Lajes do Pico vs Madalena: cost of living compared
versus
Yearly saving in Lajes do Pico
€424/year
For a single person buying a home, Lajes do Pico works out cheaper. A home in Lajes do Pico costs €9,840 less.
You will
Household
Transport
60 m²
More adjustments
Lajes do PicoMadalena
Estimated home price · 60 m²€66,780Δ €9,840€76,620
On the day you buy
Down payment€6,678€7,662
Transfer tax (IMT)€0€0
Stamp duty · purchase€534€613
Stamp duty · loan€361€414
Total upfront€7,573€8,689
Monthly payment€231€265
Mortgage payments35 years at 3.00% · 90% financed
€2,776€3,185
€409less in Lajes do Pico
Property tax (IMI)1VPT estimated at 50% of price
€100€115
€15less in Lajes do Pico
Water, sewage and wasteOfficial tariffs · 4 m³/month
no data
ElectricityERSE regulated tariff · 1,469 kWh/year
€377€377
same in both
GasNo network: butane bottles
€235€235
same in both
Income tax refunded by the municipalityLajes do Pico keeps the 5%, Madalena keeps the 5%
€0€0
same in both
Total per yearItems with data for both
€3,488€3,912
€424less in Lajes do Pico
1 Property tax estimated using a taxable value (VPT) of 50% of market price. Enter the VPT from your property record for an exact figure.
Average rate on new housing loans: 3.00% (August 2026, Banco de Portugal).
Source: Portal das Finanças, taxas de IMI por município · 2025 · Source: Portal das Finanças, participação dos municípios no IRS · 2026 · Source: INE · 2nd quarter of 2026 · Energy: ERSE, October 2026
Beyond the cost
Mortgage payment ÷ 1 × local median gross salary
22%25%
3%better in Lajes do Pico
House price rise over 5 yearsMedian sale price (€/m²), over 5 years
+214%+79%
135 pointsrose more in Lajes do Pico
Crime rateRecorded crimes per 1 000 residents
10.1/100036.8/1000
26.7/1000better in Lajes do Pico
Average commuteOne way to work or school
16 min12 min
4 minbetter in Madalena
Average salary (gross)Average monthly earnings, by place of work
€1,155/month€1,222/month
€67/monthbetter in Madalena
Median salary (gross)Half of workers earn less than this, by place of work
€1,070/month€1,060/month
€10/monthbetter in Lajes do Pico
Purchasing power (Portugal = 100)Per-capita index
72.183.2
11.1better in Madalena
PharmaciesPer 1,000 people
0.40/10000.30/1000
0.10/1000better in Lajes do Pico
Nearest emergency departmentAverage straight-line distance from where residents live to the nearest hospital emergency department
7.9 km4.4 km
3.5 kmbetter in Madalena
CrèchesPublic, non-profit (IPSS) and private crèches and childminders, children under 3 (above 100: more places than children)