Why Portugal Is One of the Best Places for Expats
Portugal: a country with so much more to offer than just good weather
If you are considering moving to Portugal, you may have some questions. What is the culture like here? How easy is it to meet other people? What are the schools like?
Being Portuguese and having been an expat myself, I get many of these questions when people ask me if they should move here. But basically, Portugal is an excellent place for expats.
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I’m also a digital nomad residing in Portugal and below are just a few reasons why I truly believe this is the best place for expats to call their new home.
The affordable cost of living in Portugal
Portugal is a low-cost country and one of Europe's cheapest places to live.
In contrast to other countries like Switzerland or Norway, Portugal has a low cost of living, which means you can save when you move here.
This is less than what many people pay for their mortgage back home. Some expatriates have been able to buy a house outright with just one year's salary.
The cost of food and consumer goods also tends to be lower in Portugal than in other European countries because it imports most items from overseas rather than producing them locally.
However, suppose you are looking for luxury items such as designer clothes or electronics. In that case, you may find that these are more expensive than elsewhere due to import duties imposed on such items by the government on top of standard retail prices.
You'll probably be warmer than you are now
It's no secret that Portugal is known for its warm weather. Lisbon has one of the highest temperatures in Europe — with an average temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius (or 68 degrees Fahrenheit).
With this weather year-round and a climate similar to California's, you can be sure that you'll enjoy warmer days than you experience now.
In the south of the country, we are experiencing an unusual heat wave with temperatures expected to rise above 48ºC. If this is the case, Portugal will break the current official record, which was measured at 48.0ºC in Athens on July 10, 1977.
Summers are warm but not hot; winters are not too cold; spring brings pleasant breezes that keep things comfortable throughout the day; autumn brings mild temperatures with sunny skies, making it feel almost as good as summertime.
Portugal is known for its hospitality
Portuguese people have an innate ability to make you feel at home right away. The country's culture of friendliness means that expats who move there are likely to be warmly welcomed by locals.
Portuguese people are often welcoming and friendly to tourists, which makes it easy for expats who visit or move there to get comfortable in their new surroundings.
Many Portuguese people also have family members who live abroad, and they know how important it can be for newcomers to feel accepted in their new community. That's why they're so good at making you feel like part of their family from day one.
Portugal has an eclectic expat community
It's no secret that Portugal is one of the best places for expats. It has everything you would expect from an ideal destination: beaches, sunny weather, and plenty of cultural activities.
However, what sets this country apart is its welcoming culture and the international community. Whether you are an American or French expat looking for a new home abroad or just traveling through on vacation, there's no doubt that you will be able to find an expat community in Portugal, even if yours isn't the most common nationality.
Indeed, this melting pot of cultures is known as one of the most inclusive countries in Europe. In 2016 alone, over 180 nationalities amounting to 397,731 expats registered in Portugal.
Portugal is a safe country to live in and start a family
Portugal is a great place to raise children. The government has an excellent education system, and Portugal is considered one of the safest countries in Europe.
The cost of childcare services, in particular, is something that many expats consider before moving abroad (and rightly so).
In some countries, it's hard to find a daycare provider who speaks your language — let alone one who can meet all other needs such as transportation from home to work or vice versa during working hours.
Here in Portugal, many affordable options are available for those who want to live within their budget. This benefit can be especially important if you have children in school or daycare.
Portugal also offers universal healthcare coverage, which makes it easier for expats with families to get their medical needs taken care of. With a low crime rate, safety is not a concern here.
It takes less than a day to drive from north to south
One of the things many expats love about Portugal is that it is easy to get around and travel from place to place.
Portugal has an excellent public transportation system with buses, trains, and ferries that can take you all over the country.
In most cities, getting around by bike is also an option, thanks to a variety of bike paths.
If you prefer to travel by car, Portugal has one of the best road networks in Europe, with many well-maintained highways connecting major cities and smaller towns throughout the country.
And if you need to fly somewhere else in Europe or North America (or even further), Portugal has numerous airports from which you can catch your flight. Major airlines fly into Lisbon (LIS) and Porto (OPO) airports. TAP Air Portugal offers direct flights from their Lisbon hub to anywhere in the world.
Some of the most beautiful landscapes ever
Portugal is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. The landscape is breathtaking, and there are many regions where you can spend your time just admiring the view. From beaches, rivers, and lakes to mountains, Portugal has everything that you could possibly need or want.
There are also lots of historical sites to visit if history interests you. And it's not all about history either; culture also plays a big part in Portuguese life.
There are plenty of art galleries and museums — although they're mainly located around Lisbon. Other cities like Porto are also fascinating places with lots of culture — so they will definitely appeal if this sounds like something that interests you!
The food, oh, the food!
Portuguese cuisine is a reflection of the country's history. It has been influenced by the culinary traditions of the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and its African and Asian territories.
While steak may be considered a staple of Portuguese cuisine, it's not all about the meat here. There are plenty of fish dishes as well — including “caldeirada” (fish stew), “carpaccio de bacalhau” (dried salt cod), and “sardinhas assadas na brasa” (grilled sardines).
Portuguese wines are fantastic, too — particularly those produced in the Douro Valley region, where there's an abundance of vineyards producing reds like Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz along with whites like Arinto or Bagaço. No matter what you choose to drink in Portugal, you’ll surely enjoy it with some incredible food.
Concluding remarks
Portugal is no stranger to tourists, but it's also an excellent place for expats. There are so many reasons why you should move to Portugal, and I will tell you about them now.
If you are thinking of moving to Portugal, one thing you are likely to enjoy is the affordable cost of living in Portugal. You'll be able to get by under $1,200 per month, which is much less than most places in Europe, so there will be plenty left over in your budget for travel or other things that make life worth living.
Portugal has the lowest cost of living in all of Europe. The country has low taxes and minimal regulations, which means that prices are significantly lower than in most other European countries.
Portugal's weather is suitable for most people's comfort zone when considering where they want their new home base to fall within those parameters…except maybe if you're from tropical hot, then perhaps not so much wintertime here might feel unpleasantly cold after a while.
Why not join a thriving community of digital nomads that have, Portugal welcomes you and your family.
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