In Portugal, the monthly rent costs more than the entire salary.
HousingPortugal
- Error detected
- The claim asserts that in Portugal monthly rent exceeds the entire monthly salary as a general fact. National data shows median new-contract rent (€478–€493 for 60 m²) is approximately 36–37% of the average net salary (€1,333), a difference of over 60 percentage points.
Even using the most expensive metropolitan area (Greater Lisbon, 13.06 €/m²) and a modest 60 m² apartment, rent (€784) is still only 59% of the average national net salary — far below the claimed >100% threshold.
- Omissions
- The claim does not specify whether it refers to the national average, a specific city, or a particular income percentile. Aggregate data shows it is false at the national level.
- The speaker omits that 'liberalized rent' (new contracts) covers a wide range: the national median for new leases is far below average salary, and only in expensive sub-markets combined with low incomes does rent approach or barely exceed salary.
- The MEP's party (Bloco de Esquerda/The Left) routinely highlights housing affordability crises; the unqualified generalization from edge cases to the whole country omits crucial context about the distribution of rents and salaries.
- Some sources used were published after the session date (2026-05-20), but their data refers to periods the MEP could have known (2024–Q1 2026).
- Sources
- PrimaryINE (Instituto Nacional de Estatística)In 2024, the median house rental value of new lease agreements in Portugal was 7.97 €/m², with sub-regions of Grande Lisboa (13.06 €/m²), Península de Setúbal (10.21 €/m²), and Algarve (9.46 €/m²) recording the highest values.
- SecondaryTrading EconomicsPortugal Average Net Monthly Wage increased to 1333 EUR/Month in the first quarter of 2026 from 1314 EUR/Month in the fourth quarter of 2025.
- SecondaryPortugalHomesThe national median rent for new leases increased to 8.22 €/m², supported by a 10% year-on-year rise.
- SecondaryGarriguesDecree-Law no. 139/2025, of December 29th was published on Portugal's Official Gazette, ruling the minimum monthly wage's increase to €920.00 in 2026.