For a single person buying a home, Santa Cruz works out cheaper. A home in Santa Cruz costs €41,100 less.
You will
Household
Transport
60 m²
More adjustments
FunchalSanta Cruz
Estimated home price · 60 m²€212,280Δ €41,100€171,180
On the day you buy
Down payment€21,228€17,118
Transfer tax (IMT)€2,500€765
Stamp duty · purchase€1,698€1,369
Stamp duty · loan€1,146€924
Total upfront€26,573€20,177
Monthly payment€735€593
Mortgage payments35 years at 3.00% · 90% financed
€8,823€7,115
€1,708less in Santa Cruz
Property tax (IMI)1VPT estimated at 50% of price
€318€257
€61less in Santa Cruz
Water, sewage and wasteOfficial tariffs · 4 m³/month
no data for Santa Cruz
ElectricityERSE regulated tariff · 1,469 kWh/year
€377€377
same in both
GasNatural gas, regulated tariff
no data
Income tax refunded by the municipalityFunchal gives back the 5%, Santa Cruz gives back 1%
€100€20
€80less in Funchal
Total per yearItems with data for both
€9,419€7,729
€1,690less in Santa Cruz
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).
excluded from comparison (missing for the other municipality)
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
65%54%
11%better in Santa Cruz
House price rise over 5 yearsMedian sale price (€/m²), over 5 years
+113%+126%
13 pointsrose more in Santa Cruz
Crime rateRecorded crimes per 1 000 residents
28.2/100016.6/1000
11.6/1000better in Santa Cruz
Average commuteOne way to work or school
17 min19 min
2 minbetter in Funchal
Average salary (gross)Average monthly earnings, by place of work
€1,465/month€1,343/month
€122/monthbetter in Funchal
Median salary (gross)Half of workers earn less than this, by place of work
€1,138/month€1,095/month
€43/monthbetter in Funchal
Purchasing power (Portugal = 100)Per-capita index
109.176.9
32.2better in Funchal
PharmaciesPer 1,000 people
0.20/10000.20/1000
same in both
Nearest emergency departmentAverage straight-line distance from where residents live to the nearest hospital emergency department
2.2 km7.0 km
4.8 kmbetter in Funchal
CrèchesPublic, non-profit (IPSS) and private crèches and childminders, children under 3 (above 100: more places than children)
