Compare countries · Ireland vs Portugal
Ireland vs Portugal
Ireland(Europe)·
Portugal(Europe)
Across 13 comparable indicators: Ireland leads on 6, Portugal on 6, 1 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Ireland cheaper than Portugal?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Ireland at 70.6 and Portugal at 48.8. Portugal is about 31% cheaper overall.
Is Ireland or Portugal safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Ireland scores 1.37 and Portugal scores 1.43. Ireland ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Ireland or Portugal?
On the UN Human Development Index, Ireland scores 0.949 and Portugal scores 0.890. Ireland scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Ireland compared to Portugal?
GNI per capita runs $87,360 in Ireland against $29,930 in Portugal; people live 83.0 years on average against 82.4; Numbeo users rate healthcare 51 against 72. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Ireland
70.6
Worse than 91% of countries
Portugal
48.8
Worse than 65% of countries
Portugal: 31% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Ireland
43.8
Worse than 96% of countries
Portugal
25.2
Worse than 83% of countries
Portugal: 42% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Ireland
1.37
Better than 98% of countries
Portugal
1.43
Better than 96% of countries
Ireland: more peaceful (1.37 vs 1.43).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Ireland
51.0
Worse than 62% of countries
Portugal
67.0
Better than 75% of countries
Portugal: higher perceived safety (67.0 vs 51.0).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Ireland
0.949
Better than 95% of countries
Portugal
0.890
Better than 80% of countries
Ireland: higher human development (0.949 vs 0.890).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Ireland
$155,089
Better than 98% of countries
Portugal
$53,146
Better than 78% of countries
Ireland: 192% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Ireland
83.0 yrs
Better than 89% of countries
Portugal
82.4 yrs
Better than 88% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Ireland
51.2
Worse than 89% of countries
Portugal
72.0
Better than 76% of countries
Portugal: better-rated healthcare (72.0 vs 51.2).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Ireland
208 Mbps
Better than 80% of countries
Portugal
242 Mbps
Better than 87% of countries
Portugal: 16% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Ireland
86/100
Better than 96% of countries
Portugal
84/100
Better than 94% of countries
Ireland: freer press (86 vs 84 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Ireland
6.93
Better than 91% of countries
Portugal
6.03
Around the global middle
Ireland: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.93 vs 6.03).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Ireland
700
Better than 94% of countries
Portugal
612
Better than 89% of countries
Ireland: stronger English proficiency (700 vs 612).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Ireland
89.5
Better than 72% of countries
Portugal
97.8
Better than 97% of countries
Portugal: more pleasant climate rating (97.8 vs 89.5).
Deciding between Ireland and Portugal for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Ireland profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Portugal profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.