Southern Europe's two most popular golden visa destinations. Portugal's starts at €500K (fund investment) with a citizenship path of 10 years for non-EU/non-CPLP applicants (7 for EU/CPLP) under the new Nationality Law promulgated May 2026. Greece: €400K-€800K (tiered by region; €250K only for conversions). Portugal has higher CGT (28%) but stronger rental yields in Lisbon and Porto.

Disclaimer: Tax rates, investment rules, and visa programs change frequently. The data below is for informational purposes only — always verify with official sources and consult qualified professionals. Read full disclaimer

Investment Overview

Metric	🇵🇹 Portugal	🇬🇷 Greece
Capital Gains Tax	28%	15%
Property Access	Foreigners OK	Foreigners OK
Investment Visa	None specific	None specific
Monthly Budget	from €1,500	from €1,400
Crypto Regulation	Evolving	Evolving

Capital Gains Tax

🇵🇹 Portugal

28%

Capital Gains Tax

🇬🇷 Greece

15%

Capital Gains Tax

Greece has the tax advantage with 15% capital gains tax vs 28%. Your effective rate may differ based on holding periods, asset type, and treaty benefits.

Property Investment

🇵🇹 Portugal

Foreigners OK

Freehold ownership

🇬🇷 Greece

Foreigners OK

Freehold ownership

Investment Visa Programs

🇵🇹 Portugal

None specific

🇬🇷 Greece

None specific

Key Investment Insights

🇵🇹 Portugal

Capital gains tax: 28% — plan your investment strategy around holding periods and tax-advantaged accounts
Golden Visa / Investment Visa: minimum €500,000 fund — Real estate route closed 2023
Local stock exchange: Euronext Lisbon — access to domestic equities, bonds, and ETFs
Capital gains tax: 28%

Full investing guide

🇬🇷 Greece

Capital gains tax: 15% — relatively competitive compared to high-tax Western countries
Golden Visa (since Aug 2024): Tier 1 €800K (Athens/Thessaloniki/Mykonos/Santorini), Tier 2 €400K (rest of Greece), €250K (conversions/historic). Min 120sqm. Airbnb banned on GV properties.
Local stock exchange: Athens Exchange — access to domestic equities, bonds, and ETFs
Capital gains tax: 15%

Full investing guide

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Portugal vs Greece Investing — FAQ

Which has lower capital gains tax — Portugal or Greece?

Greece has lower capital gains tax at 15%, compared to 28% in Portugal. Consider holding periods and treaty benefits that may further reduce your effective rate.

Can foreigners buy property in Portugal and Greece?

In Portugal, property access for foreigners is: Foreigners OK (Freehold ownership). In Greece: Foreigners OK (Freehold ownership). Always use a local lawyer for property transactions.

Does Portugal or Greece have a golden visa program?

Portugal: None specific. Greece: None specific. Golden visa programs can change frequently — verify current requirements before committing capital.

Which is cheaper for expats — Portugal or Greece?

Greece is more affordable with an estimated monthly budget of from €1,400, compared to from €1,500 in Portugal.

Which is better for crypto investors — Portugal or Greece?

Crypto regulation in Portugal: Evolving. In Greece: Evolving. Capital gains tax (which typically applies to crypto) is 28% in Portugal and 15% in Greece. Crypto-specific rules are evolving rapidly in both jurisdictions.

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🇵🇹 Portugal Investing Guide 🇬🇷 Greece Investing Guide All comparisons