Short answer: in our experience a full villa renovation in the Algarve usually falls between €600 and €1,200 per square metre. A lighter refresh — painting, bathrooms, kitchen — comes in well below that.
What pushes the price up
- Bathrooms and kitchens — always the most expensive rooms per square metre.
- Old plumbing and wiring — in houses from the 70s and 80s it often all has to go.
- Damp and salt residue — if it isn't treated properly before painting, it's back within two winters.
- Access — narrow streets or lots of steps add labour cost.
- Licensing — structural work needs council approval.
Where to start
- Separate what genuinely needs doing from what you'd like doing.
- Ask for a written quote with the scope itemised, not a single lump sum.
- Keep 10–15% back — something always turns up in an older house.
One honest piece of advice
If you're renovating to rent the place out, your money goes furthest on bathrooms, kitchen, paint and the pool. Those are the photographs that fill a booking calendar.
Shall we talk about your project?