Moving to Portugal from Missouri

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Missouri to Portugal? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Missouri to Portugal, you would find that Portugal is 14.3% cheaper than Missouri. A $75,000 salary in Missouri would need to be roughly €66,124 in Portugal to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Missouri and Portugal.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 €66,124

To maintain the same standard of living in Portugal

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 16.9% less

Groceries

pay 28.2% less

Transportation

pay 23.5% more

Housing

pay 25.2% less

Childcare

pay 47.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 24.3% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.8744 EUR (July 2026)

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?

What the data shows about people moving from Missouri to Portugal.

Moved in 2023
4,823 ↑ 47% vs 2022

people moved from United States to Portugal · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Portugal?

Top countries of origin for Portugal's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Portugal compared to Missouri.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

MO
37.5%
PT
20.8%

Portugal performs significantly better than Missouri across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

MO
88.3%
PT
82.0%

Missouri performs better than Portugal across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MO
3.3%
PT
6.5%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

MO
$56,344
PT
$41,700

Missouri performs better than Portugal across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

MO
75.1 yrs
PT
81.5 yrs

Portugal performs significantly better than Missouri across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Columbia Rain: 46.3 in/yr (1175 mm)
66° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Lisbon Rain: 29.6 in/yr (751 mm)
69° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Columbia Lisbon
Jan–Mar 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) 61°/48°F (16°/9°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) 71°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) 81°/63°F (27°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 55°/36°F (13°/2°C) 65°/53°F (18°/12°C)
View all months
Month Columbia Lisbon
Jan 40°/22°F (4.3°/-5.3°C) 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C)
Feb 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.3°C) 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C)
Mar 56°/35°F (13.3°/1.7°C) 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C)
Apr 67°/46°F (19.3°/7.6°C) 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C)
May 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C)
Jun 85°/65°F (29.2°/18.1°C) 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C)
Jul 90°/69°F (32.0°/20.4°C) 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C)
Aug 88°/67°F (31.3°/19.6°C) 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C)
Sep 80°/58°F (26.6°/14.5°C) 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C)
Oct 68°/47°F (20.0°/8.1°C) 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C)
Nov 55°/37°F (12.7°/2.6°C) 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C)
Dec 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.8°C) 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Portugal

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Portugal without a visa.
Portugal passport

Portugal passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Portugal passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

Data: 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 Missouri?

Portugal and Missouri are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.

How much money do I need to move to Portugal?

Budget about €16,531 for 3 months in Portugal (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Portugal?

From major Portugal cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Missouri and Portugal are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Portugal compared to Missouri?

Portugal performs significantly better than Missouri across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Portugal compared to Missouri?

The average high temperature in Lisbon is 69°F, compared to 66°F in Columbia. Lisbon receives around 29.6 in of rainfall per year, while Columbia gets 46.3 in.

What language do they speak in Portugal?

The official language in Portugal is Portuguese. In Missouri, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

PT
Population 5,988,927 10,242,081
Currency United States Dollar ($) Euro (€)
Languages English Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +351
Time zones 11 2
Emergency number 911 112