I lived in Lisbon from 2018 to 2022 and I remember those years with gratitude, but honestly I am not sure if I’ll ever want to move back. Even though I didn’t have the super unrealistic idea that Portugal was perfect, since I moved there for a job, had Portuguese citizenship and spoke the language fluently, I did expect to feel a bit more welcome than I did. My time there was a roller-coaster but Portugal will always have a special place in my heart.
Although I don’t live in Portugal anymore, I am still in many Facebook groups for foreigners living in Portugal because I find it interesting to read about people’s experiences and find out some of them were very similar to mine. Nowadays, I see many people posting not because they are already in Portugal, but because they are looking into moving there soon.
I think whoever is marketing Portugal has been doing a great job during the past years: everyone is obsessed with it!
I understand the appeal, but I’m writing this post with the hope that it might be useful in giving a more realistic overview for anyone considering moving to Portugal soon.
Finding a place to live was not so hard when I arrived in 2018, but nowadays it’s hard, expensive, time-consuming and you might even get scammed! I wrote a post in 2023 about the housing crisis in Portugal and, although some things need updating such as the prices – they are way higher now– the problem remains the same. There is a high demand and not enough supply because many landlords prefer to make more profit through offering their properties as temporary accommodation for tourists.
Of course, this is not a problem only in Portugal, many European cities are going through the same problem nowadays. My advice? Don’t be afraid to live “far” from the center. Portugal is a super small country, living in the outskirts of Lisbon means that you live 30-45 min away from the city center by car. Furthermore, depending on your lifestyle, you won’t be missing much by not living in the city center. I myself lived in Almada and would spend weeks without going to Lisbon at all because I had everything I needed there.
Making new friends
Although I believe this is true beyond Portugal, making local friends is extremely challenging when you move to a new country. The truth is, people have their lives, their networks, families, friends and often do not feel the need to put in the effort to build a friendship with someone new. So, things could get a little lonely and even more if you add a language barrier to it. This might vary depending on where you move to but in Lisbon, at least for me, it was extremely difficult to make friends with the locals.
However, you’re not the only one feeling like this! There are groups and communities that can be helpful to meet new people –even if they aren’t necessarily locals. For example, Girl Gone International I Lisbon or groups with your nationality, if you wish to meet people from your country, such as Americans & Friends PT. Another way to meet people is by joining activities such as dance, music, yoga or art lessons so that you can meet people through common interests.
Safety
Due to the recent events in the United States, many people that post seeking guidance in these types of groups are Americans worried about their futures, specially people from the LGBTIQ+ community in LGBTIQ+ – Expats & Immigrants Portugal. There are of course isolated events people comment on but I would say that Lisbon and Porto are really open and safe places. However, if you belong to the community, feel free to join the group and read about people’s experiences. Overall, I mostly read positive ones!
I come from a very violent country so my standard might not be the best, but as a woman I always felt extremely safe in Portugal. As in any other city, you need to be attentive to your surroundings but crime rates are extremely low, and the worst that can happen could be the occasional pickpocket, but nothing violent.
So in my opinion, the reputation Portugal has earned about being really chill and safe is completely deserved.
Prices
I would say prices are the most difficult topic to write about because what I consider expensive might not be considered so by other people. So, when it comes to prices my comparisons are based on the European Union countries where I have lived: Portugal, Spain, Germany and Sweden. I feel that Portugal has been marketed as a super cheap country and you should take this with a pinch of salt. First of all, the minimum wage is one of the lowest in the EU, so if you plan to live on a minimum wage in the city, things might get a bit tight. Second, understanding your lifestyle is fundamental to talk about prices.
For example, groceries and toiletries are super-cheap in Germany when compared to Portugal, but going out for dinner or drinks in Portugal is way, way cheaper than in Germany. My advice would be for you to visit the website of Portuguese supermarkets, fill your cart with your usual groceries and see how much it’s going to cost. That way you can have a clearer idea about prices because the truth is more nuanced than Portugal just being ”cheap.”
Jobs
Another complex topic that depends on your age, experience, industry, language knowledge, skills, and so many other things! For me, finding a job as an English or Spanish teacher was very, very hard. And when I did find it, the salary was terrible. So, my experience with jobs in Portugal was not the best.
I got the idea that, even if you have amazing qualifications, Portuguese people are preferred over foreigners a thousand times, at least in my industry. Furthermore, if you haven’t built a solid career and only have the advantage of being multilingual, you will pretty much end up stuck in the call-center industry, which is huge in Portugal.
That’s why a lot of people that move to Portugal do it while having a remote job with a salary from abroad – plus the low local salaries previously mentioned. I do recommend speaking Portuguese as it can open some doors and – most importantly – help you get connections that can later help you get a job.
Unfortunately, it is quite common for people to get jobs in Portugal because they know someone and not because of their skills or qualifications.
Mónica da Silva is half-Venezuelan, half Portuguese and has lived in Venezuela, Portugal, Spain and Germany. She has studied linguistics and has a Bachelor’s Degree in European Studies. Besides contributing to Dispatches, she works remotely as an English teacher, which allows her to be on the move as often as she wants.
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