Minimum Wage Portugal 2025: How Much You Really Earn and How to Live

Many Brazilians dream of moving to Portugal in search of better salaries and quality of life. But does Portugal’s minimum wage truly justify this move? And more importantly: how much is left in the pocket after mandatory deductions? In this article, we analyze the real numbers of the Portuguese minimum wage for 2025, examine the cost of living in different cities, and compare it with the Brazilian reality.

The Value of the Minimum Wage in Portugal during 2025

In 2025, the minimum wage established in Portugal reached €870 per month in the mainland region. This represents an increase from the €820 recorded in 2024, maintaining the trend of annual adjustments through 2026.

The autonomous islands offer slightly higher wages:

• Madeira: €913.50
• Azores: €915

Converted to Brazilian reais, the Portuguese minimum wage amounts to approximately R$ 5,584, a value that can vary depending on the EUR/BRL exchange rate. Although numerically high by Brazilian standards, Portugal remains among the European countries with the least competitive minimum wages according to Eurostat, well below the continental average.

Mandatory Deductions: What Really Comes Out of Your Pocket

The main difference between gross salary and what actually reaches your wallet lies in the deductions:

Social Security: 11% — mandatory retention for all dependent workers

IRS (Personal Income Tax) — progressive rate applied according to income bracket, family situation, and dependents

Practical simulation of a worker earning the minimum wage:

• Gross salary: €870
• Social Security contribution (11%): €95.70
• Net base: €774.30

If there are IRS (deductions vary depending on personal circumstances), this amount decreases further, potentially oscillating between €730 and €760 depending on applicable deductions.

Comparison Between Regions and Professional Sectors

Earnings vary significantly depending on the professional area. Specialized technicians, IT professionals, engineers, and managers earn multiple times the legal minimum.

For context, the standard weekly working hours are 40 hours, totaling about 176 hours per month, which corresponds to an hourly rate close to €4.94 for those earning the minimum wage. Skilled professionals can reach €15 to €20 per hour.

Comparative Analysis: Portugal vs Brazil

The choice between staying in Brazil or relocating to Portugal cannot be reduced solely to a comparison of nominal figures.

Legal minimum wage for 2025:

• Portugal: €870 (≈ R$ 5,500–5,600)
• Brazil: R$ 1,518

Although the Portuguese amount seems three times higher, the real financial context is more complex:

The Portuguese net income (~€770) after deductions represents a purchasing power considerably affected by the local cost of living. In Brazil, despite the lower salary, certain basic expenses better preserve proportional purchasing power.

Estimated monthly cost of living:

• Single individual: €1,800
• Family of 4: €3,304

Portugal ranks as the second most affordable country in Western Europe, a position that should not create false expectations about purchasing power.

Essential Expenses: What Consumes the Salary in Portugal

Food and Dining

• Fast food meal: €8
• Set menu at a restaurant: €12
• Chicken (500g): €3.36
• Cheese (500g): €4.90

Housing (Rent)

• T2 (85m²) in central Lisbon/Porto: €1,518
• T2 in peripheral areas: €1,005
• Studio in common area: €729

Transportation

• Gasoline: €1.69/liter
• Monthly urban transport pass: €35

Essential Services

• Gym/Fitness center: €34
• Electricity, water, and gas combined: €112
• Private medical consultation: €65

Is It Feasible to Survive on the Minimum Wage in Portugal?

Theoretically possible, but requires specific context:

In medium-sized cities (Covilhã, Guarda, Viseu), life with €770 net becomes manageable with budgeting discipline, especially if housing is secured or shared.

In Lisbon and Porto, living solely on the minimum wage demands severe adjustments: shared housing, elimination of unnecessary expenses, maximum utilization of social benefits.

The difference depends on the choice of location, personal consumption style, and additional fixed expenses (health, education, dependents).

Final Perspective: Is It Worth Migrating?

For qualified professionals with valued experience in the European market, Portugal offers substantial opportunities. Salaries above the minimum wage, job stability, and a consolidated social security system are real attractions.

For those earning only the minimum wage, the analysis should consider: compatibility with the desired lifestyle, opportunities for professional growth, local support networks, and motivations beyond purely financial ones.

The decision should be based on a holistic assessment: researching salaries in your specific sector, accurately estimating expenses in the target city, understanding Portuguese tax burdens, and aligning with medium- and long-term personal goals.

Portugal remains an attractive destination for Brazilians, especially when combining wages above the minimum with access to a network of professional opportunities and the quality of life the country offers.