How Much Does It Cost to Live In Braga?
Braga is a city in the Cavado Valley of Northern Portugal. It is the fifth largest city in Portugal after Lisbon, Porto, Amadora and Vila Nova de Gaia.
The city has a huge historical importance.
It is a very catholic and religious place with at least a dozen churches and monasteries all around, but there is also a young spirit to the place.
It is a reasonably cheap place to live in, by both Portuguese and European standards, which makes it an even more popular city.
Braga is a relatively small city, with about 180-200,000 people.
Portugal : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
The food in Braga is great and it would be a shame not to try the delicious cuisine in one of Braga’s great restaurants. Just be careful, because in some restaurants, they don’t have a menu outside and you have to go in and ask for the price. The best advice is to write down the prices, so as to avoid any uncomfortable surprises when the bill comes.
MARKETS
It is definitely much cheaper to buy your own groceries and cook in your house (and considerably healthier, mind you!) than to eat out in, albeit delicious, Braga’s restaurants. Shopping for groceries will set you back around 150$ a month, but you can find fresh produce at much lower prices in Braga’s many open markets.
TRANSPORTATION
Braga is surrounded with gorgeous nature and most things are easily accessible so you don’t even need transportation to go around the town. However, if you want to visit most natural areas you’ll depend on transportation, and you cannot simply walk or ride a bike. A one-way ticket by public transport costs around 1.70$, while a monthly pass is above 35$.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Utilities, generally speaking, are rather cheap (and much cheaper than you’d expect in a country like Portugal). In an apartment with two people, of about 85m2 in size, all basic utilities like electricity, gas, heating, cooling, garbage services and water cost just a bit above 100$. Internet is rather inexpensive too, costing around 30$.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Like in most countries and cities, practicing sports is more expensive if you’re a member of a gym or a fitness club. Though Braga is full of natural beauties and you can always indulge in outdoor sports like running or hiking, if you want a gym membership, it will cost you around 40$ a month.
CLOTHING & SHOES
There are many large shopping malls in the city of Braga, so you’ll have various shopping opportunities. It also has many independent shops where you can buy unique pieces of clothing. However, don’t expect low prices. Prepare for quality jeans to cost around 90$, while running sneakers of quality brands like Nike, cost around 75$.
RENT PER MONTH
A decent one-room apartment with a 20–25 minutes commute to the center of the city, will cost you around 350$ a month. It will, of course, be twice as much in the city center but you’ll be well located. If you’re a student and want to be close to the university, renting a room will cost around 230–280$ a month, and a larger apartment for the whole family will be around 680$.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Braga
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $7.15 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $1.60 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.86 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $0.73 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.33 |
| Eggs (12) | $1.99 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $1.77 |
| Monthly Pass | $34.30 |
| Gasoline | $1.75 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $105.21 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.21 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $33.53 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $33.26 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $9.43 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $7.43 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $90.10 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $32.02 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $73.18 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $452.17 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $331.59 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $679.70 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Braga?
Groceries are, like in most countries and cities, the biggest expense for the people of Portugal, and this is understandable since they’re necessary for literally everyone.
This is the case in most countries and cities around the world.
Rent in Braga is not nearly as expensive as in the rest of Portugal, so it’s the second biggest expense but it’s far behind the expense of food.
Transportation is next on the list, with 15% of one’s income getting spent on buses, trams and cars.
As in most countries, clothing and apparel are the least of everyone’s worries.
Average Costs Breakdown
Braga: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
In Braga, the minimum monthly wage is over 700$, that value is net and is paid 14 times a year.
Like in the rest of the country, salaries are paid 14 times: 13th month is usually paid in August and the 14th in December – so this is a great aspect of living in this country.
The standards in the city are high, and with an average salary of around 900$, you can easily manage all your expenses, cover them all, be able to travel and even save some money without having to worry about your existence.
Even those that earn a minimum wage can easily live here and make ends meet without any problems.
Cost of Living by City in Braga
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Coimbra | 51.07 |
| Funchal | 50.9 |
| Lisbon | 54.16 |
| Porto | 50.43 |
