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

No

While the core dictionary definitions of "vale" (a valley, to be worth, or a voucher) are identical in both dialects, the typical usage differs significantly. In Brazil, "vale" is the standard term for many specific employment benefits (such as vale-refeição or vale-transporte), whereas in Portugal, these are more naturally referred to as subsídios or ajudas de custo. Additionally, in Brazilian Portuguese, "vale" is frequently used colloquially as a shorthand for agreement (meaning "it works" or "let's do it"), a usage that is not natural in European Portuguese.

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

  1. O meu vale-refeição acabou antes do fim do mês. (My meal voucher ran out before the end of the month.)
  2. Esse esforço todo não vale a pena. (All this effort is not worth it.)
  3. Eu utilizo o vale-transporte para ir ao trabalho. (I use the transit voucher to go to work.)
  4. O vale é muito profundo e verde. (The valley is very deep and green.)
  5. — Vamos ao cinema hoje? — Vale! (— Shall we go to the cinema today? — Sounds good!)

European Portuguese Examples

  1. O meu subsídio de alimentação acabou antes do fim do mês. (My meal allowance ran out before the end of the month.)
  2. Esse esforço todo não vale a pena. (All this effort is not worth it.)
  3. Eu utilizo o passe para ir para o trabalho. (I use the pass to go to work.)
  4. O vale é muito profundo e verde. (The valley is very deep and green.)
  5. — Vamos ao cinema hoje? — Está bem. (— Shall we go to the cinema today? — Okay.)