Compare countries · Portugal vs Spain
Portugal vs Spain
Portugal(Europe)·
Spain(Europe)
Across 13 comparable indicators: Portugal leads on 6, Spain 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 Portugal cheaper than Spain?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Portugal at 48.8 and Spain at 51.6. Portugal is about 5% cheaper overall.
Is Portugal or Spain safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Portugal scores 1.43 and Spain scores 1.65. Portugal ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Portugal or Spain?
On the UN Human Development Index, Portugal scores 0.890 and Spain scores 0.918. Spain 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 Portugal compared to Spain?
GNI per capita runs $29,930 in Portugal against $37,120 in Spain; people live 82.4 years on average against 83.9; Numbeo users rate healthcare 72 against 77. 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)
Portugal
48.8
Worse than 65% of countries
Spain
51.6
Worse than 70% of countries
Portugal: 5% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Portugal
25.2
Worse than 83% of countries
Spain
23.2
Worse than 78% of countries
Spain: 8% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Portugal
1.43
Better than 96% of countries
Spain
1.65
Better than 84% of countries
Portugal: more peaceful (1.43 vs 1.65).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Portugal
67.0
Better than 75% of countries
Spain
62.4
Better than 67% of countries
Portugal: higher perceived safety (67.0 vs 62.4).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Portugal
0.890
Better than 80% of countries
Spain
0.918
Better than 86% of countries
Spain: higher human development (0.918 vs 0.890).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Portugal
$53,146
Better than 78% of countries
Spain
$59,868
Better than 83% of countries
Spain: 13% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Portugal
82.4 yrs
Better than 88% of countries
Spain
83.9 yrs
Better than 94% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Portugal
72.0
Better than 76% of countries
Spain
77.2
Better than 90% of countries
Spain: better-rated healthcare (77.2 vs 72.0).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Portugal
242 Mbps
Better than 87% of countries
Spain
277 Mbps
Better than 92% of countries
Spain: 14% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Portugal
84/100
Better than 94% of countries
Spain
75/100
Better than 83% of countries
Portugal: freer press (84 vs 75 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Portugal
6.03
Around the global middle
Spain
6.54
Better than 72% of countries
Spain: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.54 vs 6.03).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Portugal
612
Better than 89% of countries
Spain
540
Better than 65% of countries
Portugal: stronger English proficiency (612 vs 540).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Portugal
97.8
Better than 97% of countries
Spain
92.8
Better than 83% of countries
Portugal: more pleasant climate rating (97.8 vs 92.8).
Deciding between Portugal and Spain 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 Portugal profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Spain profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.