Madeira

Calheta vs Santa Cruz: cost of living compared

versus

Yearly saving in Calheta

€2,633/year

For a single person buying a home, Calheta works out cheaper. A home in Calheta costs €59,280 less.

You will

BuyRent

Household

SingleCoupleFamily

Transport

NonePassCar

Home size (m²)

60 m²

More adjustments

Water use (m³/month)DependantsIncome tax paid per year (€)Household gross monthly income (€)Home price (€)Taxable property value, VPT (€)Down payment (%)Term (years)Interest rate (%)I'm 35 or under and it's my first home (IMT Jovem)

CalhetaSanta Cruz

Estimated home price · 60 m²€111,900Δ €59,280€171,180

On the day you buy

Down payment€11,190€17,118

Transfer tax (IMT)€0€765

Stamp duty · purchase€895€1,369

Stamp duty · loan€604€924

Total upfront€12,689€20,177

Monthly payment€388€593

Mortgage payments35 years at 3.00% · 90% financed

€4,651€7,115

€2,464less in Calheta

Property tax (IMI)¹VPT estimated at 50% of price

€168€257

€89less in Calheta

Water, sewage and wasteOfficial tariffs · 4 m³/month

no data

ElectricityERSE regulated tariff · 1,469 kWh/year

€377€377

same in both

GasNatural gas, regulated tariff

no data

Income tax refunded by the municipalityCalheta gives back the 5%, Santa Cruz gives back 1%

€100€20

€80less in Calheta

Total per yearItems with data for both

€5,096€7,729

€2,633less in Calheta

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

34%54%

20%better in Calheta

House price rise over 5 yearsMedian sale price (€/m²), over 5 years

+82%+126%

44 pointsrose more in Santa Cruz

Crime rateRecorded crimes per 1 000 residents

14.6/100016.6/1000

2.0/1000better in Calheta

Average commuteOne way to work or school

17 min19 min

2 minbetter in Calheta

Average salary (gross)Average monthly earnings, by place of work

€1,383/month€1,343/month

€40/monthbetter in Calheta

Median salary (gross)Half of workers earn less than this, by place of work

€1,156/month€1,095/month

€61/monthbetter in Calheta

Purchasing power (Portugal = 100)Per-capita index

68.476.9

8.5better in Santa Cruz

PharmaciesPer 1,000 people

0.30/10000.20/1000

0.10/1000better in Calheta

Nearest emergency departmentAverage straight-line distance from where residents live to the nearest hospital emergency department

3.2 km7.0 km

3.8 kmbetter in Calheta

CrèchesPublic, non-profit (IPSS) and private crèches and childminders, children under 3 (above 100: more places than children)

no data

Crèche placesTotal crèche places (excluding childminders)

no data

Not-for-profit crèchesShare of places in public, IPSS and misericórdia crèches, free under Creche Feliz

no data

Ageing indexOlder people per 100 young (lower = younger)

227126

101better in Santa Cruz

Burnt land over 10 yearsShare of the land that burnt at least once in 10 years

65%0.1%

65%better in Santa Cruz

Not part of the euro total. Crime: recorded crimes per 1 000 residents (2025). Commute: average one-way trip to work or school (2021).

Calheta and Santa Cruz in the rankings

See where Calheta and Santa Cruz rank on each indicator: home prices, salaries, emergency care, crèches…

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Better valueCalheta

Calheta → Santa Cruz →