Is Spain or Portugal cheaper for a holiday?

While the cost of living can vary depending on location and personal preferences, Portugal tends to be slightly cheaper than Spain for accommodation, food, and transportation. Both countries offer beautiful scenery, rich culture, and delicious food, making them great destinations for travelers on a budget.



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Both Portugal and Spain have long, storied histories and robust cultures that'll charm you when you visit. If you're interested in seeing more famous artworks and experiencing the more influential culture, Spain probably edges Portugal out by virtue of its size. But remember that Portugal is no second fiddle.

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It's cheap partly as wages are so low! But yes, keep quiet. We have had massive rises in taxes and utility bills this year as the government tries to work its way out of the bad economic situation. Prices rises are happening but Lisbon and Portugal generally is still pretty inexpensive.

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However, if you are looking for authentic fishing villages, cultural experiences, rolling surf and less crowded beaches, Portugal may be more to your liking than the high-rise Spanish Costas! Both countries have family friendly beaches, city beaches and more remote crescents of sand that few visitors choose to visit.

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Portugal's beaches are beautiful, yes–but due to being set on the Atlantic, the water is actually much colder than many visitors might expect (yes, even in the Algarve). What is this? Spain's long Mediterranean coast, on the other hand, tends to offer much warmer water and a longer swimming season.

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What are Portugal's prices for food and drink? Portugal's prices for food and drink are cheap. To eat out, you can pay as little as €15 for dinner, with a bottle of wine at a restaurant costing €10. You can choose to eat in cheaper places for just €10.

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Overall Lisbon is a good destination for budget travellers and probably the best location if you wish to visit during the summer. Porto is rapidly becoming a popular tourist destination, in part due to the number of low-cost airlines flying into Porto.

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Santarém Just an hour away from Lisbon, the city of Santarém, in the Santarém district, is one of the cheapest cities to live in Portugal. It's also much calmer than the Portuguese capital, in what is called the Ribatejo region.

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If you're by yourself, you can live on €1,000 per month in Spain. This includes room rent, groceries, health insurance, rare use of public transport, eating out a few times a month and shopping moderately.

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Advantages of Portugal Picturesque beaches. Sporting opportunities include the best surfing spots in Europe, top golf courses, hiking, and paraplanning. High English language standards. Tax benefits for residents with Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) regime.

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Spain and Portugal are part of the free travel zone called “the Schengen Zone”. Travel between those 24 countries is free and open without any passport control, whether flying, driving or using public transport …

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Eating and Living Well The cost of food is lower in Portugal because the average wage is lower than in places like the US. The typical worker in Portugal makes about €925 per month (based on 2019 figures). That works out to a little over $12,000/year.

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The 11 best places to visit in Portugal
  1. Lisbon. Best for nightlife. ...
  2. Douro Valley. Best place to drink wine. ...
  3. Sintra. Best for a fantastical escape. ...
  4. Óbidos. Best hilltop village. ...
  5. Setúbal Peninsula. Best for wild, cliff-backed beaches. ...
  6. Porto. Best for urban exploring. ...
  7. The Minho. Best for traditional villages and wilderness trails. ...
  8. Évora.


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Algarve is the hottest region of Portugal, with the exception of Madeira Island (an archipelago of Portugal). In the Alentejo region the average temperatures are around 16ºC (depending on if you are on the coast or in the interior) and in the Algarve region 18ºC.

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Not much difference in average temps in either location, though the algarve is more influenced by its proximity to atlantic weather systems than the costa del sols more sheltered med location.

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In fact, the waters of Portugal's coasts are rather cold compared to those of the Mediterranean Sea. A period of mental and physical preparation is necessary to enjoy a swim in the waters of the beaches of Portugal. However, there are some places where the temperature of the water is warmer and warmer.

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