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

No

The difference lies primarily in usage and vocabulary. In Brazilian Portuguese, "metropolitano" is almost exclusively used as an adjective to describe things related to a metropolitan area (e.g., região metropolitana). When Brazilians refer to the subway/underground system, they rarely use the word "metropolitano"; instead, they use the word metrô. In Portugal, "metropolitano" is frequently used as a noun to refer to the subway system itself (e.g., o metropolitano), though "metro" is also common. Additionally, there are minor spelling differences in related words, such as planejamento (BR) vs. planeamento (PT).

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

  1. A região metropolitana de São Paulo é imensa. (The metropolitan region of São Paulo is huge.)
  2. O transporte metropolitano é um grande desafio. (Metropolitan transport is a great challenge.)
  3. O planejamento metropolitano precisa de verba. (Metropolitan planning needs funding.)
  4. Ela mora na zona metropolitana. (She lives in the metropolitan zone.)
  5. O sistema metropolitano está em expansão. (The metropolitan system is expanding.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

  1. Vou apanhar o metropolitano para o centro. (I am going to take the metro to the center.)
  2. O metropolitano está com muitos atrasos hoje. (The metro is experiencing many delays today.)
  3. O planeamento metropolitano é essencial. (Metropolitan planning is essential.)
  4. O comboio metropolitano passou agora. (The metropolitan train passed just now.)
  5. O bilhete do metropolitano é caro. (The metro ticket is expensive.)