If you are looking for a cheap city to live in Portugal, one of the solutions is to get away from the big cities, such as Lisbon and Porto, where the cost of living is higher. When moving to the interior of the country, where there is less population, the cost of living is also lower. You save at the end of the month, but some luxuries and amenities are lost. Still, you can find some cheap seaside towns and in the Algarve there are plenty to choose from..
The blog made a list of the cheapest cities to live in our country and there is one in the Algarve that is part of this selection. The list was based on medium-sized cities in Portugal, with a population of less than 100 thousand inhabitants, but greater than 35 thousand, with infrastructure and services, with hospitals, shops, transport, leisure, among others.
The values presented are average and “may not accurately reflect your real needs, as each family has its own consumption habits”. Most of these places are in the interior of Portugal, but there are also options on the coast.
Bragança was voted the cheapest city in Portugal, followed by Castelo Branco, Caldas da Rainha, Vila Real, Viseu, Santarém, Évora, Viana do Castelo, Aveiro and Portimão. Although Portimão (Algarve) is the 10th cheapest city in the country to live in, renting a 1-bedroom apartment costs 350 euros more than in Bragança.
Portimão is the 10th cheapest city in the country
According to the blog, the rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Portimão is around 850 euros. Spending at the supermarket varies from 150 to 250 euros per month per person, without forgetting transport, the average cost of which is around 24 euros. It is worth noting, however, that the average monthly salary is set at R$667 livre.
In addition to the Algarve city being equipped with all essential services, Portimão is located on the estuary of the Arade River and has a vast number of beaches nearby, namely Praia da Rocha, Praia dos Três Castelos, Praia dos Três Irmãos and Praia do Vau.
Portimão is one of the cheapest cities in Portugal and is located in the hottest region of the country. The city is growing and with increasing demand.
For those who want to live close to the most beautiful beaches on the Portuguese coast, Portimão is a small city that can offer a great quality of life, with all types of services, hospitals, shops and leisure.
1 – Bragança
Bragança has around 35 thousand inhabitants and is located in the northern region of Portugal, more precisely in the district of Bragança. Surrounded by beautiful landscapes of the Montesinho Natural Park, in the northeast region of Trás-os-Montes.
Cost of living in the city:
– Rent (1 bedroom apartment in the center) €500
– Supermarket expenses (couple) €150 – €200
– Transport (per person) €24
– It is necessary to consider that despite the low costs, the salary in the city is also one of the lowest in the country, the monthly net is €600.
2 – Castelo Branco
In the central region of Portugal, located close to the border with Spain is Castelo Branco. With around 56 thousand inhabitants, the city has a direct connection with Lisbon by train, a journey that takes around 2:30 hours.
Cost of living in the city:
– Rent (1 bedroom apartment in the center) €550€
– Supermarket expenses €150 – €200
– Transport (per person) €25
The average monthly salary in the city is not the most attractive, around €560 net per month, that is, a large part of the population earns close to the gross minimum wage.
3 – Caldas da Rainha
Located in the district of Leiria, central Portugal, is Caldas da Rainha. It has around 52 thousand inhabitants, has very attractive costs and is a good option for those who want to be closer to the capital of São Paulo, but without suffering from the high costs that the metropolitan region has.
Cost of living in the city:
– Rent (1 bedroom apartment in the center) €550
– Supermarket expenses €150 – €200
– Transport (per person) €22
The average salary in Caldas da Rainha is, on average, €710.
4 – Vila Real
Another highlight among the cheapest cities to live in Portugal located in the northern region is Vila Real, with around 51 thousand inhabitants.
Cost of living in the city:
– Rent (1 bedroom apartment in the center) €600
– Supermarket expenses €150 – €200
– Transport (per person) €22
The average salary in the city is also not discouraging, around €711, a considerable amount for the city’s low cost of living.
5 – Viseu
Viseu is the largest city on the list of 10 cheapest cities to live in, with around 96 thousand inhabitants, it is located in the central region of the country. According to research carried out by the Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection (DECO), it is considered the 17th European city with the highest quality of life among the 76 participants in the study, and is also the first of the 18 Portuguese capital cities with the best quality of life.
Cost of living in the city:
– Rent (1 bedroom apartment in the center) €650
– Supermarket expenses €150 – €200
– Transport (per person) €28.80
The average net salary in the city is €775.
6 – Santarém
Santarém is a city located in the district of the same name, approximately 80 km from Lisbon. It is one of the cheapest cities in Portugal and has general hospitals and health centers, as well as several gardens and urban parks, historical monuments and lots of commerce.
Cost of living in the city:
– Rent (1 bedroom apartment in the center) €650
– Supermarket expenses €150 – €200
– Transport (per person) €13
The average salary in the city is well above the average for this Top 10, around €1,060 net per month.
7 – Évora
Known as the Museum City, Évora is one of the oldest cities in Europe and its historic center was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. All this importance makes Évora an interesting option among the cheapest cities in Portugal to live.
Cost of living in the city:
– Rent (1 bedroom apartment in the center) €700
– Supermarket expenses €150 – €200
– Transport (per person) €19.75
The average salary in Évora is around €1,212 net.
8 – Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo is a relatively developed city, located on the north coast of Portugal, with a direct train connection to Porto, it is a city of around 88 thousand inhabitants.
Cost of living in the city:
– Rent (1 bedroom apartment in the center) €750
– Supermarket expenses €150 – €200
– Transport (per person) €40
The average salary in Viana do Castelo is R$815.
9 – Aveiro
The city of Aveiro, located in the central region of Portugal, capital of the district of the same name, has attracted new residents due to its low cost of living and the advantages it offers. Also on the coast, it is a city of around 78 thousand inhabitants with excellent infrastructure.
Cost of living in the city:
– Rent (1 bedroom apartment in the center) €750
– Supermarket expenses €150 – €200
– Transport (per person) €40
The average salary in the city is €864 per month.
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