The first question most people ask about Portugal is the cost of living. That matters, but it is the wrong place to start. The question that decides whether your move happens this year or stays a daydream is simpler: how much cash do you need lined up before you go?
There are two separate piles of money, and people tend to forget one of them. The first is the money the government makes you prove you have. The second is the money you actually spend getting yourself, and your life, across the border. Below is what each one looks like in 2026, with worked examples for retirees, remote workers, Brits and Americans, because the number changes depending on who you are.
The short answer for 2026: a single person should have roughly €15,000 to €22,000 ready before moving. A couple should plan for €25,000 to €40,000.
That figure folds together the savings your visa asks you to show (around €11,040 for the D7, or €11,040 plus €3,680 a month in income for the D8) and the €4,000 to €12,000 the move itself costs. Americans shipping a full household land at the higher end because container costs are far steeper than from the UK.
The two piles of money
Keep these separate in your head and the whole thing gets clearer.
Pile one is the money you prove. Your visa requires you to show savings and, for some routes, a monthly income. You do not hand this over. It sits in a bank account and becomes your landing cushion once you arrive. But it has to be there, visible, in statements, on the day you apply.
Pile two is the money you spend. Shipping, flights, deposits, your first couple of months of rent, insurance, fees, document costs. This money leaves your account and does not come back.
Your real “have it ready” number is pile one plus pile two, with the overlap that pile one doubles as your safety net for the first few months. That is why the savings requirement is a feature, not just a hurdle.
Pile one: the money the government makes you prove
Almost every non-EU person moving to Portugal in 2026 arrives on one of two visas: the D7 (for people living on passive income, including pensions) or the D8 (for remote workers and freelancers). Both are pegged to the Portuguese minimum wage, which rose to €920 a month in 2026.
| 2026 visa | Monthly income to show | Savings to show | Family add-ons |
|---|---|---|---|
| D7 (retirees, pensions, passive income) | €920 (one minimum wage) | About €11,040 (twelve months of income), held in a Portuguese bank account | +50% for a spouse (about €460/mo), +30% per child (about €276/mo) |
| D8 (remote workers, freelancers) | €3,680 (four minimum wages) | About €11,040 on top of the income | +50% for a spouse, +30% per child |
| Golden Visa (investment) | n/a | From €500,000 in an eligible fund (the property route is closed) | Family included in the application |
A few things worth knowing before you bank on these numbers. AIMA, the immigration agency, uses the minimum wage figure in force at the date of your appointment, not the day you first filed, so if the wage rises again the threshold moves with it. Most consulates also want the savings sitting in a Portuguese account before you apply, which means opening one and getting a NIF tax number early.
Which visa, and which number, applies to you
If you are retiring on a pension, the D7 is your route. A state or private pension counts as the passive income, so a single retiree needs to show €920 a month and a couple about €1,380. This is the lowest bar of any route, which is why Portugal is so popular with retirees.
If you work remotely or freelance, the D8 is built for you, and the income bar is much higher at €3,680 a month. The trade-off is that a salary or steady client income clears it easily, where it would actually disqualify you from the pension-focused D7.
If you are British, freedom of movement ended with Brexit, so you now need one of these visas like any other non-EU national. Most Brits moving in 2026 use the D7 or the D8. The upside for UK movers is distance: shipping and flights are cheap compared with what Americans pay.
If you are American, the same two routes apply, funded by pension and investment income (D7) or remote-work income (D8). Your extra cost is not the visa itself but the paperwork around it. An FBI background check, apostille from the US Department of State and certified translations add time and a few hundred dollars before you even apply. Start those early. The FBI check and its apostille alone can take two to four months.
Pile two: the money you actually spend to get there
This is the pile that catches people out, because it is made of a dozen smaller costs that add up fast. Here is what each one runs in 2026.
Shipping your belongings
From the UK, a part-load (your boxes sharing a lorry with other people’s) is the cheapest way and often comes in around £800 to £1,500. A dedicated 20ft container averages about £1,339, and a 40ft about £1,870. From the US, the Atlantic makes it dearer: a 20ft container runs roughly $4,000 to $8,000 and a 40ft $6,000 to $12,000, though a shared container load can start near $1,500 if you are only bringing a room’s worth.
One piece of good news: used household goods you have owned for at least six months can usually come in free of Portuguese import VAT under transfer-of-residence relief, as long as you apply for it within twelve months of moving. Worth checking before anyone quotes you the 23% VAT on the value of your goods.
Flights
One-way from the UK is £40 to £150 a person depending on season and how much luggage you bring. From the US, budget $400 to $800 a person. If you are selling up and arriving with suitcases rather than a container, this might be most of your “moving” cost.
Somewhere to land, then somewhere to stay
Very few people sign a year-long lease from abroad, sight unseen, and you should not feel you have to. Most movers book a short-term rental for the first month or two while they look properly. Budget €1,000 to €2,500 a month for that, depending on the city and season.
For the long-term rental, the upfront ask is the real number to plan for. Expect to put down the first month plus a deposit of one to two months, and in a competitive market a landlord may also ask for a few months of rent in advance. In practice, budget three to five months’ rent to get the keys. On a €1,000 flat that is €3,000 to €5,000 in one go. The relief is that agency commission is almost always the landlord’s bill in Portugal, not the tenant’s. A stamp duty of about 10% of one month’s rent applies when the lease is registered.
Setting up your life
| One-off setup cost | 2026 budget |
|---|---|
| NIF (tax number) | Free in person at Finanças, or €80 to €150 through a representative |
| Opening a bank account | Usually free, small initial deposit |
| Private health insurance (needed for the visa) | €20 to €100 per month, higher with age |
| Visa and residence-permit fees | A few hundred euros per person across the consulate and AIMA |
| Documents: apostilles, certified translations, background checks | €100 to €300 per person |
Putting it together: real 2026 examples
These are illustrations, not quotes. Your number will land somewhere inside these ranges depending on region, season and how much you bring.
Single retiree, D7, Porto or the Silver Coast
Savings to show: about €11,040. Move spend: a part-load and a flight, one month of temporary rent, three months upfront on a €900 flat, plus setup, so roughly €5,000 to €8,000. Have ready: €16,000 to €20,000. The savings you proved becomes your first-year cushion.
Couple, D7, the Algarve
Savings to show: about €16,560 (the single figure plus 50%). Move spend: bigger shipment, two flights, a larger deposit, so €8,000 to €12,000. Have ready: €25,000 to €32,000.
Remote-working couple, D8, Lisbon
Income to show: €3,680 a month between you, plus about €11,040 in savings. Lisbon deposits are the squeeze here, since rents are the highest in the country. Have ready: €25,000 to €35,000.
American family of three, shipping a household
Savings and income on the D7 or D8, plus a container at $4,000 to $8,000, three transatlantic flights, and Lisbon or Cascais deposits. Have ready: $35,000 to $45,000 to land without stress.
What it costs once you are settled
That is the upfront picture. Month to month, Portugal is cheaper than the UK, the US, or northern Europe, which is the whole appeal. A one-bedroom flat averages about €1,400 in central Lisbon, €800 to €1,000 in Porto, €800 to €1,200 in the popular Algarve towns and €600 to €900 in the quieter ones. A comfortable monthly budget for one person sits around €1,400 to €2,000 depending on the region.
For the full breakdown by city, see our 2026 cost of living guide, and to model your own numbers, try the free cost of living calculator.
Free tool: the Portugal Move Budget Planner
Put your own numbers into the two piles and get your total in one place. Open the Budget Planner, or get it with your free Portugal guide.
The tax question, briefly
You may have read about a special low-tax deal. Be careful here. The old NHR regime closed to new arrivals, and its replacement, IFICI, is narrow. It applies to a short list of high-value science, tech and research roles, and it does not cover pensions or most remote workers. Do not build your budget around a 10% or 20% rate you are unlikely to qualify for. Once you are a resident you are taxed under the normal rules, the same as anyone else. Our NHR and IFICI explainer walks through who still qualifies.
One thing that is not your concern: ETIAS
If you have been reading about ETIAS (the €20 travel authorisation launching in late 2026, free for under-18s and over-70s) or the EES border system that went live in April 2026, set them aside. Those are for short visitors. Once you hold a Portuguese residence permit, ETIAS does not apply to you. Our EES and ETIAS guide covers it if you are travelling before your permit comes through.
Want your own number, not a range?
Take the free two-minute quiz and we will send you the guide matched to your situation, with the figures that apply to your route and region: Get your free Portugal guide.
If you would rather have it all mapped out, the Portugal Move Pack (€99) includes a full budget planner you can fill in for your own move, and the Personalised Plan (€499) builds the whole thing around you.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need in the bank to move to Portugal in 2026?
For the savings the visa requires, about €11,040 for a single D7 applicant, rising 50% for a spouse and 30% per child. The D8 asks for the same savings plus €3,680 a month in income. On top of that, budget €4,000 to €12,000 for the move itself. A realistic all-in figure to have ready is €15,000 to €22,000 for one person and €25,000 to €40,000 for a couple.
Is it cheaper to move to Portugal from the UK or the US?
From the UK, by a wide margin on logistics. A UK part-load runs £800 to £1,500 and flights are cheap. A US container is $4,000 to $12,000 and transatlantic flights cost more. The visa savings requirement is the same wherever you come from.
Do I have to put the money in a Portuguese bank account before I apply?
Most consulates want to see the required savings in a Portuguese account at the point of application, so plan to open one (and get a NIF tax number) early in the process.
How much should I budget to secure a rental once I arrive?
Plan for three to five months’ rent upfront: the first month, a deposit of one to two months, and sometimes a few months of advance rent in a competitive market. Agency commission is normally paid by the landlord, not the tenant.
Can I move to Portugal with no savings?
Not on the standard routes. The D7 and D8 both require proof of savings and income, so there is no visa path that skips the financial bar. If money is tight, the lower D7 threshold and a cheaper region like the Silver Coast or inland Portugal is the realistic way in.
Does ETIAS let me live in Portugal?
No. ETIAS is a travel authorisation for short visits to the Schengen area. Living in Portugal requires a residence visa and permit. Once you have your permit, ETIAS does not apply to you.
Sources: Portuguese minimum wage and D7/D8 thresholds 2026 (Portugalist, MSP Lawyer); D7 savings requirement (Portugal Residency Advisors); UK removals costs (Compare My Move); US container costs (Sirelo); rental upfront and deposits (Expatica, idealista); cost of living and rents (idealista, Numbeo); ETIAS and EES (European Commission). Figures are guidance for 2026 and will vary by individual circumstance. Last updated June 2026.
