Is it worth working in Portugal with the minimum wage? A real analysis for Brazilians in 2025

The decision to move to Portugal involves much more than simply comparing numbers on a spreadsheet. In 2025, the Portuguese minimum wage reached €870 per month on the mainland, while in the Madeira and Azores islands, the figures are slightly higher — €913.50 and €915, respectively. For Brazilians, this amount in reais sounds impressive: about R$5,584. However, the financial reality is much more nuanced when considering mandatory deductions, the high cost of living, and salary variation by profession.

The deduction structure that drastically reduces net salary

The gross minimum wage of €870 does not fully reach the worker’s pocket. Two main deductions apply to this amount:

Social Security: 11% mandatory contribution
This is the most predictable deduction. From the €870, immediately €95.70 are deducted, reducing the amount to €774.30.

IRS — Portuguese Income Tax
Here, the situation varies. Not everyone earning the minimum pays IRS, especially if they have dependents or certain family situations that generate deductions. Those entitled to deductions can keep almost the entire previous amount. Those who do not qualify for any exceptions see the balance decrease even further.

In practice, someone earning exactly the minimum wage without any tax benefits receives something close to €750–€770 net per month. This difference between gross and net is fundamental in evaluating a move.

How much does it cost to live in Portugal with this money?

The cost of living in Portugal is the second lowest in Western Europe, according to Expatistan data. For one person, average expenses are around €1,800 per month. A family of four spends approximately €3,304.

With only €770 net, it’s clear that working only for the minimum and living alone in Portugal requires significant sacrifices or additional support.

Expenses are distributed as follows:

Housing (biggest budget item):

• Studio in a common neighborhood: €729
• T2 apartment (two bedrooms) in a common area: €1,005
• T2 apartment in a more upscale region: €1,518

Food:

• Executive meal at a restaurant: €12
• Basic fast food: €8
• Grocery items: 500g chicken for €3.36; 500g cheese for €4.90

Transportation:

• Monthly public transport pass: €35
• Gasoline: €1.69/liter

Other essential services:

• Gym: €34
• Electricity, water, and gas: €112
• Medical consultation: €65

In Lisbon or Porto, even more challenging scenarios unfold — rent can easily exceed €1,200 in habitable areas.

Minimum wage per hour: understand the proportion

With a monthly work schedule of 176 hours, the minimum wage per hour in Portugal is around €4.94. This is the base value upon which all legal remuneration is based. For part-time work, the expectation would be to earn about €435 per month.

Qualified professions, however, can earn two, three, or even four times this hourly rate. An experienced engineer, doctor, or programmer not only exceeds the minimum wage but also enjoys a comfortable margin over costs.

Where working in Portugal makes the biggest difference

The salary table by profession reveals significant disparities:

Careers with university education or recognized experience in the European market — technology, health, engineering — offer minimum wages well above the minimum, often in the range of €1,500 to €3,000 or more. In these cases, Portugal genuinely represents a financial advance.

On the other hand, sectors like hospitality, retail, and general services tend to pay close to the minimum, affecting workers without specific qualifications.

Portugal versus Brazil: who earns more for real?

In 2025, Brazil maintains its minimum wage at R$1,518. Converted, the Portuguese €870 far exceeds this amount — more than 3.6 times the nominal value.

However, this superiority disappears when considering net income after essential costs.

A Brazilian worker earning the minimum faces smaller deductions because the tax burden is lower. They therefore retain a proportionally larger share of the gross salary. Additionally, some basic costs — rent in inland cities, food in certain sectors — are proportionally more affordable in Brazil.

In Portugal, despite the nominal salary being higher, the cost of living almost consumes the entire income of unskilled or inexperienced workers. Those with qualifications, however, find much more favorable scenarios in Portugal in the medium term — clearer salary progression, robust social benefits, institutional stability.

The chosen region determines viability

Is it possible to live on €870–€770 in Portugal? Technically yes, but it depends heavily on the location:

• Lisbon and Porto: Require significant budget discipline. Rent alone consumes most of the net salary.
• Medium-sized cities: Braga, Covilhã, Viseu — here, adaptation is more feasible. Rent is proportionally lower, and the overall cost of living decreases.
• Rural areas: Even more affordable, though job opportunities diminish.

Personal lifestyle also matters: those who can live austerely, share housing, or have other income sources can establish themselves. Those demanding additional comforts face difficulties.

Conclusion: a realistic analysis for your decision

Migrating to Portugal on the minimum wage alone is not a sensible recommendation for most Brazilians. However, for those with recognized professional qualifications in the European market — programmers, engineers, health professionals, tech specialists — the country offers stability, social security, a robust healthcare system, and growth prospects that justify the move.

The best approach to the decision involves researching the actual salary range for your profession in Portugal, identifying the city where you plan to live, calculating realistic monthly expenses, and comparing with opportunities in Brazil. Gross numbers are misleading. Context, qualifications, and opportunities shape a successful move.