Portugal vs Spain — Tax Comparison 2026
Portuguese taxes vs Spanish taxes, at a glance. Portugal: 13%–48% across 9 brackets. Spain: 19%–47% across 6 brackets. Compare take-home pay side by side for employees and contractors.
Are taxes higher in Portugal or Spain?
For most remote workers, taxes are higher in Portugal. At $100,000, an employee in Spain takes home $63,742 versus $56,436 in Portugal — a difference of $7,306 per year. For contractors, Portugal comes out ahead: $61,259 versus $44,344. Note the winner flips between employees and contractors.
Estimates based on 2026 rates and approximate exchange rates. Actual take-home varies by individual circumstances.
USD amounts use approximate exchange rates (EUR: 1.1477, EUR: 1.1477). Local currency figures are exact.
| Metric | Portugal | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Gross (EUR/EUR) | 87 129 € | 87.129 € |
| Gross (USD) | $99,999 | $99,999 |
| Income Tax | 28 372 € | 27.612 € |
| Social Security | 9584 € | 3979 € |
| Net (EUR/EUR) | 49 173 € | 55.538 € |
| Net (USD) | $56,436 | $63,742+$7,306 |
| Effective Rate | 43.6% | 36.3% |
Gross (EUR/EUR)
Portugal
87 129 €
Spain
87.129 €
Gross (USD)
Portugal
$99,999
Spain
$99,999
Income Tax
Portugal
28 372 €
Spain
27.612 €
Social Security
Portugal
9584 €
Spain
3979 €
Net (EUR/EUR)
Portugal
49 173 €
Spain
55.538 €
Net (USD)
Portugal
$56,436
Spain
$63,742
+$7,306Effective Rate
Portugal
43.6%
Spain
36.3%
Where identifiable, mandatory health contributions are shown separately. For other countries, health coverage is included in the Social Security amount.
Bottom Line
At $100,000/year income
Spain gives you $7,306 more per year ($609/mo) as an employee
Portugal gives you $16,915 more per year ($1,410/mo) as a contractor
Take-Home Pay at $60K, $100K and $150K
Net income after income tax and social contributions, converted to USD at approximate exchange rates. Effective rate in parentheses.
Employees
| Gross (USD) | Portugal net | Spain net | Who keeps more |
|---|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $38,677 (35.5%) | $41,190 (31.4%) | Spain (+$2,513) |
| $100,000 | $56,436 (43.6%) | $63,742 (36.3%) | Spain (+$7,306) |
| $150,000 | $77,096 (48.6%) | $91,242 (39.2%) | Spain (+$14,146) |
Contractors / Self-Employed
| Gross (USD) | Portugal net | Spain net | Who keeps more |
|---|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $40,139 (33.1%) | $24,683 (58.9%) | Portugal (+$15,456) |
| $100,000 | $61,259 (38.7%) | $44,344 (55.7%) | Portugal (+$16,915) |
| $150,000 | $90,072 (40.0%) | $71,845 (52.1%) | Portugal (+$18,227) |
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How Taxes Work
Portugal Tax System
Employee
- ·IRS 2026: 9 brackets (12.5%-48%).
- ·Dedução específica €4,587.
- ·Employee SS 11% (no cap).
Contractor
- ·Simplified regime (regime simplificado).
- ·IRS on 75% of income (coeficiente 0.75, Art. 31 CIRS).
- ·SS: 21.4% on 70% of income, capped at 12×IAS/month.
- ·No dedução específica for Category B.
Spain Tax System
Employee
- ·IRPF progressive tax (state + avg. regional combined, 19%-47%).
- ·Actual rates vary by autonomous community.
- ·Employee SS ~6.50% (incl. 0.15% MEI), capped at €61,214 base.
- ·New residents may qualify for the Beckham Law (24% flat rate for up to 6 years) — see our Spain visa page for details.
Contractor
- ·Autónomo regime (estimación directa simplificada).
- ·Self-employed SS ~31.50% on contribution base (capped at €61,214).
- ·Actual base depends on income tranche.
- ·€2,000 gastos de difícil justificación deduction (5% of net income, capped).
- ·Toggle 'Ley Beckham' to see the 24% flat rate available to new tax residents for up to 6 years — applies to income tax only, the 31.5% SS remains unchanged.
Full Portugal Tax Calculator →
Detailed breakdown with custom income
Full Spain Tax Calculator →
Detailed breakdown with custom income
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper for remote workers — Portugal or Spain?
- ·Portugal generally has lower effective tax rates for contractors due to the 75% taxable coefficient (only 75% of income is taxed).
- ·Spain's autonomo social security at 31.5% makes contracting significantly more expensive.
- ·For employees, the difference is smaller.
Do both Portugal and Spain offer digital nomad visas?
- ·Yes.
- ·Portugal's D8 Digital Nomad Visa requires EUR 3,680/month income.
- ·Spain's Digital Nomad Visa requires EUR 2,849/month.
- ·Both offer pathways to EU residency.
- ·Spain also has the Beckham Law offering 24% flat tax for up to 6 years.
How do social security costs compare between Portugal and Spain?
- ·Portugal contractors pay Seguranca Social at ~21.4% on 70% of income.
- ·Spain's autonomo rate is 31.5% with a minimum base, making it one of the most expensive in Europe.
- ·For employees, both countries have similar rates around 11%.