EUROCOSTSCOUNTRY COMPARISON · UPDATED 2026-07-15
Portugal vs Spain: taxes, salary and cost of living
A move between Portugal and Spain is not simply a choice between a cheap and an expensive country; income, rent and taxation pull the result in different directions.
Portugal vs Spain at a glance
| Indicator | Portugal | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Standard VAT | 23% | 21% |
| Income tax | 12.5-48% | 19-47% |
| Social contributions | 34.75% | 36.25% |
| Tax burden | 41.8% | 39.5% |
| Average monthly salary | €1,877 | €2,642 |
| Studio rent | €900 | €950 |
| Monthly food estimate | €300 | €320 |
| Gasoline | 1.73 €/L | 1.57 €/L |
| Electricity | 0.24 €/kWh | 0.24 €/kWh |
How far does the local salary go?
Spain records the higher listed monthly salary. The gap is €765, approximately 29.0% relative to the lower figure. Within the numeric EuroCosts sample, Portugal ranks 18 of 27 for salary and Spain ranks 13 of 27. That ranking is useful context, but gross and net labels must be checked in the source record.
What recurring living costs reveal
Portugal has the lower listed studio rent by €50, a 5.3% difference relative to the higher rent. Portugal sits 26 of 37 and Spain 28 of 37 in the available low-to-high rent ranking. Portugal 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 €677 in Portugal and €1,372 in Spain. This leaves €695 more in Spain, before utilities, transport, healthcare, childcare or personal taxes not already reflected in salary.
Tax profile for employees
Spain has the lower listed tax burden by 2.3 percentage points. Standard VAT is 23% in Portugal versus 21% in Spain. Allowances, tax brackets and employment status can reverse a headline comparison.
Fuel-price impact
Spain has the lower listed gasoline price by €0.16 per litre. For a driver buying 50 litres a month, that headline difference is about €8 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, Portugal deserves closer attention. A locally employed professional should instead begin with salary and payroll definitions.
Final view: Portugal or Spain?
Spain produces the stronger simplified monthly remainder in this dataset, while Portugal 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 Portugal comparisons · Explore Spain comparisons