Why choose BRAGA to live in Portugal | Low Cost of Living in Portugal | Early Retirement Expats

Is Braga the best choice to live in Portugal? Braga has been ranked in the top 10 European cities with the highest quality of life and is the happìest city in Portugal with 94% of residents considering it a good place to live.
We’ve been way overdue posting videos about our beautiful homebase country of Portugal. In this series, we share last year’s scouting trip to one of the most popular cities in the country. Will Braga fit the affordability, comfort and community essentials that we are looking for in a forever home? Let's find out!
For collaborations email [e-mail]
🏨 WHERE WE STAYED:
Porta Nova Collection House - expedia.com/affiliates/braga-...
⭐GREAT EXPERIENCES IN BRAGA:
Braga Half Day Tour with Bom Jesus - gyg.me/YGwq7goL
Full Day Braga and Guimarães Semi-Private Tour with Lunch - gyg.me/hyj93guh
Braga Tuk Tuk City Tour - gyg.me/WHck50zg
Peneda Geres National Park: Private Tour with a Guide - gyg.me/xBagPrzA
📑CHAPTER LIST:
00:00 Introduction
01:49 About Braga
02:41 Getting to Braga and our requirement checklist
04:16 Distance to international airport in Braga
04:49 Braga "The Rome of Portugal"
07:27 Walkability
08:34 Public transportation in Braga
10:12 Things to do in Braga
19:10 University of Minho student
21:11 Weather in Braga
22:34 Access to beaches
23:20 Cost of living in Braga
24:56 Resident visas we qualify for
26:14 Medical care in Braga
27:43 Safety and security in Braga
28:34 Neighborhoods in Braga
30:42 Final thoughts
🔗LINKS MENTIONED IN VIDEO:
► BORDR - Easiest way to get your Portuguese NIF and/or Bank Account (Get $10 off for each with our affiliate link):
www.bordr.com/?via=seekingpar...
👇RESOURCES WE USE TRAVELING & LIVING ABROAD - 🌍
► EXPRESSVPN - Virtual Private Network (3 extra months free with 12-month plan):
go.expressvpn.com/c/4257233/1...
► DISCOVERCARS - Great car rental deals:
www.discovercars.com/?a_aid=s...
► WISE - Easy and cheap International money transfers:
wise.prf.hn/l/NJPoJ9N
► TRAVELING MAILBOX - View your postal mail online anywhere: travelingmailbox.com/?ref=1426
👇MILEAGE REWARD TRAVEL ESSENTIALS WE USE - ✈️
► CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED - Our favorite travel rewards credit card: www.referyourchasecard.com/19...
► TRAVELFREELY - Manage travel reward credit cards (Learn how travel for free): bit.ly/3Z2OvdV
👇RETIREMENT & FINANCIAL PLANNING TOOLS WE USE - 📊
► EMPOWER - Money manager, net worth calculator & retirement planner: fxo.co/1353861/SeekingParadis...
► NEW RETIREMENT - It is like an advisor at your fingertips…run any what-if scenario:
www.newretirement.com/?nr_pro...
👇OUR VIDEO PRODUCTION TOOLS - 📽️
► EPIDEMICSOUND - Copyright Free Music:
www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
👍USEFUL FACEBOOK GROUPS:
Braga+ Expat Group
Americans & FriendsPT
Expat Community Portugal
🏠REAL ESTATE WEBSITE:
idealista.pt
☑️OUR FOREVER HOME REQUIREMENT CHECKLIST:
□ Distance to International Airport: Less than 45 minute by car, train, subway or bus
□ Public Transportation: Reliable metro, bus systems, trains, rideshare services, bike/scooter friendly
□ Walkability: Markets/restaurants/shops within a 15 minute walk, parks, outdoor recreation within a 30 minute drive
□ Things to Do: International restaurants, parks/outdoor activities, live music, art scene, dog friendly activities
□ Average Weather: Ideally between 60F - 80F degrees year round, 300 days or more of sun, exposure to no or few natural disasters
□ Access to beaches: Wide, quiet beaches with plenty of water sports, walking distance preferred, 3-hour drive max
□ Cost of living: Low cost utilities, fresh foods, energy efficient alternatives
□ Good medical care: Major hospital within 10 miles, high quality care, low health insurance premiums, prompt emergency services
□ Safety and Security: Low crime rates, able to walk around safely at night, active police presence
□ Price/Style of Homes/Neighborhoods: Up to $400,000USD purchase price or $1,800 a month for rent-2 Bedroom/2 Bath minimum, yard space, high speed internet, approximately 200 sq. meters finished space, detached home preferred, views, pool access, gated community a plus
DISCLOSURE:
*This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we’ll receive a small commission. Thank you for the support! 🤗
*Also, sometimes we discuss financial topics. We are not financial professionals, please consult a licensed advisor for financial advice.
Follow us at:
Instagram: / seekingparadisebugs
Facebook: / seekingparadisebugs

[@lovestreaming]

Thank you very much for another very well-prepared and inspiring video. It's always a pleasure when you release new content - you guys are so likable 😊 If I had the financial means, I would choose to settle in Malaga or the area around the city. The unique vibe there is something I haven't experienced anywhere else. Based solely on your tour, I wouldn't choose Braga. The city is simply too small, and I think the weather would be too gloomy for me. But as a tourist destination, it is very tempting 😀 Kindest regards Erik

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

thank you so much Erik! you're so kind. Braga is a gorgeous city and we were very happy to share it with you all 🤗

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

thank you so much Erik! you're so kind. Braga is a gorgeous city and we were very happy to share it with you all 🤗

[@Jesse-jt7oc]

Cheers

[@alessandrosilva4441]

Braga has the best value for money in Portugal. The city is still not as expensive as Lisbon and Porto, but it has an excellent infrastructure. The city has the best public hospital in the country and a few more private ones. There is a great public university (Uminho) and a good private university (Catholic University). There are a few shopping centers, two of which are larger shopping centers (Braga Parque e Nova Arcada), but I still prefer to shop at the Continente supermarket in Minho Center in Fraião. KZbin videos always show the Historic Center, but there are modern neighborhoods within a 30-minute walk. Transportation is good, but it stops around 10 pm. In Portugal, there is only a metro in the vicinity of Lisbon or Porto. The city does not have ocean beaches, but it does have river beaches. It's a 40-minute drive to Esposende beach or the mountains in the Peneda-Gerês National Park. The city is quite safe as it is a medium-sized city. There are several cultural events throughout the year such as Braga Romana (in May), the Feast of St. John (in June) and the White Night (in September). In the central region, the buildings are older, and many do not have elevators, parking spaces or heating systems. That's why I recommend the most modern neighborhoods to live in, such as Lamaçães, Fraião or Nogueiró. The most visited tourist spot is the Church of Bom Jesus do Monte. However, the best view of the city is a little further up the mountain to the Basilica of Sameiro. Another good tour for those who love football is to visit the beautiful Braga stadium.

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment with all of this great info!! This is so useful and relevant for people considering Braga to live or visit.

[@Pauln71]

They have the best hospital??

[@rebeccagutierrez1960]

I absolutely love Braga. I vacationed there not too long ago. I just love it!!!

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

It is a wonderful city!! Thanks for watching and commenting! 😊

[@chapter3travels5]

I'm with you 100% on this one - nice place to visit, but not a place I'd want to live. Between the weather and the size, it's not for me, but I can certainly see why plenty of immigrants looking for a smaller, quieter, beautiful city would choose to live there. I REALLY love that restaurant promotion you ran into - that sounds so cool!

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

The Verde Cool restaurant promotion was a lot of fun! We went to cafes and restaurants that we would not have visited otherwise.

[@franciscoroman8200]

Excelente video. Mucha calidad y profesionalismo. Lo mejor que he visto en esta plataforma. Me suscribí ❤️

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

Muchas gracias! Nos alegra que le gustó. Hasta la próxima!

[@Crissa1669]

Hi guys!! Thank you for continuing to do these videos,,, your whole library is a keeper. We visited Spain and Portugal this past May and will be back again next year!! I hope you two have been doing well!!

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

Hi Crissa! Thanks so much. Yes. we've been good! traveling and working on videos. Get in touch when you visit next year 🤗

[@Crissa1669]

⁠ We thought about reaching out when we were there this past May… but thought we’d look like “fangirls/guys” lol. I have really benefited from your experience. We will for sure reach out next visit!!!

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

@Crissa1669 😅 we'd love to meet up next time. We appreciate meeting new friends

[@kgcg202126]

My family and I are also considering Braga. Great video! Braga seems like a great place to live.

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

it is! it seems very family oriented, laid back and affordable.

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

Take a look at the great info @alessandrosilva4441 just wrote about Braga in the comments and best of luck!

[@Stopit77]

Great video, thanks for this and all the work you do in these videos:). May I ask how old you guys are? I’ve been binge watching your other videos and was curious how old you were when you retired early. Thanks!

[@SeekingParadiseBugs]

thank you! We are 53 (Dianne) and 50 (Gui) , retired 5 years ago and loving every minute 😊