Moving to Portugal from Ireland
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Ireland to Portugal — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Ireland to Portugal, you would find that Portugal is 23.6% cheaper than Ireland overall. A €64,304 salary in Ireland would need to be roughly €47,421 in Portugal to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lisbon averages 69°F vs 56°F in Dublin, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Ireland to Portugal.
What does your salary buy?
€64,304 → €47,421
To maintain the same standard of living in Portugal
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 24.0% less
Groceries
pay 19.1% less
Transportation
pay 32.4% less
Housing
pay 36.1% less
Childcare
pay 1.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 49.0% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Ireland to Portugal, based on official data.
people moved from Ireland to Portugal · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to Portugal?
Top countries of origin for Portugal's foreign-born residents.
- 179,524
- 154,017
- 104,164
- 80,570
- 68,299
- 53,384
- · · ·
-
36.1,789
Ireland
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Ireland to Portugal.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Ireland generally does better on safety, though Portugal leads in homicide rate.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Portugal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in suicide rate.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Portugal performs significantly better than Ireland across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Portugal generally does better on infrastructure, though Ireland leads in electricity per capita.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Ireland performs better than Portugal across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Portugal generally does better on family life, though Ireland leads in life expectancy.
Data: The Office of the Revenue Commissioners, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Dublin | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) | 61°/48°F (16°/9°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) | 71°/56°F (22°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) | 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) | 65°/53°F (18°/12°C) |
View all months
| Month | Dublin | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) | 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C) |
| Feb | 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) | 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C) |
| Mar | 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) | 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C) |
| Apr | 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) | 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C) |
| May | 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) | 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C) |
| Jun | 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) | 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C) |
| Jul | 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) | 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C) |
| Aug | 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) | 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C) |
| Sep | 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) | 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C) |
| Oct | 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) | 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C) |
| Nov | 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) | 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C) |
| Dec | 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) | 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C) |
Data:
Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service,
Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ireland and Portugal. To live, work, or study long-term in Portugal, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Portugal's immigration authority.
Ireland passport holder visiting Portugal
Visa Free
Portugal passport holder visiting Ireland
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Portugal than Ireland?
Yes — Portugal is on average about 26% cheaper than Ireland. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Portugal?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €11,855 in Portugal on a €64,304 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Portugal?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Portugal has 43.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Portugal safe for expats?
Ireland generally does better on safety, though Portugal leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Portugal is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Ireland.
How is healthcare in Portugal compared to Ireland?
Portugal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in suicide rate. There are 57.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Portugal, compared to 40.6 in Ireland. Portugal scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ireland: 83).
What's the weather like in Portugal compared to Ireland?
The average high temperature in Lisbon is 69°F, compared to 56°F in Dublin. Lisbon receives around 29.6 in of rainfall per year, while Dublin gets 29.8 in.
What language do they speak in Portugal?
The official language in Portugal is Portuguese. In Ireland, the official languages are English and Irish.
