and fuel price hikes.
Political opposition is urging the government to reintroduce a zero VAT policy on essential goods to combat rising inflation driven by energy price hikes and supply chain disruptions.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro faces a heated parliamentary debate as opposition parties criticize the government's response to rising fuel prices triggered by the conflict in Iran.
Brent crude oil prices have surged over 42% since the onset of the Middle East conflict, with an 11% increase recorded in the past week alone, reaching $103.14.
The President of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, has rejected Chega's request for an urgent parliamentary debate on fuel, food, and taxes, citing that the party has already exhausted its allocated scheduling slots.
Diesel prices have increased by 30 cents this year, resulting in an average additional cost of 12.32 euros for filling a 40-litre tank compared to the beginning of 2026.
The Government currently perceives the rise in fuel prices as a significant but potentially temporary issue, despite immediate impacts on consumers. An editorial by Marta Moitinho Oliveira discusses the rush of drivers to petrol stations in anticipation of price hikes due to geopolitical tensions, particularly American attacks in Iran. While the government has implemented a discount to mitigate the increase in diesel prices, consumers will still face higher costs for petrol. The situation has led to record high fuel prices in Portugal, raising concerns among the public.
The return of former Prime Minister Passos Coelho to the political scene has generated significant excitement. Coelho has openly criticized his successor, Luís Montenegro, for failing to form a legislative agreement with Chega and IL, despite having a parliamentary majority. He suggests that an alliance with Chega could benefit the PSD, despite the party's historical stance against racist rhetoric. Coelho also questions Montenegro's commitment to reforms, highlighting his own past austerity measures that cut pensions and social support. His shifting positions raise concerns about his integrity and the authenticity of his reformist agenda.
The article discusses the urgent need for Portugal to create conditions that allow its citizens, especially the youth, to live fulfilling lives. It highlights the challenges of job instability, low wages, and high housing costs that hinder family planning and personal growth. The piece argues that economic growth should not only be measured by GDP but also by the quality of life and the ability to retain talent. It calls for policies that promote better salaries, housing access, and support for families, emphasizing that the Portuguese dream is collective and rooted in the belief that each generation can live better than the last.
According to ACP data for the coming week, petrol (gasoline) will rise by one cent per litre while standard diesel remains unchanged at €1.586/litre from Monday. The small petrol increase and the stable diesel price suggest only a marginal immediate impact on motorists’ budgets, though the divergence points to short-term differences in market pressures (refining margins, crude-oil movements and distribution costs) affecting petrol and diesel independently.
In early February more than 30% of households with variable-rate mortgages will see repayments fall as contracts indexed to the 3‑ and 12‑month Euribor are re‑set lower. However, borrowers tied to the 6‑month Euribor face higher payments, producing a mixed outcome across the mortgage stock. The distribution of effects depends on contract type and review timing: short‑term indexers and recently re‑set trackers gain immediate relief and some boost to disposable income, while those on six‑month fixings — and borrowers nearing the end of introductory fixed deals — may experience pressure on household budgets. The divergence highlights how small shifts in short‑term money‑market rates can materially alter household cashflows, influence refinancing demand and sales in the property market, and shape borrower decisions about switching to longer fixed rates. Policy and money‑market expectations for Euribor through the year will determine whether the February moves are temporary relief or the start of a sustained trend.
From January 1 the ADSE reimbursement for spectacle purchases has been capped at €180 per year. In February the scheme will also apply revised fee schedules for radiology, gastroenterology and surgery. The combined package is estimated to cost ADSE €15.4 million; the changes are likely to shift some costs onto patients, alter provider billing patterns and increase pressure on the public supplementary health fund and wider state finances.
The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Margarida Balseiro Lopes, will be heard in Parliament regarding the financial support model of the Directorate-General for the Arts (DGArtes), following a request from the PCP approved this Wednesday, May 13. The request focuses on the minister's refusal to adjust quadrennial support grants for inflation, a decision that has drawn criticism from the PCP and various cultural associations who warn of the impact on project viability due to rising costs.
Fuel is priced like French champagne and Pedro Frazão says he leaves the pump feeling like the owner of a yacht in Monaco. Also, Joana Amaral Dias's picnic and Ventura's indignation.
The 41-year-old actress is working at a restaurant and is preparing to sign a contract.
Avenida da Liberdade remained completely full nearly three hours after the start of the parade in Lisbon, amidst protests against the cost of living, the proliferation of conflicts, and populist threats.
The initiative was promoted by a citizens' organization.
In Portugal, good fish is easy to find. Complaining about prices is part of the experience, forcing us to find cheaper fish that are just as good or better than the expensive ones. A column by Miguel Esteves Cardoso.
An opinion piece from the Jornal de Leiria discussing the current state of affairs in Portugal.
Buying a ticket for a concert by a major star, such as Rosalía, involves a lot of time, a lot of patience, and increasingly more money. The American reality is becoming our reality too.
The population in the north of the country admits they do not feel comfortable making such a long trip due to the rise in fuel prices.
