Compare countries · Portugal vs United States
Portugal vs United States
Portugal(Europe)·
United States(North America)
Across 12 comparable indicators: Portugal leads on 7, United States on 5. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Portugal cheaper than United States?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Portugal at 48.8 and United States at 68.8. Portugal is about 29% cheaper overall.
Which has the higher quality of life, Portugal or United States?
On the UN Human Development Index, Portugal scores 0.890 and United States scores 0.938. United States 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 United States?
GNI per capita runs $29,930 in Portugal against $88,810 in United States; people live 82.4 years on average against 78.9; Numbeo users rate healthcare 72 against 67. 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
United States
68.8
Worse than 90% of countries
Portugal: 29% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Portugal
25.2
Worse than 83% of countries
United States
40.7
Worse than 95% of countries
Portugal: 38% cheaper rents.
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Portugal
67.0
Better than 75% of countries
United States
50.8
Worse than 63% of countries
Portugal: higher perceived safety (67.0 vs 50.8).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Portugal
0.890
Better than 80% of countries
United States
0.938
Better than 91% of countries
United States: higher human development (0.938 vs 0.890).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Portugal
$53,146
Better than 78% of countries
United States
$90,027
Better than 95% of countries
United States: 69% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Portugal
82.4 yrs
Better than 88% of countries
United States
78.9 yrs
Better than 75% of countries
Portugal: 3.5 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Portugal
72.0
Better than 76% of countries
United States
67.0
Better than 59% of countries
Portugal: better-rated healthcare (72.0 vs 67.0).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Portugal
242 Mbps
Better than 87% of countries
United States
308 Mbps
Better than 96% of countries
United States: 27% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Portugal
84/100
Better than 94% of countries
United States
63/100
Better than 64% of countries
Portugal: freer press (84 vs 63 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Portugal
6.03
Around the global middle
United States
6.82
Better than 85% of countries
United States: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.82 vs 6.03).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Portugal
612
Better than 89% of countries
United States
700
Better than 94% of countries
United States: stronger English proficiency (700 vs 612).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Portugal
97.8
Better than 97% of countries
United States
75.8
Worse than 60% of countries
Portugal: more pleasant climate rating (97.8 vs 75.8).
Not comparable for this pair
- Peace — Global Peace Index: The Global Peace Index doesn't cover one of these countries.
Deciding between Portugal and United States for real?
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70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
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70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.