How Much Do Things Cost In Portugal?

Olives in the market in Ponta Delgado Azores.
Olives in the market in Ponta Delgado, Azores.

After a week in Portugal, we’re happy to see that Portugal continues its proud legacy of being one of the most affordable countries in Western Europe. How much do things cost in Portugal?

This well-deserved reputation is not without a cost. Things are that cheap here because the people make so little money. The minimum wage is a mere  €500 a month. In neighboring Spain, it’s a cool thousand.

So as we were buying cigarettes at a bodega in Ponta Delgada Azores, we commented on how cheap three $3.30 euro cigarette pack is. “It’s not cheap for us,”  said a local man who looked at us ruefully.

Beers usually cost around two o three euros. Coffee is €60 cents or €1.20 in the airport. Grilled fish, potatoes, coffee and salad at a roadside restaurant at € 6.50. This five-star hotel The Tivoli Carvoeira in the Allgarve charges around €300 per night for rooms with a giant pool and luxury amenities.

We’ve heard about is the highest taxes on a new car. I man we met from the UK who moved to the Algarve said he bought a car for about €15,000 and the tax was €10,000. He was stunned. Fresh mozzarella , the best we’ve ever eaten, was available in the market for about €1.20 for a pound.

Most of the seafood in the market was very affordable too., The one exception was tuna at €26 a kilo and the other expensive item I thought was octopus which was €12 kilo .  I have seen octopus for sale in Whole Foods going for $12.99 a pound, double that cost. e are going out to dinner and cover the cost it was about €50 for two of us with lots of wine and lots of food you don’t choose expensive places, but does of course are readily available with Michelin star restaurants all over Portugal!

We are going out to dinner and t0 cover the cost it was about €50 for two of us with lots of wine and lots of food. You don’t choose expensive places, but, of course, they are readily available with Michelin star restaurants all over Portugal!

 

 

€50