Portugal best places to live
Portugal is a beautiful country. It has many things to offer, including beaches, mountains and historical sites. If you want to live in Portugal, you should consider its best places to live.
Portugal best places to live
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.
Many people speak English in Lisbon and the city is also a popular place to live for tech nomads and remote workers. With the increase in remote working due to the coronavirus pandemic, Lisbon is filled with co-working hubs, has a high-speed internet connection and plenty of job opportunities with some of the highest salaries in Portugal for those who aren’t able to work from home. Lisbon currently is in first place in Nomad List’s best places to live and work in the world and is also one of the best places to invest in real estate in 2021.
Pros of living in Lisbon
- Safety
- High quality education
- Family friendly
Cons of living in Lisbon
- Can be crowded
- Healthcare could be better
- More expensive than other cities in Portugal
The cost of living in Lisbon for an expat is around 1,274€ per month, much cheaper than other popular European cities.
Porto
Portugal’s second city, Porto, is often overlooked by expats moving to Portugal due to its more northern location, but this beautiful city on the banks of the River Douro should not be ruled out. Like Lisbon, Porto is also a very safe city, making it perfect for families and is also a cheaper option compared to Lisbon.
If you choose to live south of the river in the Vila Nova de Gaia neighbourhood for example, house prices and the general cost of living will be even cheaper than in the city centre, and the area is also not as popular with tourists, as well as being a good area for real estate investment in Porto. Porto is famous for its port wine, incredible local gastronomy and its colourful streets, while English is also well spoken in most cases.
Pros of living in Porto
- Great healthcare
- Safety
- Affordable
Cons of living in Porto
- The city centre can be busy with tourists
- Cold winter weather
The cost of living in Porto for an expat is around 1,120€ per month.
Braga
Braga is one of Portugal’s oldest cities and a great option for those looking for a cheaper and smaller city beyond Porto and Lisbon. The city is one of Portugal’s up and coming cities and is becoming more and more popular amongst expats. Braga is known for its lively nightlife, as well as rich history, as Braga is home to one of the oldest cathedrals in Portugal. Braga has an ideal location, just 30 minutes from the beach, 15 minutes from the mountains and 40 minutes from neighbouring Spain, as well as being family friendly with well known schools. In 2020, Braga was voted as one of the best cities in the world to retire in, as well as one of the happiest cities in Europe.
Pros of living in Braga
- Location
- Great healthcare
- Very affordable
- Less tourists
Cons of living in Braga
- Cold winters
- Not much English is spoken
According to Nomad List, the cost of living in Braga for an expat is around 864€ per month, making it one of Portugal’s cheapest cities.
Funchal (Madeira)
Madeira isn’t a destination that expats immediately think of moving to, but this Portuguese island is becoming increasingly popular, especially with remote workers who have chosen island life as their destination of choice. The island’s biggest city, Funchal, is an up and coming city and offers a beautiful setting with warm weather all year round. The island is not overrun with tourists and suffered much less in the coronavirus pandemic than mainland Portugal. People on the island generally speak basic English.
Pros of living in Funchal
- Very safe
- Family friendly
- Beautiful surroundings
Cons of living in Funchal
- Life on an island could feel isolating
- Fewer employment opportunities
The cost of living in Funchal for an expat comes in at 1,172€ per month.
Ponta Delgada (the Azores)
From one Portuguese island to another, the Azores are one of the most beautiful places to live in the world. The main city in the Azores archipelago of São Miguel is Ponta Delgada and although the city may seem a little remote, the island’s beauty makes it one of the best places to live in Portugal. Like Funchal, Ponta Delgada is not too touristy, but is more expensive in terms of cost of living and known for its sustainable tourism initiatives.
Pros of living in Ponta Delgada
- Good air quality
- Family friendly
- Beautiful surroundings
Cons of living in Ponta Delgada
- Life on an island could feel isolating
- Fewer employment opportunities
- Unreliable public transport
The cost of living in Ponta Delgada for an expat is around 1,728€ per month according to the latest data from Nomad List for 2021.
Aveiro
The charming town of Aviero is located close to Porto and is a truly authentic Portuguese place to live if you want to live outside Porto. The city is famous for its canals, and although Aveiro is small, it is rich in history, culture and charm. Due to its smaller size, English is generally spoken less. However, the quality of life is known for being high and is particularly popular with students, as well as pensioners due to the relaxed way of life in the city.
Pros of living in Aveiro
- Very safe
- Close to Porto
- Not touristy
Cons of living in Aveiro
- Further from the coast
- Less English spoken
- Healthcare needs improvement
The cost of living in Aveiro for an expat in 2021 is around 1,293€ per month according to Nomad List.
Coimbra
Coimbra is another Portuguese city that has something for everyone. Once the capital of Portugal, Coimbra is a relaxed city and has a low cost of living. The oldest university in Portugal is located in Coimbra, giving the city a lively feel. On top of this, the city is also well connected to other parts of the country by train, Lisbon and Portugal for example. Coimbra is another safe city and has lots of beautiful architecture and culture to be enjoyed, not to mention the delicious local food.
Pros of living in Coimbra
- Very safe
- Well connected
- Great nightlife
- Good healthcare
Cons of living in Coimbra
- Further from the coast
- Changeable weather
The cost of living in Coimbra for an expat is cheaper than other parts of Portugal and is around 1,085€ per month.
Portimão
A list of the best places to live in Portugal would not be complete without mentioning the Algarve, home to golden beaches, a dramatic coastline, and some of the best weather in Portugal. Popular with pensioners and people retiring to Portugal, sunny Portimão has a relaxed feel and lots of trendy beach cafés and places to soak up the atmosphere in the historic town centre. It’s important to note that transport in the Algarve is generally worse than the rest of Portugal and you may need a car, however, Portimão, the second largest city in the Algarve, is fairly well connected with other main destinations in the Algarve such as Lagos and Faro.
Pros of living in Portimão
- Large expat community
- English generally widely spoken
- Beside the beach
Cons of living in Portimão
- Fewer employment opportunities
- Can become busy in the summer months with tourists
The cost of living in Portimão for an expat is cheaper than other parts of Portugal and is around 1,749€ per month.