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Italy vs Portugal

A side-by-side 2026 brief for someone choosing between these two countries — economy, cost of living, visa routes, tax, and what has recently changed on the policy front.

ITItaly

Europe · Rome · EUR

Full Italy brief →

PTPortugal

Europe · Lisbon · EUR

Full Portugal brief →

At a glance

ItalyPortugal
GDP per capita
World Bank, USD nominal
 $40,385 $29,292
Real GDP growth
latest year
 +0.7% +2.1%
Unemployment
ILO-comparable
 6.4% 6.2%
Population 58,952,704 10,694,681
Life expectancy
at birth
 84.0 yrs 82.4 yrs
Top income tax
top marginal rate
 43% 48%
EU / Schengen
membership
 EU + Schengen EU + Schengen

Cost of living (Bologna vs Braga)

ItalyPortugal
1-bed city centre
monthly rent
 €900
Bologna
 €680
Braga
Groceries (1 person)
monthly basket
 €275
monthly basket
 €230
monthly basket
Transit pass
monthly unlimited
 €36
monthly pass
 €28
monthly pass

Figures are 2024–2025 from official statistical and city-level sources. Individual experience varies with district and lifestyle.

Visa routes

ItalyPortugal
Visa routes tracked 6 visas 5 visas
Top option Digital Nomad / Remote Worker Visa
EUR 28,000 floor · 4–12w
 D8 Digital Nomad Visa
EUR 3,480 floor · 6–16w

Full visa data including income thresholds, processing times, and requirements: Italy visas → · Portugal visas →

Recent policy changes

ItalyPortugal
Tracked changes
in the freshness tracker
 24 entries 24 entries
Most recent Decreto Flussi 2026–2028 announced — continuing at current volumes
1 Jan 2026
 Proposed citizenship residence-requirement increase
11 Apr 2025
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Related comparisons

CompareGermany vs PortugalComparePortugal vs SpainCompareFrance vs ItalyCompareSpain vs ItalyComparePortugal vs Netherlands

Frequently asked questions

Is Italy cheaper to live in than Portugal?
In a representative city centre, a one-bedroom apartment in Bologna runs about €900/mo versus €680/mo in Braga — a difference that shapes the single biggest line-item in most relocators' budgets.
Which country has easier visa access for remote workers?
Both countries are tracked in Meridian's visa database. Italy tracks 6 visa routes; Portugal tracks 5. The best option depends on your income source (remote employment vs. local employer sponsorship), your qualifications, and whether you need a path to permanent residency. See the Italy visa routes and Portugal visa routes for detailed comparison.
How do taxes compare?
Italy's top marginal income-tax rate is 43%; Portugal's is 48%. Remember that top-marginal rates are misleading in isolation — social contributions, VAT, wealth taxes, and the thresholds at which bands kick in matter as much as the headline number. See each country's full taxation section.
Where is the economy doing better right now?
Italy's real GDP grew +0.7% in the latest World Bank release; Portugal grew +2.1%. Short-term growth rates are volatile and a poor guide to where wages will rise — we don't recommend optimising a move on this alone.