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Cost of Living

Cost of living analysis, prices, and affordability in Portugal.

A fuel pump nozzle inserted into the tank of a maroon car at a filling station

Pump Prices Climb Again This Week, but a Bigger Fuel-Tax Rebate Cushions the Rise

From Monday 6 July, diesel is expected to rise about three cents a litre and petrol about two, even as crude weakens. The Finance Ministry is lifting its ISP fuel-tax rebate to offset part of the increase, leaving averages near EUR1.80 for diesel and EUR1.90 for petrol.

The Portugal Brief 05 Jul 2026

Shelves stocked with groceries inside a Portuguese supermarket

Portugal's Essential-Food Basket Dips for the First Time Since March, DECO Proteste Finds

DECO Proteste's 63-item essentials basket has fallen to €253.63, down 1.23% on the week and its cheapest since March. It is now 4.88% lower than in January, though meat prices remain far above 2022 levels.

The Portugal Brief 03 Jul 2026

Terracotta rooftops of Lisbon's Alfama district at golden hour with the Sao Vicente de Fora monastery on the skyline

Domestic Travellers Power Portugal to 3.3 Million Hotel Guests in May as the British Market Cools

Portugal hosted 3.3 million guests in May (+3.9%) and eight million overnight stays, INE data show, with accommodation revenue up 5.8% to €755.7 million. The twist: resident travellers (+7.6%) drove the growth while the UK, still the top foreign market, slipped 1.1%.

The Portugal Brief 02 Jul 2026

A Galp petrol station in Portugal with orange Desconto signage and fuel pumps under a bright blue sky

Portugal Orders the ENSE Energy Regulator to Examine Why Pump Prices Held Firm After a 10% Crude Slide

On 1 July, Environment and Energy Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho said the government had asked the ENSE regulator to explain why petrol and diesel barely moved even as crude fell about 10% — a 'rockets and feathers' gap she called something that 'has no reason to be.'

The Portugal Brief 01 Jul 2026

Rows of solar photovoltaic panels on a green hillside at a solar farm in the Alentejo, southern Portugal

Why Portugal Has Some of Europe's Cheapest Electricity: Renewables Cover 78.5% of the Grid as Wholesale Prices Hover Near €42

Portuguese wholesale electricity averaged about €41.9/MWh in early 2026 — while most of Europe sat above €90. Renewables supplied 78.5% of the grid, third-highest in Europe behind Norway and Denmark, with solar output up 25%. Cheap power, though household bills lag the spot market.

The Portugal Brief 01 Jul 2026

Flat illustration of a courier in a blue uniform handing a red cardboard parcel to a customer signing a delivery note

Shoppers in Portugal Face a €3 Customs Charge on Non-EU Parcels as the €150 Duty-Free Exemption Expires July 1

From 1 July, parcels from Shein, Temu and AliExpress lose Portugal's €150 duty-free exemption and carry a new €3 customs handling charge per product category. The EU-wide reform, brought forward from 2028, aims to curb low-value Chinese imports and level the field for EU sellers.

The Portugal Brief 01 Jul 2026

Sunlit terracotta rooftops of Lisbon's Alfama district with the Sao Vicente de Fora monastery on the skyline

Portugal Minted 6,000 New Millionaires Last Year, Even as the Typical Household Grew Poorer

Portugal gained roughly 6,000 new dollar millionaires in 2025, lifting the total near 181,000, the UBS Global Wealth Report 2026 shows. Yet median wealth per adult fell 5.4% in real terms to $76,978. With 63% of wealthy portfolios tied up in property, the gains are pooling at the top while the typic

The Portugal Brief 30 Jun 2026

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