American expats live in many different parts of Portugal. Cities in Northern Portugal like Porto and Braga are popular, as well as major cities in Southern Portugal like Faro and the Lisbon region.
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Lisbon. Lisbon is a diverse city, great for expats, families and students, and has a thriving LGBT+ community. Portugal's capital city has it all and is an excellent choice for anybody wanting the buzz of a big city, while also having a beautiful historic centre and being close to beautiful beaches.
This sunny European destination has it all — great beaches, incredible history, and color around every corner. It's definitely a safe place for travelers (as long as they follow a couple of common-sense guidelines). With some local help, we've put together this guide for staying safe in Portugal.
An excellent year-round climate, fantastic beaches a short distance from the capital, great food, high quality of life, and low living costs are some reasons Americans move to Portugal.
In fact, the average cost of living in Portugal is around €1,608 (€1,500) per month, depending on what part of Portugal you're living in. Overall, Portugal is considered one of the cheapest countries in Western Europe and is, on average, 50 percent cheaper than living in the United States.
Big sister Lisbon is twice the size, more cosmopolitan, faster paced and 200 miles further south, so in summer it can be sweltering. Compact, walkable Porto has a more traditional feel and is cooled by Atlantic breezes through summer, though fog and rain can roll in via the same route during the winter.
So there you have it—two of the friendliest cities in the world. If you're looking for a place to travel to or live in, where the people are warm and welcoming, then Porto or Lisbon should definitely be at the top of your list. Contact us today to discover our available properties in Portugal.
The majority of expats in Algarve are in Tavira, Vilamoura, Lagos, Faro, Albufeira, Alvor and Ferragudo. These towns also happen to attract a large amount of tourists each year, so they can get quite busy during high season. If you're more into quiet towns, then rural areas of the Algarve are perfect.
In Coimbra or Braga a couple could live quite comfortably on that same budget of around $1,600 per month. Living in Lisbon, Porto, or trendy areas of the Algarve is going to cost more, but in other areas you can easily have a nice, cushy life for $2,000—add another $700+ to that for an equivalent Lisbon lifestyle.