See what your money actually buys in Portugal.
Same you. Different math.
All calculations are estimates. Tax rates simplified. Data as of April 2026.
$1.00 USD = €0.851 EUR · €1.00 EUR = $1.175 USD
Rates as of May 1, 2026 (Yahoo Finance / ECB). Actual rates vary daily and will affect your real numbers.
US Taxes: State and local effective rates based on combined income for each metro. Simplified composite rates (26%–38%).
Portugal (D7 Visa): Progressive brackets from Portuguese tax code — 0% up to €7,703 through 48% above €81,199.
W-2: ordinary rates both countries. Social Security: 85% taxable in US, ordinary in PT. IRA/401k: ordinary rates both. Capital Gains: 15% US, 28% PT.
US Cities: Median rents from Zumper National Rent Report, April 2026. Cost-of-living indices from Numbeo (100 = NYC baseline), updated April 2026.
Portugal Regions: Rental data from Idealista, Imovirtual, and expat community surveys, Q1 2026. Lisbon averaging €19.6/m²; Porto and regional cities substantially lower.
Monthly budget ranges represent moderate couple lifestyle including rent, food, transport, healthcare, and leisure — sourced from expat community data, International Living, and local cost surveys (2026).
So now you have a number.
The next question is usually: "Okay, but how does this actually work?"
I wrote a book called The Life Arbitrage. The book explains the sequencing as well as the entire process of moving to Portugal. You can order it at my website here.