Cercal vs São Luis: which Alentejo town suits you?
Their January highs are within 1°C of each other (14°C and 14°C). Cercal has more cafés on foot and a closer bus station; São Luis has lower rents, cheaper homes to buy and less recorded crime.
Cercal
3,772 peopleChoose Cercal if you want
- More cafés within a 15-minute walk (3, against 0)
- A bus station closer by (0.2 km, against 9.5 km)
São Luis
1,006 peopleChoose São Luis if you want
- Lower rents in the municipality (€6.17/m² a month, against €8.59/m²)
- Cheaper homes to buy in the municipality (€1,800/m², against €2,184/m²)
- Less recorded crime in the municipality (20.8 per 1,000 residents, against 36.9)
Side by side
Bold marks the better value where one is clearly better and both values are precise.
Climate
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| Measure | Cercal | São Luis |
|---|---|---|
| January high | 14°C | 14°C |
| January low | 8°C | 7°C |
| July high | 28°C | 27°C |
| Days above 35°C a year | 3 | 2 |
| Nights above 20°C a year | 7 | 6 |
| Frost days a year | 0 | 0 |
| Days with rain a year | 78 | 78 |
| Daylight on 21 December | 9 h 33 min | 9 h 33 min |
| Sea in August | – | 19°C |
Daily life within a 15-minute walk
| Measure | Cercal | São Luis |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 2 | 1 |
| Pharmacies | 1 | 1 |
| Doctors and clinics | 1 | 0 |
| Cafés | 3 | 0 |
| Restaurants | 7 | 4 |
Getting around
| Measure | Cercal | São Luis |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest train station | 26 km | 22 km |
| Nearest bus station | 0.2 km | 9.5 km |
| Nearest hospital | 24 km | 32 km |
| Nearest beach | 11 km | 10 km |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | 73 km | 63 km |
Housing and safety (whole municipality)
| Measure | Cercal | São Luis |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent per m², per month | €8.59/m² | €6.17/m² |
| Sale price per m² | €2,184/m² | €1,800/m² |
| Sale price change, 5 years | +115% | +64% |
| Crimes recorded per 1,000 residents | 36.9 | 20.8 |
People
| Measure | Cercal | São Luis |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,772 | 1,006 |
| Aged 65 and over | 31.3% | 30.2% |
| Under 15 | 11.9% | 11.3% |
| Born in another country | 4.5% | 8.5% |
Natural hazards
| Measure | Cercal | São Luis |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquakes of M5+ within 100 km since 1900 | 1 | 1 |
Month by month
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| High | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cercal | 14° | 15° | 18° | 19° | 22° | 25° | 28° | 28° | 26° | 22° | 17° | 15° |
| São Luis | 14° | 15° | 18° | 19° | 22° | 25° | 27° | 28° | 26° | 22° | 17° | 15° |
The average highs are within 1°C of each other in every month.
Cercal or São Luis: common questions
Which is warmer in winter, Cercal or São Luis?
They are within 1°C of each other: average January highs of 14.3°C in Cercal and 14.3°C in São Luis.
Which has more shops within walking distance?
Cercal: 2 grocery stores within a 15-minute walk of the centre, against 1 in São Luis.
Which is closer to an airport?
Both use Portimão Airport (PRM): 73 km from Cercal and 63 km from São Luis, in a straight line.
Cite or link
hexplace (2026). Cercal vs São Luis: climate, homes and daily life compared. https://hexplace.org/portugal/compare/cercal-vs-sao-luis/