Average salary in Portugal (2020–2025)
When you’re planning living in Portugal, salary figures can feel deceptively simple: you look up the average salary in Portugal, compare it to your expected rent, and try to decide whether a job offer “works.” The reality is that Portugal uses a few different salary concepts, so the best approach is to anchor your expectations in official statistics, then translate them into a practical monthly budget.
The latest official average monthly salary figures from Statistics Portugal (INE) show total gross monthly earnings per employee at €1,741 in Q2 2025, and €1,615 in Q3 2025 (quarter ended September 2025). In 2024, INE reported an annual average gross total monthly remuneration of €1,602. For context, the national minimum wage in mainland Portugal was €870/month in 2025, and is now €920/month in 2026.
First, a clarity point: “gross” vs “net”
- Gross salary is what your contract states before IRS (income tax) and Social Security.
- Net salary is what lands in your bank account after deductions.
For a standardized, official “net” reference, the EU’s EURES portal publishes average gross and average net monthly earnings for a single person earning 100% of the average (expressed in 12 monthly payments). In 2023, EURES lists €1,976 gross/month and €1,412 net/month for Portugal.
That’s helpful for orientation, but when you’re moving, the number that matters most is your own net pay, based on your contract (and whether it’s paid in 12 or 14 instalments).
Average salary update from 2020 to 2025
2020–2023 (gross and net, comparable EU method)
EURES’ official benchmark shows a steady rise:
- 2020: €1,656 gross / €1,199 net (monthly; 12-payment format)
- 2021: €1,740 gross / €1,250 net
- 2022: €1,839 gross / €1,317 net
- 2023: €1,976 gross / €1,412 net
Use this series when you want a clean “gross vs net” picture that’s comparable across countries.
2024 (gross, Portugal’s official statistics)
For Portugal-specific reporting, Statistics Portugal (INE) reported that in 2024, the gross total average monthly remuneration per worker was €1,602.
2025 (gross, latest official quarterly figures)
For 2025, INE’s latest published snapshots are quarterly (not a full-year average yet):
- Q2 2025 (quarter ended June): €1,741 gross/month (total)
- Regular earnings: €1,368 gross/month (this excludes seasonal payments such as holiday/Christmas allowances).
- Q3 2025 (quarter ended September): €1,615 gross/month (total)
If you’re budgeting a move, treat quarterly data as an “average salary update” pulse check, useful, but not the same thing as a final annual average.
Minimum monthly wage (national minimum wage): your lower bound
Even if you’re not planning to earn it, the minimum monthly wage matters because it sets the legal floor for full-time employment contracts.
- National minimum wage (mainland Portugal, 2026): €920/month (gross)
This also helps explain why “average” and “typical experience” can be far apart: a meaningful share of the workforce is clustered closer to the minimum than to the national average.
How to use these numbers when you’re moving to Portugal
1) Always convert the salary into a monthly budget number
Portugal often uses a 14-payment structure (12 months + holiday and Christmas allowances). That can make offers look “smaller” or “bigger” depending on how they’re presented. INE also distinguishes total vs regular earnings, which is why you’ll see both in official releases.
A practical way to stay grounded:
- Ask: Is this gross or net?
- Ask: Is this paid in 12 or 14 instalments?
- Then estimate your net monthly “normal month” income (what you’ll rely on for rent, utilities, groceries), and treat extra payments as a buffer: moving costs, travel, or savings.
2) Don’t read “average salary in Portugal” without “salaries by city”
Salaries and expenses move together. Lisbon and Porto typically offer more opportunities, but the cost of living, especially housing, can absorb the difference. Smaller cities may pay less on paper but feel easier month-to-month.
This is why a good budgeting workflow is:
(job offer or target salary) → city choice → housing cost → net pay reality → final decision.
3) Use 2025 figures as your reality check
If you’re comparing older blog posts or forum threads, bring your benchmark back to the latest official frame:
- 2024 annual gross monthly average: €1,602
- 2025 quarterly gross monthly averages: €1,741 (Q2) and €1,615 (Q3)
That won’t tell you your personal outcome, but it keeps your expectations calibrated to the current Portuguese labour market.
