EUROCOSTSCOUNTRY COMPARISON · UPDATED 2026-07-15
Greece vs Portugal: taxes, salary and cost of living
A move between Greece and Portugal is not simply a choice between a cheap and an expensive country; income, rent and taxation pull the result in different directions.
Greece vs Portugal at a glance
| Indicator | Greece | Portugal |
|---|---|---|
| Standard VAT | 24% | 23% |
| Income tax | 9-44% | 12.5-48% |
| Social contributions | ~38% | 34.75% |
| Tax burden | 39.3% | 41.8% |
| Average monthly salary | €1,500 | €1,877 |
| Studio rent | €500 | €900 |
| Monthly food estimate | €300 | €300 |
| Gasoline | 1.8 €/L | 1.73 €/L |
| Electricity | 0.22 €/kWh | 0.24 €/kWh |
How far does the local salary go?
Portugal records the higher listed monthly salary. The gap is €377, approximately 20.1% relative to the lower figure. Within the numeric EuroCosts sample, Greece ranks 22 of 27 for salary and Portugal ranks 18 of 27. That ranking is useful context, but gross and net labels must be checked in the source record.
What recurring living costs reveal
Greece has the lower listed studio rent by €400, a 44.4% difference relative to the higher rent. Greece sits 10 of 37 and Portugal 26 of 37 in the available low-to-high rent ranking. Greece also has the lower food estimate, so the housing result is reinforced by groceries.
After subtracting only the listed rent and food estimates, the simplified remainder is €700 in Greece and €677 in Portugal. This leaves €23 more in Greece, before utilities, transport, healthcare, childcare or personal taxes not already reflected in salary.
Tax profile for employees
Greece has the lower listed tax burden by 2.5 percentage points. Standard VAT is 24% in Greece versus 23% in Portugal. Allowances, tax brackets and employment status can reverse a headline comparison.
Fuel-price impact
Portugal has the lower listed gasoline price by €0.07 per litre. For a driver buying 50 litres a month, that headline difference is about €3.5 monthly, before insurance, parking and road charges.
The answer depends on your profile
For a remote worker paid from abroad, housing and daily costs may matter more than the local salary ranking; on that narrow view, Greece deserves closer attention. A locally employed professional should instead begin with salary and payroll definitions.
Final view: Greece or Portugal?
Greece produces the stronger simplified monthly remainder in this dataset, while Greece leads on listed rent. That split explains why there is no universal winner.
Sources and data references
- PwC standard VAT rates
- PwC personal income tax rates
- PwC corporate income tax rates
- EuroCosts data scope and generation process
Explore Greece comparisons · Explore Portugal comparisons