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Debt-to-Income (Taxa de Esforço) Calculator, Portugal

Your taxa de esforço (debt-to-income ratio) is the slice of your household's net monthly income already committed to credit: mortgage, car, personal loans, cards. It is the first check a Portuguese lender runs before approving a loan. This calculator adds up your instalments (plus any new payment you are weighing), divides by income and tells you at once whether you stay within the recommended 35 %, and the largest payment that still fits.

Use net monthly figures. Add up every loan instalment (mortgage, car, personal, cards); leave out everyday bills like water, electricity or groceries.

Taxa de esforço (effort rate)
30%
Within the recommended limit (up to 35%)
Total monthly payments
€600
Largest payment up to 35%
€400

How this is worked out

Net monthly income€2,000
Existing credit payments€300
New payment€300
Total payments€600
Effort rate30%

Educational estimate, not financial advice. The recommended effort rate (about 35%) is a prudent benchmark; the 50% limit is the Banco de Portugal macroprudential ceiling, with exceptions and subject to revision. Always confirm the terms with your bank.

What the taxa de esforço is

The taxa de esforço measures how much of your net monthly income goes to servicing credit. It is computed as: effort rate = monthly credit payments ÷ net monthly household income × 100. Count the net income (what lands in your account, after income tax and social security) of everyone in the household, and the sum of every loan instalment: mortgage, car, personal loan and the minimum card payment.

What effort rate is recommended

As a prudent benchmark, the taxa de esforço should not exceed about 35 % of net income (close to a third): the margin that usually keeps a budget breathing. Above that, the effort is high and any shock (a Euribor rise, a health expense) bites much harder. This calculator flags your band: within the recommended limit (up to 35 %), high (35 %–50 %) or very high (above 50 %).

The ceiling banks must respect

Beyond prudence there is a rule: under the Banco de Portugal macroprudential recommendation, banks should only grant new credit with an effort rate (DSTI ratio) up to 50 %, with limited exceptions (up to 10 % of new credit may reach 60 %). That is why an effort rate above 50 % makes approval very hard. Note: the Banco de Portugal has consulted on lowering this limit to 45 % from August 2026: check the figure in force when you apply.

Worked example

A household with €2,000 of net monthly income already pays €300 on a car loan and is weighing a new €300 mortgage payment. Total payments become €600, an effort rate of 30 % (600 ÷ 2,000), within the recommended 35 %. To stay under 35 %, the new payment could go up to €400 a month (35 % of €2,000 is €700, less the €300 already paid).

Frequently asked questions

How is the taxa de esforço calculated?
You divide total monthly credit payments by net monthly household income and multiply by 100: effort rate = credit payments ÷ net income × 100. For example, €600 of instalments on €2,000 of net income is a 30 % effort rate.
What is the maximum recommended effort rate?
As a prudent benchmark, the taxa de esforço should not exceed about 35 % of net income (close to a third). It is guidance, not law: it leaves room for shocks and for the payment rising. Above 35 % the effort is considered high.
What is the legal effort-rate limit for banks?
The Banco de Portugal macroprudential recommendation says banks should only grant new credit with an effort rate (DSTI ratio) up to 50 %, allowing limited exceptions (up to 10 % of each bank’s new credit may reach 60 %). The Banco de Portugal has consulted on lowering this limit to 45 % from August 2026.
Which income and which payments should I include?
For income, count the net monthly amount (after income tax and social security) of everyone in the household, including regular fixed allowances. For payments, add every loan instalment: mortgage, car, personal loan and the card payment. Everyday bills like water, electricity or groceries do not count toward the taxa de esforço.
My effort rate is above 35 %. What can I do?
You can try to cut payments (consolidate loans, renegotiate terms or rates), raise household income, put down a larger deposit to lower the amount borrowed, or lengthen the loan term (which cuts the instalment but raises total interest). The calculator shows the largest payment that still keeps you at 35 %.

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Author: Thorben Rasmus Idel · Reviewed by: Nahar Geva · Last reviewed: 2026-06-01