You’ve heard about the great quality of life. You appreciate the generally lower cost of living. And, you’re looking for something a little different and quaint to start a new life, whether it be a cosmopolitan setting or traditional village. Let us breakdown some great places for foreigners to consider when moving to Portugal.
Starting in the north and travelling south….
Braga
BEST CITIES TO LIVE IN PORTUGAL
Points for Consideration
- Population (2021): 121,394
- Lower cost-of-living than urban centers of Porto and Lisbon
- Quiet and safe community
- The largest number of gardens, squares and churches per square meter in the country
- 45-minute drive from Porto and Porto International Airport
Braga is a large (by Portugal standards) city, but still has a small town feel. Founded in 16 BC by Emperor César Augusto, Braga is one of Portugal’s oldest cities. The city center is chock full of striking architecture and is quite accessible and easy to stroll around, stop for coffee, visit local markets and grab dinner. Located in Portugal’s north, you will feel four distinct seasons and be guaranteed cold temperatures, and maybe snow, in the winter. Homes in the city center will lean toward smaller traditional houses, with surrounding areas offering more land and residential space.
More information: Visit Braga
Guimarães
BEST CITIES TO LIVE IN PORTUGAL
Points for Consideration
- Population (2021): 40,604
- Lower cost-of-living than urban centers of Porto and Lisbon
- Quiet and safe community
- Rich heritage with striking architecture in the city center
- 40-minute drive from Porto and Porto International Airport
Guimarães is a quaint city just 40 minutes from Porto. It is perhaps best known as “the birthplace of Portugal” as the first king Afonso Henriques was born here in the ninth century. It’s also designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site for “exceptionally well-preserved and authentic example of the evolution of a medieval settlement into a modern town.” It is a very walkable city, with cafes and shops in abundance. Although largely an industrial city (shoes, textiles and metalomechanics), there is a vibrancy from the numerous students attending the University of Minho. Summers are warm, but short, with winters being cold and rainy. Average annual temperature is 14ºC/57ºF.
More information: Visit Guimarães
Porto
BEST CITIES TO LIVE IN PORTUGAL
Points for Consideration
- Population (2021): 249,633
- Housing costs rising due to recent popularity of the city
- Vibrant city, rich in culture and more relaxed than Lisbon
- Just a short drive or boat cruise into the Douro Valley wine region
- International airport
Porto is Portugal’s second largest city, and it stands out as a jewel in the crown in the country’s northern region. It is wondrously rich in history, culture, architecture, wine…and food! Porto has been chosen numerous times as “Europe´s Best Tourist Destination. Sitting on the Douro River, there are many beautiful views from hilltops and rooftops in the city. Porto is a vibrant business city, with claims on the county’s furniture, fashion, technology, tourism and, of course, Port wine industries. It is spectacular on sunny days, but is susceptible to sudden rain bursts. As a northern city, the weather can be cold and wet in the winter.
The Foz neighborhood, on Porto’s far west side, is an oceanfront upscale village. Here, nice apartments, shops and restaurants abound, attractive to many international transplants.
More information: Visit Porto
Coimbra
BEST CITIES TO LIVE IN PORTUGAL
Points for Consideration
- Population (2021): 106,582
- University town with lively academic and cultural life
- Relaxed, casual and safe
- Very reasonable cost of living
- 2 hours north of Lisbon, 1:15 from Porto
Coimbra is a charming mid-sized city built on a hill overlooking the Mondego River. It’s history dates back the Roman Empire, but became the capital of Portugal in the 11th century. Coimbra is known as the “Oxford of Portugal, because it’s university is one of the oldest continually-running institutes of higher-education in Europe. The university also adds an academic and cultural vibrancy to the city. The cost of living is far more affordable than Lisbon, Porto or the southern beach resorts. And, largely because of the young students and increasing appeal to tourists, residents can easily get by speaking English. Temperatures are comfortable, with highs of 23ºC/75ºF in the summer and averaging 10ºC/50ºF in the winter. Coimbra is a fabulous blend of history and heritage, with modernity and technology.
More information: Câmara Municipal de Coimbra
Cascais
BEST CITIES TO LIVE IN PORTUGAL
Points for Consideration
- Population (2021): 36,436
- Oceanfront community with professional, international residents
- Active cultural, gastronomic and art scenes
- Fun in the sun with 17 beaches, bike paths and nearby golf
- Short trip to Lisbon International Airport
If you love international living, then you’ll love Cascais. This former fishing village just a short drive west of Lisbon, has been transformed into an upscale community of professional Portuguese, foreign dignitaries, and international expats. The numerous nationalities here utilize English as a common language. Among the many benefits of oceanfront Cascais are a quaint historic center filled with boutiques, an active evening/dining scene, cultural and art museums and 17 beaches. Of course, remember Lisbon and the international airport are just a 30-minute drive or train ride too. For all of this, the cost of living in Cascais will be higher than other Portuguese cities.
More information: Living in Cascais page
Lisbon
BEST CITIES TO LIVE IN PORTUGAL
Points for Consideration
- Population (2021): 517,802
- Portugal’s capital city with international airport
- Vibrant international business sector
- Mostly safe, as large cities go
- Brimming with culture, museums, events and gastronomy
If you’re lifestyle leans more urban or cosmopolitan, then, of course, Lisbon is where you need to be. Like most European capital cities, it’s easy to get around on foot, hop on the metro or call an Uber. Museums, gastronomy and nightlife abound. There is amazing classic architecture mixed in with new contemporary designs. Generations of Portuguese families have lived in the small apartments in the city center, but are beginning to move out in favor of newer, larger apartments in the suburbs. The historic apartments are quickly being snapped up by foreigners interested in living in Lisbon (quite popular at the moment). Cost of living has increased significantly in Lisbon, particularly for housing. Residents can still find traditional food at moderate prices, but menus are more expensive in the trendy and touristy neighborhoods. For work, Lisbon is home to multinational companies, mom and pop businesses, and has recently become a darling of the high tech start-up sector. The weather is moderate, with four distinct seasons requiring a wardrobe ranging from shorts and flip-flops, to boots and overcoats.
More information: Visit Braga
Évora
BEST CITIES TO LIVE IN PORTUGAL
Points for Consideration
- Population (2021): 55,620
- More rural feel due to surrounding farmlands
- Less crowded feel from nearby Lisbon
- Quiet and safe
- 1 ½ hours from Lisbon and international airport
Évora is the capital of the Alentejo, Portugal’s largest region and sandwiched between Lisbon and the Algarve. It is more rural, with an abundance of farmland and vineyards. Although rich in Roman archaeology, the Évora has less culture for modern residents than, say, Lisbon or Porto. It is ideal for those who are seeking calmer and quieter village life. Small winding streets in the historic center have all the necessities, including artisan shops, restaurants with Alentejano cuisine and wines from the region. Cost of living is moderate, with prices for housing decreasing significantly the more one goes outside of town. Weather in the Alentejo can be extreme, with cold and wet winters, and scorching summers hitting 38ºC/100ºF.
For more information, see the Visit Évora website.
Funchal
BEST CITIES TO LIVE IN PORTUGAL
Points for Consideration
- Population (2021): 100,847
- Gorgeous, natural island life
- Moderate climate all year
- Safe, secure and clean
- Reduced (1%) taxes than on the mainland
- 2-hour flight to Lisbon
Pro: secluded island life. Con: secluded island life. It all depends on your desires! Funchal is the largest city on the island of Madeira in the four-island Madeira archipelago. It is a two-hour flight from Lisbon. (Keep in mind, Madeira residents get discounted fares to the mainland.) Rich and lush with vegetation, Madeira is a world unto itself. Topography, flora and fauna are stunning. Foreigners seeking something different are discovering Funchal, while most native families have lived there for generations. Expats can get by using English because of the large tourism industry on the island (however, even Portuguese will warn you that Madeirans speak with their own dialect and are sometimes difficult to understand by those fluent in the language). Funchal itself is a good-sized city, with all of the products, services, restaurants one needs on the streets of the walkable city center. Providers will be tougher to find if you live further afield on the island. The climate is moderate year-round with highs reaching 25ºC/77ºF and lowering to 17ºC/62ºF. Humidity will be a factor in the heat. For work, the primary sector is tourism and hospitality.
More information on Funchal and the island at the Visit Madeira website.
Algarve
BEST CITIES TO LIVE IN PORTUGAL
Points for Consideration
- Algarve Population (2021): 467,495
- Enviable weather all year.
- Different lifestyles to suit your interests
- Large expat community makes it easy to acclimate
- Small international airport at Faro. Flight connections to Lisbon and hubs in northern Europe and Britain
We’re lumping the entirety of the Algarve, the southernmost region of Portugal, in one location. But actually, there are many desirable areas to live in the Algarve. In the east, a number of expats from Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands and Britain, have settled in Vila Real Santo Antonio, Tavira and São Bras de Alportel. Perhaps it’s the quiet, flat terrain, long wide beaches and close proximity to Spain that attracts them. The central Algarve is home to foreign nationals from all over, but largely Britain and Ireland. They have bought second and retirement homes in the more luxurious resorts, to play golf, sit in the sun and visit the numerous beach bars in the area. In the west, towns like Silves, Carvoeiro, and Lagos have attracted Germans, French, Canadians, a smattering of Americans and more Brits. There, life is relaxed, the air breezier, and the shoreline more rugged.
No doubt, it’s the 300 days of sunshine per year that attracts most to the region. With this comes a lifestyle more prone for being active outside, from walking clifftop trails and biking the coastline from east-to-west, to playing golf, taking up tennis, kayaking or stand-up paddle and just enjoying dinner with friends al fresco.
Language is not a barrier here. With so many nationalities in one place, the common language is English. In fact, most Portuguese will speak in English at shops, restaurants and markets.
Most jobs in the Algarve will be in tourism or hospitality. Many expats start their own retail, restaurant or service businesses.
Cost of living depends on where you settle. The central Algarve is most expensive with some homes in the “Golden Triangle” being the priciest in the county. Go farther afield for super affordable city center apartments or buy an old country villa to fix up as you like.
For more information, see the Visit Algarve website.
Whether it be a cosmopolitan setting or traditional village, let us breakdown some great places for foreigners to consider when moving to Portugal. Our list of the Best Cities for Living in Portugal:
Braga
Guimarães
Porto
Coimbra
Cascais
Lisbon
Èvora
Funchal
The Algarve Region