Is the new job worth it? Compare two job offers
Current
New offer
| Current: what you keep each month | €1,258.83 |
| New: what you keep each month | €1,352.63 |
| Difference per year | + €1,421 |
Mainland Portugal: income tax is lower in the Azores and Madeira · See assumptions ↓
More options
How it was calculated
For each offer: gross salary minus 11% Segurança Social (social security) and the 2026 IRS (income tax) withholding (not married, mainland), plus the meal allowance on a card (22 days; anything above €10.46 a day is taxed), minus what you spend on commuting.
The yearly figure counts 14 salary payments and 11 months of meals and commuting. The hourly figure counts 47 working weeks. Your final IRS is settled in the yearly tax return.
Example: you earn €1,300 gross and spend €40 a month on commuting. The new offer pays €1,450, but commuting goes up to €150. With €6 meal allowance in both, each month you keep €12.65 less: €1,116.38 against €1,129.03. Over a year the new offer wins by €153, because salary counts 14 times and commuting only 11. With 45 hours a week instead of 40, your hourly pay drops from €8.26 to €7.42.
Estimate: An approximate result that depends on assumptions. Confirm important figures with the relevant authority.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare two job offers in Portugal?
Compare what you actually keep: net salary plus meal allowance, minus commuting costs. A higher gross salary is not always better.
Does the meal allowance count as salary?
It counts towards what you receive, but up to €10.46 a day on a meal card it pays no IRS (income tax) or Segurança Social.
How much is a €100 gross pay rise worth?
It depends on your salary. From €1,500 to €1,600 gross, for someone not married and with no dependants, take-home pay goes up €64.90 a month, from €1,166.83 to €1,231.73. Over 14 payments, that is €909 more a year.
How do I work out how much I earn per hour?
Take what you keep over the year, including meal allowance and minus commuting, and divide it by the hours you spend working and travelling. That way, an offer with more hours can be worth less per hour.
Do holiday and Christmas pay count when comparing offers?
Yes. In Portugal, gross salary is paid 14 times a year. If an offer gives a yearly figure, divide it by 14 to get the monthly salary. If the allowances are spread over 12 months (duodécimos), each month looks bigger, but the yearly total is the same.