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Is the word cara the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?

No.

While the literal meaning of "cara" (face or countenance) is the same in both dialects, there is a significant difference in its typical usage as a slang term. In Brazilian Portuguese, "cara" is one of the most common ways to say "guy," "dude," or "man." In Continental Portuguese, while the word is understood, it is much less common as a casual address; Portuguese people naturally use "gajo" to refer to a guy and "pá" as a frequent interjection similar to "dude" or "man."

Brazilian Portuguese Usage

  1. E aí, cara, beleza? (Hey dude, how's it going?)
  2. Aquele cara é muito gente boa. (That guy is a really nice guy.)
  3. Cara, que situação difícil! (Man, what a difficult situation!)
  4. Ele é um cara muito inteligente. (He is a very intelligent guy.)
  5. Fala, cara! (Hey, man!)

Continental Portuguese Usage

  1. Olá, pá, tudo bem? (Hey dude, everything okay?)
  2. Aquele gajo é muito engraçado. (That guy is very funny.)
  3. Pá, que situação difícil! (Man, what a difficult situation!)
  4. Ele é um gajo muito porreiro. (He is a very cool guy.)
  5. Olha lá, gajo, presta atenção. (Look here, guy, pay attention.)