What is the Minimum Wage in Portugal? Complete Guide for 2025

If you are considering working in Portugal coming from Brazil, one of the first questions that arises is: after all, what is the minimum wage in Portugal and is it worth making this move? To answer properly, you need to go far beyond the gross number and understand the mandatory deductions, the variation by professional sector, and, above all, how much actually remains at the end of the month after essential expenses.

Minimum Wage Value in Portugal in 2025

In 2025, the minimum wage in Portugal reached €870 per month in the mainland, representing an increase from €820 recorded in 2024. In the islands, the values are slightly higher:

• Madeira: €913.50
• Azores: €915

This annual growth is part of a government plan that foresees successive revisions until 2026, in an attempt to bring the Portuguese floor closer to the European average. Still, Portugal remains among the five countries with the lowest minimum income in the European Union, according to Eurostat indicators.

Conversion to Reais: Considering the current exchange rate, €870 is approximately R$5,580-R$5,650, a value that may vary according to exchange rate fluctuations.

System of Mandatory Deductions

Before celebrating the salary, it is essential to understand that the gross amount never fully reaches the bank account. The main cuts are:

Social Security (11%): Mandatory contribution for all dependent workers. This amount is deducted directly from the salary and goes to the pension and social protection fund.

Personal Income Tax (IRS): Applicable only above certain thresholds, it varies according to the number of dependents, family situation, and other personal circumstances.

Practical Example of Calculation

Taking a single worker with no dependents earning the minimum wage:

• Gross amount: €870.00
• Social Security deduction (11%): -€95.70
• Amount after Social Security: €774.30
• Estimated IRS for single person without dependents (: -€15 to €25
• Estimated net salary: €750-€759

This calculation shows that almost 13% of the income is retained before the worker has actual access to the money.

Salary Revision Trajectory in Portugal

Portugal has followed a consistent policy of annual minimum wage increases:

• 2020: €665
• 2021: €705
• 2022: €705 )frozen(
• 2023: €760
• 2024: €820
• 2025: €870

This progression reflects the political commitment to improve purchasing power, although the growth rate is still below the increase in the cost of living.

Compensation by Professional Sector

The minimum income is just the floor. Depending on qualification and experience, earnings vary significantly:

Professions Close to the Minimum:

• Logistics assistant: €900-€1,100
• Cleaning worker: €850-€950
• Retail worker: €880-€1,050

Qualified Professions:

• Entry-level programmer )entry(: €1,400-€1,800
• Nurse: €1,300-€1,600
• Public school teacher: €1,200-€1,500

Specialized Professions:

• Civil engineer: €2,000-€3,000
• Architect: €1,800-€2,500
• Doctor: €2,500-€4,500

These values refer to 40-hour contracts )176 hours per month(.

Hourly Wage

With the minimum wage of €870 and a standard workweek of 176 hours per month, the hourly rate is around €4.94 per hour.

For context:

• Part-time )20h/week(: approximately €435 monthly
• Qualified professions: €8 to €15 per hour
• Specialized professions: €15 to €30+ per hour

Cost of Living Map in Portugal

The Portuguese cost of living is higher than in Brazil but lower than in many European countries. According to data from international cost of living platforms:

Estimated Monthly Expenses:

• A person living alone: €1,750-€1,900
• Family of four: €3,200-€3,600

Portugal ranks as the second most economical country in Western Europe, just after Greece.

) Breakdown of Typical Costs

Food:

• Fast food meal: €7.50-€9.00
• Menu of the day ###restaurant(: €11-€14
• Chicken )500g(: €3.20-€3.60
• National cheese )500g(: €4.70-€5.20
• Wholegrain bread: €1.10-€1.50

Housing:

• T2 apartment )85m²( in central area: €1,400-€1,600
• T2 apartment in peripheral area: €900-€1,100
• Studio in a medium residential area: €650-€800
• Rental in secondary cities )Braga, Covilhã(: 30-40% less

Transport:

• Gasoline: €1.65-€1.75 per liter
• Monthly public transport pass: €32-€40
• Lisbon-Porto round-trip train ticket ): €50-€70

Utilities and Services:

• Electricity + Water + Gas: €100-€130 per month
• Gym: €30-€45
• Private medical consultation: €60-€80
• Basic health insurance: €40-€70

Is it feasible to live on the minimum wage in Portugal?

The answer is nuanced: yes, it is possible, but under specific conditions.

In Major Cities (Lisbon, Porto): With €750-€760 net, living comfortably is challenging. A decent T0 apartment consumes €600-€700, leaving only €50-€160 for food, transportation, and other expenses. It’s possible but requires strict discipline.

In Medium-sized Cities (Braga, Covilhã, Évora): The same salary allows for a more comfortable life. Rent of €500-€600 and slightly lower overall costs provide a better quality of life.

Strategies to Make It Work:

• Share housing (reduces rent by 30-40%)
• Live in peripheral areas with public transport
• Take advantage of subsidized work meals
• Manage shopping at discount supermarkets

Minimum Wage in Portugal vs Brazil: Comparative Analysis

For those coming from Brazil, the comparison must be multidimensional.

Nominal Values:

• Portugal: €870 gross = approximately R$5,600
• Brazil: R$1,518 (2025)

Portugal pays 3.7 times more nominally. However, this is just the first level of analysis.

Real Purchasing Power:

In Portugal, after mandatory deductions, the worker keeps about €750. From this amount:

• Rent (medium zone): €550-€700
• Food and transportation: €150-€200
• Savings/leisure: €0-€100

In Brazil, a worker earning the minimum wage of R$1,518 after smaller deductions (approximately 9-11%) has R$1,350 left. In this case:

• Rent (medium zone, interior): R$400-R$600
• Food and transportation: R$400-R$600
• Savings/leisure: R$150-R$350

Comparison Conclusion: Although the nominal Portuguese amount is clearly higher, the actual financial margin can be similar or even lower in major Portuguese cities. The real advantage emerges when one has education or professional experience, as salaries for qualified professions in Portugal are consistently 50-100% higher than in Brazil, in a much more pronounced ratio than the minimum wages.

Outlook for Different Profiles

Unskilled Worker: Portugal offers a slightly higher financial margin, but the challenge is similar to Brazil. Recommended: have savings (3-6 months of expenses), accept shared housing, and actively seek career progression.

Qualified Professional (Technician, Bachelor, Specialist): Here lies the real opportunity. An IT technician, nurse, or specialist earns in Portugal 2-3 times more than in Brazil relative to their local wages, and although the cost of living is higher, it does not fully offset this difference. Result: significantly greater purchasing power.

Professional with Recognized European Experience: Practically any experienced professional will have a salary 50% above the median, opening real opportunities for savings and investment.

Final Considerations

The decision to move to Portugal cannot be based solely on the value of the minimum wage. The analysis should include:

1. Professional sector: What is the real earning potential in your area?
2. Location: Lisbon and Porto offer more opportunities but charge 30-40% more for housing
3. Personal experience: Experienced professionals have access to significantly more advantageous markets
4. Time horizon: Short-term (save) vs. long-term (career and stability)
5. Family structure: With dependents, IRS deductions decrease, improving net income

In 2025, Portugal remains an interesting option for Brazilians seeking not only better salaries but also stability, social security, access to quality healthcare, and professional development opportunities in the medium to long term. The minimum wage alone does not justify a move. But combined with a growing professional career and a significantly higher quality of life, it can be an intelligent and balanced financial decision.