You can have many fears in relation with living in Portugal. And they might well be legitimate! Going to live abroad is not a decision to be taken lightly. There are advantages and disadvantages.Yes, living in Portugal is great and that’s why I’ve been there for more than 8 years, but during these years I’ve seen many people come to Portugal and after 6 months, 1 year, 2 years … leave.

Keep in mind that spending holidays in Portugal is different from living there. When you spend holidays, you sometimes only see the good sides. Today, I will try to share with you some advantages and disadvantages of living in Portugal. Let’s go!

DISADVANTAGES of living in Portugal

1- Renting

Living in Portugal often starts with looking for a house / apartment and it is not easy to find a long-term rental in Portugal. Why is this ?

• There are few properties available for long-term rental. There is a lot of demand for few offers, so rents are high and first come, first served,
• Long-term rental properties are sometimes dilapidated : insulation problems, humidity and no heating. Yes, there are renovated properties, but these are often used for short-term rentals,
• There are very few furnished properties and those that are furnished often have a rather old fashioned decoration and furniture,

It is difficult to find a “good” long-term rental for less than 600€ per month in Portugal. On the other hand, be reactive and have some money aside because you will probably be asked for at least 6 months worth of rent in advance if you do not have a guarantor in Portugal.

2 : Health 

The Portuguese social security system only covers expenses incurred in the public sector and not those incurred in the private sector. The public and private sectors are totally independent from each other. The private sector is only accessible with private health insurance. Private health insurance allows access to private health care services in Portugal, which can be very interesting when you know the waiting times in the public sector. Indeed, except for major emergencies, waiting times in the public sector are extremely long whereas those in the private sector are almost immediate. Waiting times to get an appointment with a specialist or to have an operation are so long that many people opt for private health insurance in order to benefit from faster care in the private sector. This insurance reduces the cost of consultations and examinations. The rates of a private insurance are variable and depend on your profile : 70€ in average.

3 : Work

Living in Portugal also means finding a job there. There are a few things to keep in mind :

• Portuguese salaries are low and are among the lowest in Europe. The minimum wage is 740€ per month (source: Eurostat),
• Working hours are longer than in many European countries. In Portugal, people work 40 hours per week.
• In terms of holidays, there are 22 days of paid vacations per year, in addition to the national vacations which are around 13 days per year.

4 : Cost of living

People often talk about the low cost of living in Portugal but .. Be careful ! Yes, some things are cheaper in Portugal than in other European countries but many things are the same price as the neighbours or even more expensive. Also, let’s not forget the previous point: Portuguese salaries are much lower so be careful with the ratio of Portuguese salaries to the cost of living in Portugal which can be tricky. Here are some examples of daily costs to keep in mind when deciding to live in Portugal :

• Energy bills : in Portugal, electricity is about 20% more expensive than in France. And it is important to keep in mind that many homes include electric heaters or reversible air conditioning because the majority of homes in Portugal have no heating system at all.
• Health insurance : as previously mentioned, you must budget for health insurance because it is essential, even indispensable, to have health insurance in Portugal.
• Internet & Telephones : the national average for an internet + landline telephone package is 40€. On average, count 60€ for internet and phone.
• Shopping : obviously, everything related to imported products is more expensive, especially all products related to hygiene, the majority of which are French brands.
• Gasoline : the rates in Portugal are high. In mid-October 2021, the price of gasoline in Portugal even reached 2€ per liter.
• Rent : let’s finish with what will be your main expense : rent. As you can imagine, rents are very different from one place to another in Portugal. Rents have increased a lot in the cities of Lisbon and Porto over the last few years and for this reason I would say that the cost of living in Portugal is not that low (at least in the big cities).

ADVANTAGES of living in Portugal

1 : Security

The feeling of security when living in Portugal is omnipresent. I am a young woman and I have never had any fears or worries in Portugal. I’m not hung up on my phone in the metro, I’m not afraid to leave my computer on a coffee table when I have to pay, or I never have any fears when I’m walking in the streets alone after midnight. It is not perfect, and crime also exists in Portugal. There have been a lot of worries about rival gangs in Porto and Lisbon in the last few weeks. However, crime in Portugal is relative and lower than in many countries. In 2021, according to the Global Peace Index, Portugal is considered the 4th most peaceful country in the world, just behind Iceland, New Zealand and Denmark.

2 : Weather

As Portugal is located in the south of Europe, the temperatures are much milder than in the rest of Europe. It is often said that there are 300 days of sunshine per year and it is true ! From Lisbon to the Algarve, rain and gray skies are very rare ! In the north of the country, the sun is a little less present, but the temperatures are mild almost all year round.In winter, temperatures are often around 15º during the day and rarely drop below 5º. In summer, temperatures often exceed 30º during the day and drop to 15º in the evening.At the end of October this year, it was again 28 degrees during the day. An Indian summer that allows you to enjoy Portugal, its beaches, its landscapes, its monuments, its villages, its cities…

3 : Gastronomy

In Portugal, the cuisine has a very important place and the know-how is transmitted from generation to generation. Portuguese cuisine is a “no-fuss”, family-style, tasty, made “with love” and generous cuisine. As you may have noticed, the dishes served are often large portions. The further north you go, the more your plates will be filled. In fact, in many restaurants, you have the choice to order a “dose” or a “meia-dose”.Even if the Portuguese like to cook, going to a restaurant is an integral part of their habits. Even in the morning, it is customary to have breakfast at the local café, whereas in France it is very rare to have this meal outside. This craze for restaurants can be partly explained by their very affordable prices.Each region has its specialties. It is, in my opinion, interesting to taste them during your escapades in the different regions of Portugal.

4 : The quality of life 

If you ask an expatriate what he likes most here in Portugal, one of his answers will most likely be: the quality of life. This quality of life is highlighted in every report on Portugal and seduces a large number of people. What is quality of life ? It is the points previously mentioned: the sun, the temperatures, the security, the gastronomy… but also the traditions, the landscapes, the beaches, the architecture, the activities, the warm welcoming of the locals… which contribute unquestionably to this Portuguese quality of life.

Conclusion

I don’t know if I already told you but I did not come to Portugal “by choice”. I didn’t know Portugal at all, I had never been there, I didn’t know its culture, its gastronomy, nor its architecture before to live there. I followed my boyfriend who was in Portugal for professional reasons. Today, I consider this country as my adopted country. I feel like home here.But be careful, living in Portugal is not only advantages and you have to be aware of this if you decide to live there. My advice: take time to weigh the pros and cons, get informed before your departure …  Don’t do as I did ? Before your departure, go to Portugal several times and discover the region. Be curious, get off the beaten track, be open, discover the real Portugal. Discover the culture and adapt yourself as much as possible to the country and its inhabitants.

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