Portugal vs The Netherlands

Portugal
Europe
Capital Lisbon · 10M people · Euro
The Netherlands
Europe
Capital Amsterdam · 17M people · Euro
Cost of living
Portugal
$868/mo
Safety
The Netherlands
1.4/5
Getting around
The Netherlands
1.3/5
Culture
The Netherlands
0.4/5
Passport reach
The Netherlands
not scored
Airports
The Netherlands
5.6M passengers/yr
Climate
Depends on you
not scored
Overall
The Netherlands edges it, 4–1.
Across 5 scored factors, each counted once — we don't weight them for you. Healthcare, visas and tax aren't included.

Cost of living

monthly median · solo budget

Portugal is cheaper
$1,533/mo
Minimalist $1,196 · Comfort $2,208
ranks #52 of 95 worldwide
$2,401/mo
Minimalist $1,954 · Comfort $3,640
ranks #82 of 95 worldwide

Cost in the three biggest cities

Lisbon$2,100$3,405Amsterdam
Porto$1,759$2,798Rotterdam
Braga$1,423$2,912Utrecht

Portugal is cheaper than The Netherlands — $1,533/mo vs $2,401/mo.

Portugal is cheaper than 25 of 41 European countries; The Netherlands is pricier than 33 of 41 European countries.

Safety

safety index

The Netherlands is safer

Portugal

2.9/5
Mixed picture

The Netherlands

4.3/5
Reassuringly safe
Street safety4.1/54.2/5+0.1
Property safety2.3/53.2/5+0.9
Road safety2.3/54.9/5+2.6
Earthquake safety3.1/54.8/5+1.7
Wildfire safety2.1/54.8/5+2.7
Flood safety3.0/54.0/5+1.0

The Netherlands is safer than Portugal — 4.3/5 vs 2.9/5.

Portugal is less safe than 23 of 41 European countries; The Netherlands is safer than 32 of 41 European countries.

Getting around

transit & transport systems

The Netherlands scores higher

Portugal

2.9/5
City-dependent

The Netherlands

4.2/5
Easy to get around
Walkability3.8/54.3/5+0.5
Transit2.7/54.7/5+2.0
Cycling1.9/54.9/5+3.0
Airport access3.8/54.0/5+0.2

The Netherlands scores higher on mobility than Portugal — 4.2/5 vs 2.9/5.

Portugal is harder to get around than 21 of 41 European countries; The Netherlands is easier to get around than 40 of 41 European countries.

Culture

cultural depth

The Netherlands scores higher

Portugal

3.5/5
Strong scene

The Netherlands

3.9/5
Strong scene

World Heritage sites

Portugal

Photos via Wikimedia Commons · data UNESCO World Heritage Centre

The Netherlands scores higher on culture than Portugal — 3.9/5 vs 3.5/5.

Portugal is lighter on culture than 24 of 41 European countries; The Netherlands is richer in culture than 27 of 41 European countries.

Passport reach

what the passport opens

The Netherlands reaches more
Visa-free destinations102105+3
GDP reach92%92%Even
Heritage sites reachable11241133+9

Portugal's passport reaches 102 destinations visa-free to The Netherlands's 105 — The Netherlands opens more doors without a visa.

Passport strength shifts over years of naturalisation, not months of planning, so it's a long-horizon footnote — not scored in the tally.

Airports

international connectivity

The Netherlands is better connected

Flight connectivity in the biggest cities

LisbonLIS36M69MAmsterdamAMS
PortoOPO17M7.0MEindhovenEIN
FaroFAO10M2.4MRotterdamRTM
Major airports63+3
Annual passengers73M78M+5.6M

The Netherlands is better connected than Portugal — 78M passengers/yr vs 73M passengers/yr.

Portugal is busier than 61 of 87 countries worldwide; The Netherlands is busier than 63 of 87 countries worldwide. Portugal sees ~7 air passengers per resident a year; The Netherlands sees ~5 air passengers per resident a year — a derived figure, not itself ranked.

Climate

where most people live · °C

Depends on you
Portugal-1°C to 32°C
The Netherlands-14°C to 29°C
-20°0°10°30°40°

Portugal runs -1°C to 32°C for most people; The Netherlands runs -14°C to 29°C for most people.

Depends on you — which range fits your tolerance is the real question here, not a score.

Portugal vs The Netherlands: frequently asked

▶Should I move to Portugal or The Netherlands?
The Netherlands edges it, 4–1. Across 5 scored factors, each counted once — we don't weight them for you. Healthcare, visas and tax aren't included.
▶Is Portugal or The Netherlands cheaper?
Portugal is cheaper than The Netherlands — $1,533/mo vs $2,401/mo. Portugal is cheaper than 25 of 41 European countries; The Netherlands is pricier than 33 of 41 European countries.
▶Is Portugal or The Netherlands safer?
The Netherlands is safer than Portugal — 4.3/5 vs 2.9/5. Portugal is less safe than 23 of 41 European countries; The Netherlands is safer than 32 of 41 European countries.
▶Is it easier to get around in Portugal or The Netherlands?
The Netherlands scores higher on mobility than Portugal — 4.2/5 vs 2.9/5. Portugal is harder to get around than 21 of 41 European countries; The Netherlands is easier to get around than 40 of 41 European countries.
▶Does Portugal or The Netherlands have a richer culture?
The Netherlands scores higher on culture than Portugal — 3.9/5 vs 3.5/5. Portugal is lighter on culture than 24 of 41 European countries; The Netherlands is richer in culture than 27 of 41 European countries.
▶Which has better flight connections, Portugal or The Netherlands?
The Netherlands is better connected than Portugal — 78M passengers/yr vs 73M passengers/yr. Portugal is busier than 61 of 87 countries worldwide; The Netherlands is busier than 63 of 87 countries worldwide. Portugal sees ~7 air passengers per resident a year; The Netherlands sees ~5 air passengers per resident a year — a derived figure, not itself ranked.
▶Which passport is stronger, Portugal or The Netherlands?
Portugal's passport reaches 102 destinations visa-free to The Netherlands's 105 — The Netherlands opens more doors without a visa. Passport strength shifts over years of naturalisation, not months of planning, so it's a long-horizon footnote — not scored in the tally.
▶What is the climate like in Portugal versus The Netherlands?
Portugal runs -1°C to 32°C for most people; The Netherlands runs -14°C to 29°C for most people. Depends on you — which range fits your tolerance is the real question here, not a score.