Working in Portugal: Is it worth it with the minimum wage of €870 in 2025?

If you are considering moving to Portugal, you probably want to know exactly how much you will earn and if you can live on that. The truth is that the answer depends on much more than just the number on your paycheck. In 2025, the Portuguese minimum wage reached €870 per month on the mainland — a significant increase compared to €820 in 2024 — but before getting excited about the figure, it’s essential to understand the actual net salary, what you earn per hour of work, and whether this money is enough in the main cities.

Portugal vs Brazil: What is the real income difference?

When converting €870 to reais, the amount is impressive: about R$5,500 to R$5,600, depending on the exchange rate. It seems much higher than the Brazilian minimum wage of R$1,518, right? But here’s the critical point: the cost of living in Portugal is also substantially higher.

Let’s be practical. In Brazil, a minimum wage worker faces relatively low deductions and can maintain a significant portion of the gross amount. In Portugal, the situation is different:

• Gross salary: €870
• **Social Security deduction (11%): €95.70
• Possible IRS withholding: €50 to €100 (varies depending on dependents)
• Estimated net salary: €774 to €724

This is the money that actually goes into your account. Meanwhile, a family of four in Portugal needs approximately €3,304 per month to live comfortably — according to Expatistan data. For a single person, the minimum is around €1,800 per month.

Practical translation: With the minimum wage, you cover your basic expenses but have no room for savings or emergencies in cities like Lisbon and Porto.

How much do you really earn per hour in Portugal?

This is a piece of data many people don’t analyze but should be decisive in your decision. With €870 monthly and a standard workweek of 176 hours per month:

• Hourly wage: ~€4.94
• Part-time: ~€435 per month
• Comparison: Qualified professions can earn 2 to 4 times this amount per hour

The question is: what is your qualification? If you are a developer, designer, nurse, or specialized technician, the Portuguese market pays much more than the minimum. Technology professionals, for example, can earn €2,000 to €3,500+ monthly — a huge difference that fully justifies the move.

The real cost of living in Portugal: where is it possible to live?

Food, housing, and transportation — these three categories consume 70-80% of the average income. Let’s see the reality:

Housing (the biggest budget villain):

• Studio in a common area: €729/month
• T2 apartment (85m²) in a typical neighborhood: €1,005/month
• T2 in a upscale area: €1,518/month

This means that with €774 net, you need to find a shared room (~€350-500) or a very cheap studio. Lisbon and Porto make this practically impossible with the minimum wage. But in medium-sized cities like Covilhã, Guarda, or Viseu? It becomes feasible.

Food (more affordable than you think):

• Set menu: €12
• 500g chicken: €3.36
• Fast food: €8

Other monthly costs:

• Transportation pass: €35
• Gym: €34
• Electricity + water + gas: €112
• Medical consultation: €65

**Total monthly (excluding rent): **~€400-500

What is the salary potential by profession?

This changes everything. Eurostat confirms that Portugal still maintains one of the lowest minimum wages in Western Europe, but — and this is important — salaries by profession vary drastically:

• IT professionals: €2,200-€3,500+
• Specialist nurses: €1,800-€2,400
• Engineers: €2,000-€3,200
• Experienced teachers: €1,600-€2,200
• Trade/Logistics: €1,200-€1,600

If you are qualified, Portugal offers significant salary growth compared to Brazil. The demand for specialized labor is high, especially in technology.

Salary evolution and wage policy in 2025 and beyond

The Portuguese government committed to annual adjustments of the minimum wage until 2026. In autonomous regions, the figures are already slightly higher:

• Madeira: €913.50
• Azores: €915

This upward trajectory shows an intention to approach the European average, although the process is gradual.

Do the islands change the situation?

Working in Madeira or the Azores offers a minimum wage of €913-€915, maintaining similar living costs. However, job opportunities are more limited, and salaries by profession are often slightly below the mainland.

The final decision: who does Portugal make sense for?

Worth it for:

• Qualified professionals (technology, health, engineering) who will earn 2-4x more than in Brazil
• Those seeking stability, robust social security, and long-term quality of life
• People willing to live in medium and small cities, controlling costs

Significant challenge for:

• Those earning only the minimum wage without prospects for progression
• Those who cannot live in small cities and need Lisbon or Porto
• Those with dependents and need a large savings margin

The conclusion is clear: it’s not the minimum wage that should guide your decision but the earning potential of your profession and your medium- to long-term personal goals. Compare what you earn in Brazil with what you could earn in Portugal, calculate the cost of living in the specific city you choose, and most importantly, assess whether there are real growth opportunities in your field. Only then will you make a safe and financially sustainable move.