Compare countries · Mexico vs Portugal
Mexico vs Portugal
Mexico(North America)·
Portugal(Europe)
Across 13 comparable indicators: Mexico leads on 3, Portugal on 9, 1 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Mexico cheaper than Portugal?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Mexico at 42.6 and Portugal at 48.8. Mexico is about 13% cheaper overall.
Is Mexico or Portugal safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Mexico scores 2.65 and Portugal scores 1.43. Portugal ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Mexico or Portugal?
On the UN Human Development Index, Mexico scores 0.789 and Portugal scores 0.890. Portugal 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 Mexico compared to Portugal?
GNI per capita runs $13,730 in Mexico against $29,930 in Portugal; people live 75.3 years on average against 82.4; Numbeo users rate healthcare 72 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)
Mexico
42.6
Around the global middle
Portugal
48.8
Worse than 65% of countries
Mexico: 13% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Mexico
17.8
Worse than 64% of countries
Portugal
25.2
Worse than 83% of countries
Mexico: 29% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Mexico
2.65
Worse than 85% of countries
Portugal
1.43
Better than 96% of countries
Portugal: more peaceful (1.43 vs 2.65).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Mexico
47.1
Worse than 72% of countries
Portugal
67.0
Better than 75% of countries
Portugal: higher perceived safety (67.0 vs 47.1).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Mexico
0.789
Better than 58% of countries
Portugal
0.890
Better than 80% of countries
Portugal: higher human development (0.890 vs 0.789).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Mexico
$25,868
Better than 57% of countries
Portugal
$53,146
Better than 78% of countries
Portugal: 105% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Mexico
75.3 yrs
Better than 55% of countries
Portugal
82.4 yrs
Better than 88% of countries
Portugal: 7.1 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Mexico
72.3
Better than 78% of countries
Portugal
72.0
Better than 76% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Mexico
94 Mbps
Around the global middle
Portugal
242 Mbps
Better than 87% of countries
Portugal: 158% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Mexico
45/100
Worse than 68% of countries
Portugal
84/100
Better than 94% of countries
Portugal: freer press (84 vs 45 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Mexico
6.97
Better than 92% of countries
Portugal
6.03
Around the global middle
Mexico: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.97 vs 6.03).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Mexico
440
Worse than 85% of countries
Portugal
612
Better than 89% of countries
Portugal: stronger English proficiency (612 vs 440).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Mexico
86.6
Better than 65% of countries
Portugal
97.8
Better than 97% of countries
Portugal: more pleasant climate rating (97.8 vs 86.6).
Deciding between Mexico 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 Mexico profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Portugal profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.