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Germany vs Portugal

Portugal is {pct} {word} than Germany. Compare cost of living, taxes, salaries and visas — and the salary you’d need in Portugal to match Germany.

Germany vs Portugal at a glance — Portugal is 17% cheaper than Germany overall. Average net salary: $1,300/mo vs $2,900/mo. Top income tax: 48% vs 45%.

GermanyPortugal
Cost of living
Cost of living index11192
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)45%48%
VAT / sales tax19%23%
Social security (employee)20%—
Corporate tax30%21%
Capital gains26.4%28%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$2,900/mo$1,300/mo
Minimum wage$2,716/mo✓$1,244/mo✓
GDP per capita$60,496✓$32,082✓
Inflation (annual)2.2%✓2.3%✓
Life expectancy81 yr✓82 yr✓
Quality of life
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighHigh
Digital-nomad visaNoYes

✓ = official statistics (Eurostat 2026, World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

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? Frequently asked questions

Is Germany cheaper than Portugal?

Portugal is about 17% cheaper than Germany overall — its cost-of-living index is 92 versus 111 for Germany.

How much do you need to earn in Portugal to live like in Germany?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Germany is worth about $62,189 in Portugal. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Germany or Portugal?

Germany has the lower top income-tax rate — 45% versus 48% in Portugal.