This paper compares the space standards that apply to the construction of social housing in Portugal and in São Paulo, and seeks explanations for the identified differences in the socioeconomic contexts of the territories. The Controlled Cost Housing (CCH) from Portugal and the housing built within the program My Home My Life (MHML) in the São Paulo Municipality for households with incomes below 3 minimum wages are investigated. The space standards for the construction of dwellings in the program MHML are, in the analysed specifications, lower than for CCH. This difference contributes to make the price of housing more adequate to the income of disadvantage households in São Paulo Municipality, which is lower than the income of the same type of households in Portugal. Although social houses are substantially smaller in São Paulo Municipality than in Portugal, the satisfaction level of residents with the size of houses is slightly higher in São Paulo. In conclusion, there are differences in the social housing policy of each territory. Program MHML aims to provide households with incomes below three minimum wages the opportunity to buy a house. In Portugal, housing for households with incomes within this range is assured through renting. The first option requires a substantial non repayable investment of the Federal Government. In order to increase the number of households covered by the program MHML it is natural to minimize the cost of housing, and therefore its area. The second option enables to maintain in the public domain a housing stock, and therefore the priority is the construction of quality housing that ensures appropriate living conditions for dwellers.