Studying in Portugal vs. United States
Portugal and United States are both popular study destinations — but the price tag, visa rules, and currency differ. We pulled the numbers from our cost calculator: monthly living averages €948 in Portugal and €2,706 in United States.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Portugal
Cheaper monthly living
Portugal
Lower visa proof of funds
Portugal
Side-by-side comparison
Portugal
United States
Currency
EUR (€)
USD ($)
Public tuition (annual)
€1,500
$32,000
≈ €29,440 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
€5,000
$58,000
≈ €53,360 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
€948 / mo
$2,941 / mo
≈ €2,706 / mo
Visa proof of funds
€9,120
Proof of funds (annual)
Varies by I-20 (school issues)
Varies by I-20 (school issues)
Cities tracked
Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Braga
New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Austin
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.