Compare countries · Poland vs Portugal
Poland vs Portugal
Poland(Europe)·
Portugal(Europe)
Across 13 comparable indicators: Poland leads on 5, Portugal on 6, 2 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Poland cheaper than Portugal?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Poland at 47.3 and Portugal at 48.8. Poland is about 3% cheaper overall.
Is Poland or Portugal safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Poland scores 1.61 and Portugal scores 1.43. Portugal ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Poland or Portugal?
On the UN Human Development Index, Poland scores 0.906 and Portugal scores 0.890. The two are effectively tied. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Poland compared to Portugal?
GNI per capita runs $25,520 in Poland against $29,930 in Portugal; people live 78.4 years on average against 82.4; Numbeo users rate healthcare 58 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)
Poland
47.3
Worse than 60% of countries
Portugal
48.8
Worse than 65% of countries
Poland: 3% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Poland
18.4
Worse than 66% of countries
Portugal
25.2
Worse than 83% of countries
Poland: 27% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Poland
1.61
Better than 87% of countries
Portugal
1.43
Better than 96% of countries
Portugal: more peaceful (1.43 vs 1.61).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Poland
71.3
Better than 81% of countries
Portugal
67.0
Better than 75% of countries
Poland: higher perceived safety (71.3 vs 67.0).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Poland
0.906
Better than 82% of countries
Portugal
0.890
Better than 80% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Poland
$54,262
Better than 79% of countries
Portugal
$53,146
Better than 78% of countries
Poland: 2% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Poland
78.4 yrs
Better than 74% of countries
Portugal
82.4 yrs
Better than 88% of countries
Portugal: 4.0 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Poland
57.9
Worse than 70% of countries
Portugal
72.0
Better than 76% of countries
Portugal: better-rated healthcare (72.0 vs 57.9).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Poland
218 Mbps
Better than 83% of countries
Portugal
242 Mbps
Better than 87% of countries
Portugal: 11% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Poland
76/100
Better than 85% of countries
Portugal
84/100
Better than 94% of countries
Portugal: freer press (84 vs 76 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Poland
6.77
Better than 84% of countries
Portugal
6.03
Around the global middle
Poland: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.77 vs 6.03).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Poland
600
Better than 82% of countries
Portugal
612
Better than 89% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Poland
75.7
Worse than 61% of countries
Portugal
97.8
Better than 97% of countries
Portugal: more pleasant climate rating (97.8 vs 75.7).
Deciding between Poland 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 Poland profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Portugal profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.