Internet, Phone, and Utilities in Portugal in 2026: How to Set Up Electricity, Water, Gas, and Broadband as an Expat
If you are moving to Portugal, one of the first things you will need to do after signing a rental contract or completing a property purchase is set up your utilities. Unlike in some countries where services transfer automatically, Portugal requires...
If you are moving to Portugal, one of the first things you will need to do after signing a rental contract or completing a property purchase is set up your utilities. Unlike in some countries where services transfer automatically, Portugal requires you to open new contracts in your own name — and most providers will need your NIF (tax number) and proof of address before they activate anything. This guide covers electricity, gas, water, internet, mobile phones, and television, with current prices, the best providers, and the bureaucratic steps you need to know.
Get Your NIF First
Almost every utility provider in Portugal will ask for your NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) before opening an account. If you have not obtained one yet, see our step-by-step guide on how to get your Portuguese tax number. You will also need your passport or residence card, and in most cases a Portuguese bank account for direct debit — see our guide on opening a bank account in Portugal.
Electricity
Portugal liberalised its electricity market in 2006, and consumers can now choose from more than 30 licensed suppliers. The main providers are:
- EDP Comercial — the former state monopoly and still the largest supplier, with the widest range of tariffs and a well-developed English-language website and app.
- Endesa — Spanish-owned, competitive fixed-rate plans, strong customer service in English.
- Iberdrola — another Spanish entrant, often among the cheapest on comparison sites.
- Galp Energia — Portugal's oil and gas major, offers bundled electricity and gas plans.
- Goldenergy — a smaller provider that frequently undercuts the big four on price.
- Coopernico — a renewable energy cooperative for those who want 100 per cent green power from a community-owned supplier.
To switch or set up a new contract, you need your NIF, the CPE code (Código de Ponto de Entrega, a 20-digit number printed on the electricity meter or on a previous bill), and a bank account for direct debit. Most providers allow online sign-up. If you are moving into a property where the previous tenant cancelled the contract, you may need to request a reconnection from E-Redes (the distribution network operator), which can take 2-5 working days.
Typical costs: A one-bedroom apartment uses roughly 150-200 kWh per month. At current regulated tariff rates of approximately EUR 0.16-0.18 per kWh (depending on contracted power level), expect a monthly bill of EUR 35-55. Larger homes with electric heating or air conditioning can reach EUR 100-150 in winter or summer. Portugal has a bi-hourly tariff option where electricity is cheaper between 10pm and 8am — useful if you run a dishwasher, washing machine, or charge an electric car overnight.
Natural Gas
Piped natural gas is available in most urban areas of mainland Portugal but is not universal — many rural properties and older buildings in Lisbon and Porto still use bottled gas (butane or propane cylinders). If your property has a gas connection, the main suppliers are Galp, EDP, Endesa, and Goldenergy. You will need the CUI code (the gas equivalent of the CPE) to set up a contract.
Typical costs: A household using gas for cooking and water heating typically pays EUR 15-30 per month. If you also use gas for central heating (common in northern Portugal), winter bills can reach EUR 60-100.
If your property uses bottled gas, 13kg butane cylinders cost approximately EUR 28-32 and can be ordered from Galp, Repsol, or Rubis for home delivery. One cylinder typically lasts 4-8 weeks for a household that uses gas only for cooking.
Water
Water supply is managed by municipal utilities, not by private companies, so your provider depends on where you live. The main ones include:
- EPAL — Greater Lisbon
- Águas do Porto — Porto metropolitan area
- Águas do Algarve / municipal companies — Algarve region
- SMAS (Serviços Municipalizados) — various municipalities
To open a water account, visit the local utility's office with your NIF, rental contract or property deed, and identification. Some municipalities now allow online registration. Water bills in Portugal typically include three components: water consumption, sewage (saneamento), and waste collection (resíduos sólidos).
Typical costs: A two-person household using 8-10 cubic metres per month pays approximately EUR 25-40, including sewage and waste charges. Water is priced on a tiered system — the first block (up to 5m³) is cheapest, and prices rise steeply for high consumption, which is designed to discourage waste in a country increasingly affected by drought.
Internet and Broadband
Portugal has excellent broadband infrastructure, with fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) coverage reaching approximately 90 per cent of the population — one of the highest rates in Europe. The main providers are:
- MEO (Altice Portugal) — the largest operator, formerly Portugal Telecom. Best coverage, including in rural areas. Offers standalone fibre or bundled packages with TV and mobile.
- NOS — the second-largest, strong in urban areas, owns the country's main cable TV network. Good for bundled TV, internet, and mobile packages.
- Vodafone Portugal — excellent fibre network, often rated highest for speed and reliability in independent tests. Slightly more expensive but strong on customer service.
- NOWO — budget option, limited coverage, but significantly cheaper for basic internet.
Typical plans and prices (April 2026):
- Fibre-only (100-500 Mbps): EUR 25-35 per month
- Triple play (fibre + TV + mobile): EUR 40-65 per month
- Gigabit fibre (1 Gbps): EUR 35-50 per month (available from MEO, NOS, and Vodafone in most urban areas)
Most contracts require a 24-month commitment with early termination fees. If you are renting short-term, ask whether the property already has an active internet contract — many furnished rentals include broadband. Alternatively, MEO and NOS offer no-commitment plans at a premium of EUR 5-10 per month.
Installation typically takes 3-10 working days after contract activation. In new-build apartments, fibre is usually pre-installed to the apartment's telecommunications panel. In older buildings, a technician will need to route fibre from the building's entry point to your flat, which occasionally requires landlord permission.
Mobile Phones
Portugal's three mobile networks are MEO, NOS, and Vodafone, plus several MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) including NOWO, Lycamobile, and WTF (a youth-oriented NOS sub-brand). Coverage is excellent in urban areas and along motorways; rural and mountainous areas may have weaker signal on some networks.
Prepaid SIM cards can be purchased at any electronics store, supermarket, or operator shop. You will need your passport or ID card for registration (EU anti-terrorism regulation). Top-up is available at Multibanco ATMs, PayShop agents, and online. Prepaid data packages typically cost EUR 10-15 for 10-15 GB valid for 30 days.
Contract plans start at approximately EUR 12-15 per month for unlimited calls and texts with 10-15 GB of data. Unlimited data plans are available for EUR 25-35 per month. If you bundle mobile with home internet, most operators offer significant discounts — a second or third mobile line added to a triple-play package typically costs only EUR 5-10 extra per month.
Portugal uses EU roaming rules, so if you have an EU SIM card from another country, it will work in Portugal at domestic rates. However, if you are resident in Portugal, operators may enforce fair-use policies on permanent roaming — in practice, this means you should get a Portuguese SIM if you plan to stay more than a few months.
Television
Free-to-air television in Portugal includes RTP1, RTP2, SIC, and TVI, which can be received via a standard DTT (digital terrestrial television) antenna at no cost. Most expats find the free channels sufficient for background Portuguese language practice but subscribe to a paid TV package for English-language content.
The main pay-TV providers are MEO, NOS, and Vodafone, all of which offer packages including Portuguese and international channels, on-demand content, and streaming app integrations. Prices start at approximately EUR 30-35 per month for basic packages with 100+ channels, rising to EUR 50-70 for premium packages with sports (including Premier League via Eleven Sports) and cinema channels.
Most expats supplement pay-TV with streaming services. Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+ all operate in Portugal with Portuguese and English-language content. If you want UK-specific content (BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, Channel 4), you will need a VPN — these services are geo-blocked outside the United Kingdom.
Practical Tips for Expats
- Bundle everything: The cheapest option is almost always a triple-play or quadruple-play package (internet + TV + mobile, or + landline). Buying services individually costs 30-50 per cent more.
- English-language support: MEO, NOS, and Vodafone all have English-speaking customer service lines and English-language websites or apps. EDP and Endesa also offer English support for electricity.
- Direct debit is expected: Most providers require or strongly incentivise payment by direct debit (débito direto). Paper billing is being phased out and some providers charge EUR 1-2 extra for it.
- Keep your contract termination dates: Portuguese utility and telecom contracts auto-renew. If you are leaving Portugal, you need to give 30 days' written notice to cancel. Electricity and gas contracts have no lock-in period and can be cancelled at any time. Telecom contracts typically have 24-month commitments.
- Smart meters are rolling out: E-Redes is installing smart electricity meters nationwide, aiming for full coverage by 2028. If your property has one, you can track consumption in real time via the E-Redes app and switch between single-rate and bi-hourly tariffs without a technician visit.
For more on settling in, see our guides on renting in Portugal, cost of living in Portugal, and healthcare in Portugal.
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