Protests in four cities in Portugal against the cost of living: Rents and low incomes are on the agenda

Increasing housing costs and living costs in Portugal were protested with demonstrations held in four cities on Saturday, October 10. High rents, low incomes and housing difficulties came to the fore in the protests in Lisboa, Porto, Aveiro and Braga.

The demonstrations, called by the "Não dá mais para viver assim" (It can't be lived like this anymore) platform, brought the cost of living problem in the country back to the agenda at a time when the 2027 State Budget proposal was being discussed.

Thousands of people marched in Lisbon

The demonstration in Lisbon started in Largo do Intendente. Participants then walked along Avenida Almirante Reis.

According to the information provided by RTP on October 10, thousands of people attended the demonstration.

In the banners carried by the protesters, it was especially emphasized that house rents were high and people had to move away from the neighborhoods they wanted to live in.

Some participants described continuing to live with their families or moving to areas away from the city center due to housing costs.

Demonstrations were also held in Porto, Aveiro and Braga

With the call of the same platform, protests were also held in Porto, Aveiro and Braga.

The attendance estimate given by the police to Lusa for the demonstration in Porto was approximately 1,500 people.

However, since the participation numbers in different cities are not calculated with the same method, an exact national participant total cannot be determined based on these data. It is not right to create.

The common point of the demonstrations was drawing attention to the pressure of housing and basic needs expenses on household budgets.

What do the protesters want?

Among the prominent demands in the demonstrations are measures to limit rent increases, produce more public housing and reduce basic living expenses.

These demands show that the housing crisis in Portugal affects not only those who want to buy a house, but also existing tenants and young people who are trying to establish an independent life for the first time.

However, the demands of the demonstrators and the regulations adopted by the government must be distinguished.

It has not been announced that a new rent ceiling has come into force across the country as a result of the protests on October 10.

What is proposed for housing in the 2027 budget?

The 2027 State Budget proposal, which the government presented to the Parliament on October 8, includes various measures in the field of housing and taxes.

One of these is to increase the annual IRS deduction cap for eligible housing rental expenses to 1,000 euros in 2027.

However, tax reduction does not mean a direct reduction in the monthly rental fee.

For example, while a tenant continues to pay the rent determined in the contract to the landlord, he can use eligible expenses in his annual tax calculation under certain conditions.

For this reason, tax advantages and measures to reduce rental prices in the market have different effects. creates.

Foreigners living in Portugal also face the same problems

Housing costs are important for Portuguese citizens as well as foreign residents working and living in the country.

Especially in cities where employment is intense, such as Lisboa and Porto, rent, transportation and other basic expenses need to be evaluated together.

The cost of living of a household is not determined solely by the rent amount. Transportation costs to work, energy bills, food expenses and income level also affect the total burden.

However, the statements of participants in a particular protest do not mean that all households in the country are in the same economic situation.

What will happen next?

The demonstrations on 10 October were held before the government's budget proposal was discussed in Parliament.

The general discussion of the 2027 State Budget is planned to be held at the end of October, and the final vote is planned to be held in November.

In this process, suggestions for changes regarding housing and income policies may come to the fore.

However, in order for a proposal made during budget negotiations to be implemented, the necessary legal stages must be completed.

Resources

RTP — Milhares concentram-se em Lisboa contra o custo de vida e da habitação, 10 October 2026

https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/milhares-concentram-se-em-lisboa-contra-o-custo-de-vida-e-da-habitacao_n1770912

Observador / Lusa — Cerca de 1.500 pessoas manifestaram-se no Porto contra o aumento do custo de screw, 10 October 2026

https://observador.pt/2026/10/10/cerca-de-1-500-pessoas-manifestaram-se-no-porto-contra-o-aumento-do-custo-de-vida/