What It's Really Like To Live In Portugal PART 1: Cost, Language, and Lifestyle

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

What is one thing you have heard about Portugal and want to know if it’s true?

[@juboragdebnath4469]

Morning madam. Madam ithank you four your information. I as 3day befor your email address gev me. I llike poryugal.

[@deebagemsminerals3357]

Julia I need some more information regarding D7 complete process kindly contact me through my Instagram if can publicly share your contact. My Instagram link is below @deebagems

[@capassoluigi7387]

Salaries 650 euros rent 600 + bills so uou are you not welcomed because locals can t rent anymore!!!

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

@Koss I would consider Portugal immigrant-friendly, but not everyone is that way.

[@alexandrep.2679]

@@JuliaRochelleAbroad As a portuguese person, well let me tell you, that rule if valid for every single person or population around the world.

[@alexandrep.2679]

Okay i am Portuguese and i think i need to clarify this to everyone. Living in Portugal as a native one, its not an easy task, the cost of living is high and the wages dear god are very small compared to the rest of the European Union. Now if your an UK citizen, French, German, or US with stronger economies and have alot of money saved, heck Portugal is like Heaven for you. Want a good house save at least 250.000 euros presently for an Apartment with 2 Bedrooms depending of the city you choose (Lisbon, Porto). You will have an easy acess in communication, we portuguese know and understand very well the English Language. Me as a Civil Engineer i can say i earn pretty well so i can have a higher medium living. The sad part is that even with a college degree alot of portuguese ppl went for other countries like the UK to earn a decent wage.

[@softprincess1]

Hi: I am from Canada and retired teacher. Thinking of moving to PORTUGAL. I live on my pension now. I like warmer weather and beaches. Can you suggest a town with reasonable rent but good medical facilities since it's important for me. Thanks 👍 😊

[@alexandrep.2679]

@@softprincess1 Hi, well heres the thing, if your retired and of course living on a pension in canada wich is far superior then the wages here, well you want warm weather, go for the South, precisly a region called Algarve, is where all the brits, french, americans live. If your not a rich person avoid the areas of Vale do Love in Almancil. the rest if you wish to rend a house do it but get away from near the beach areas.

[@softprincess1]

@@alexandrep.2679 Thanks Alexandre. greatly appreciate and will look into your suggestions.

[@donnacosta5633]

@@softprincess1 There are plenty of expats settling down in and around the town of Setubal south of Lisbon, just 1 hour by train to Lisbon, good transport links and close to great beaches and countryside, spectacular coast. Prices for buying & renting in Setubal are still affordable, cheaper than Lisbon. The major problem you'll find when renting anywhere in Portugal is finding suitable properties. There just aren't enough flats & houses to rent longterm because the laws and taxes for landlords are quite harsh, it's not a good investment. But plenty of properties for sale. You could start by renting an AirB&B at the end of the summer / autumn when the holiday season comes to an end and then presuade the owner to rent it to you longterm over winter. Check videos for Setubal to see if the town and coast is to your liking.

[@AbiProwse]

All of this is so true Julia!! I really loved how patient I became in Portugal, and I'm definitely still trying to live a slower-paced lifestyle now. Miss it, and miss you!!

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Miss you too, friend 💕

[@madhumenon]

I'd like to hear more about how you made new friends and a social circle after moving to a totally new country.

[@jamescameron7645]

God bless you kid! We know you're trying to impress but no luck! Look for your own kind kid!

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

I'll be honest, Madhu. It hasn't been easy. It takes effort meeting new people and time to build relationships. I suggest connecting with people over your hobbies. For example, if you like reading join a book club. There are also some facebook groups for different cities in Portugal.

[@abdelhakim8269]

@@JuliaRochelleAbroad what is your hobbies ? 😉

[@manny643]

Hi Guys, just want to leave a few names to check out. First of all is Portugal's own Jurassic town called Lourinhã, a beautiful town about 60km north from Lisbon on the silver coastline with huge Jurassic animals around town. Stunning white sandy beaches and low cost full meal restaurants. Secondly, Peniche about 17km north from Lourinhã. Peniche is a small fisherman's village that grew into a large town. At the docks, summer time the main Street to the docks, all restaurants to choose from, filled with fresh catch of the day. Mouth watering dishes, for a fraction of what you expect to pay. Also got stunning miles long surf beaches. Towards the south from Lourinhã about 17 km you'll find Torres vedras, a small city with lots of old buildings, so much to see and do. Shop till you drop lol. Further afield is places like Rio maior, Caldas da Rainha, santa Cruz os pictures beautiful too. All these places are so stunning to visit. The best of it all is, it's a cheaper holiday than most main cities. Weather you want to surf, shop, tan, explorer or just relax, in Oeste region or otherwise known as the silver coast, there is something for everyone...

[@MusicEffekt]

Very nice & helpful video.

[@thudercougarfalconbird855]

Hi, Julia! I've been to Europe 4 times but I have never been to Portugal. I'm looking at moving there under the D7 visa so I've been researching for over a year the lower Silver Coast and Lagos in the Algarve because of all the surf spots and relatively lower coast of real-estate. I'm a former Texas state surfing champion and that's one of the main reasons in moving to those areas along with the healthy lifestyle and the awesome weather. I've been watching all the other happy go lucky expat KZbin'ers on the subject and find your videos to be the absolute best and most informative not to mention you're very easy-on-the-eyes. Thank you for all the hard work! I will recommend your channel to anyone thinking of making the move to Portugal. l will also use your videos as a guide when l go to relocate. Thanks again! Big Fan! Julian

[@ghassanjenainaty4212]

i am also planning to apply for the D7 VISA . Hope it worked with you. Good luck

[@cleberdavidvideo]

I'm brazilian, I'm learning English, you speak fast, but I don't know, I can understand you! I subscribe in your channel! Thanks! I like too much Portugal!

[@naturerelaxmusic2598]

Thanks for sharing that good info about Portugal Julia.

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

@PATRIA y VIDA You’re welcome! Part 2 will be posted in six minutes FYI 😉

[@luisv8431]

Ok, you made a video about my question so sweet

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Let me know if you have more questions!

[@rayvogensen2983]

I liked the video. Nothing new for me since I have lived here since 1991 but it is always nice to see the perspective of someone from the States, who hasn't lived abroad before. For me most of the things mentioned, like slowness of government offices, were a piece of cake since I had already lived for almost 20 years in a very bureaucratic country called Brazil. The whole process of getting residency has become much more difficult now than it was when I first arrived. A combination of the pandemic and the huge influx of people, especially Brazilians, trying to become legal, has swamped the government office in charge of granting residency. As a free lancer I definitely would not live in Lisbon. There are so many smaller cities with very affordable rents, like Aveiro, Braga, Coimbra, Setúbal, Faro, Évora, Viseu, Viana do Castelo, the list goes on. If you are working on the computer all you need is a good internet connection.

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Ray, I couldn't agree more about venturing outside of Lisbon. Lisbon is great, but Portugal has so much more to offer.

[@LucianoMMatias]

@@JuliaRochelleAbroad I’ve just watched this vídeo now. But its true, Portugal its way more than Lisbon and Algarve. Try to travel a bit through the country, thers a lot of lovely smaller towns that are much cheaper to live than Lisbon, and hare a good option if you only depend on your computer to work. Portugal has a good internet connection even in small places. (For example I live in a small and quiet town just 50 min by car from Lisbon, and less than 30 min from the beach) Remember that Portugal is a small country, everything is close! I wish you all the best in here.

[@highlander9936]

Like your attitude julia rochelle I live in the States most people move to Portugal for their own reasons seems to be great place to live. Lot of americans moving to Portugal.I speak both fluently Spanish and english

[@nunottx]

Please, please, speak English here, not Spanish, unless you did born in Mexico, what seems not the case, Spain is on your right on the map.

[@highlander9936]

@@nunottx first of all I speak English when I feel like it.Since I live in the United States is a choice whether I speak it or not.

[@nunottx]

@@highlander9936 my comment was related to your comment of moving to Portugal, not being in US afcorse,, doesent make sence i ask you to speak Spanish in US.

[@JakchaiP]

Thank you so much for your information from Thailand. Me I my partner is researching about relocation to Portugal and D7 is super helpful!!

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Glad to help! Best of luck with the process. Let me know if you have questions

[@JakchaiP]

@@JuliaRochelleAbroad Thank you Julia.I actually talked to the Portugese agent about the process yesterday in details and wanna confirm my concerns with you. For the NIFF, and Deposit in Bank account process, Can we visit Portugal as a tourist visa and open bank account there, then come back to the home country and submit the application later.The agent suggest to submit all the documents at the home country including NIFF, Portugese Bank account with the deposit.But i 'm not sure if it secure to set a bank account online.Thanks again :)

[@joelmadrid2193]

Panama relocation tours!!

[@NFPwife]

Hi! I'm here from the Ramsey group - thanks!

[@deebagemsminerals3357]

I love these useful information

[@abdelhakim8269]

thank you for this video 👏

[@juboragdebnath4469]

Ok thank you.

[@luisrivas3509]

Awesome video Julia. My wife and I are considering retiring in Portugal. You information is very helpful. Keep up the great work and God bless. =)

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Thank you so much! Let me know if there is anything you want to learn about specifically

[@joelmadrid2193]

Panama relocation tours!!

[@Calcifernus]

Nice channel! Visit Madeira islands and Porto Santo, they re beautiful

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

They're on my list. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@leonaldobrum]

Well… You’re beautiful, you seem to be rather rational about life stuff, and I have nothing at all to do with your life and options. So, all I can say in response to your broadcast is: We are not very consistent, informative, or even easy to figure out… but our attitude to people like you is basically friendly, positive and helping (for example, we try to speak YOUR language in our own Country) so you’ll be more comfortable here than I was in the US or GB or France… THAT should be a reason for you to feel well among us - a very friendly people towards foreigners. ALL of the other stuff you may complain about… well, us, Nationals, are in the same boat. Please have that in mind. You are welcome here! ❤️

[@atlanticcorgi7740]

What’s the best way to find apartments?

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Browse the web, try searching on Remax, Imovirtual, or Idealista. The true best way is through a friend, but I imagine if you're first moving to Portugal, that may not be possible yet. P.S. love the dog in your photo

[@fredh3152]

What about the internet connection? Is there Fiber in Porto or Lisbon? I am a day trader so have to have strong and stable connection at all times. Thanks

[@apenasmaria119]

Portugal is not a desert. Of course there is a fiber internet connection on all country

[@fredh3152]

@@apenasmaria119 Well excuse me but there are many countries that do not have fiber internet such as most of South America..

[@Sheema777]

Good question Fred! I live in the mountains of Mexico and half the time the internet is horrible!

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Yes, there is fiber. I'm not 100% sure how the internet would be in the deep interior of Portugal or on the islands. I've had fast internet all over the coast and in Santarem and Evora so no complaints here!

[@glicmathan1771]

Great tips!

[@jeffhaley9494]

Thank you

[@grizfan93]

Hi - thanks for yet another great video. I've heard several people mention how expensive electricity rates can be in Portugal, but I really haven't seen anyone provide any specific numbers. Would you mind sharing approximately how much a month you spend on electricity? Is that rate fairly consistent throughout the year, or do you pay more in some months than in others? Thanks!

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Hi John, we’ve been paying about 100 eur/month on electricity and I can’t really understand how it’s that much. We have an older two-bedroom apartment so perhaps it’s not efficient. I find it’s a little more in the winter probably because we are using radiators. Hope this helps!

[@Migus29]

It's not expensive. The confusion comes from the fact that many other city and state taxes come bundled in the same invoice, e.g. trash collection. Electricity costs between 9 and 19c per kWh, depending on time of the day. This is cheap for European standards.

[@lhmsc]

@@Migus29 in Germany I pay 45c per kWh (I've paid as much as 78c before) so for me and probably for an American, electricity in Portugal is definitely cheap.

[@lhmsc]

Btw, prefer an apartment with energy rating C or better. D, E and F is considered inefficient and you'll probably spend more especially during winter.

[@teodoro1007]

Well, Im new to your channel, and it is the second US channel for whom I lost 20 minutes trying to figure where you are. "Portugal" is from Algarve to Viana do Castelo, some parts are very expensive (Lagos) and some very cheap (Castelo Branco region). I´m an european citizen, and visited Lisbon long ago. Greetings from Tigre.

[@chandrakanttammannasangana9980]

Would like to visit Lisbon for research purpose. Could you please help us ?

[@ruisilva3099]

Welcome to Portugal. This country is not only Lisbon, Porto and Algarve. We need foreigners to spread throughout the country. We have many beautiful cities where there is a lot of quality of life.

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Agree 100%, Rui. There is a lot outside of the big cities. Do you have any favorite areas? I'm sure newcomers aren't as familiar with places outside of Lisbon, Porto, and Algarve. Me personally, I think Leiria is nice.

[@ruisilva3099]

@@JuliaRochelleAbroad The choice depends on the lifestyle that each person wants to have and on his or her personal preferences. In Portugal we have it all: urban areas, rural areas, beach, mountain, plain, lower temperatures, higher temperatures, etc. If someone tells me what they are looking for maybe I can tell them where it is. I grew up in the Lisbon metropolitan area but I've been living in Leiria for 18 years and I think I've changed for the better, I have more quality of life here.

[@arkofimagination]

@@ruisilva3099 Yes, Portugal is not just Lisbon, Porto and Algarve There is also the Azores in the middle of the Atlantic which few people mention. I wish someday I could live on Faial island, overlooking the Pico mountain. Are living in the Azores more expensive than living in the mainland?

[@ruisilva3099]

@@arkofimagination The Azores are my favorite region in Portugal. The cost of living in the Azores is low, but I think there are some areas in the mainland that are cheaper, in the interior.

[@arkofimagination]

@@ruisilva3099 Yes, indeed, in the Central Portugal especially in the rural areas.

[@nicoleecheverria5747]

I recently became a freelancer in Portugal and I felt all these 😄 a lot of annoying bureaucracy but overall worth it

[@ferrazcouto9885]

Bether life is in the North. Close To Porto, Barcelos, Braga. Close To Vila Do Conde. Train, Highways to Spain and the sea/mountain (Gerês). And a cost of life very low. Amá-lo

[@jodyabrams1438]

We are looking to possibly relocate to Portugal. We want to explore living in a town on the coast or possibly Madeira Island. I am wondering what comes to mind when in terms of possible towns when you think of the coast? Thanks. Jody. Your posts are great.

[@carlosserra3137]

Ericeira

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

I agree with Carlos, Ericeira is a beautiful coastal town. You also have Sines, Aveiro, Figueira da Foz, Cascais, Tavira. Portugal has a lot of coast!

[@jodyabrams1438]

Thanks for your replies. How has inflation etc affected the cost of living?

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

@@jodyabrams1438 I’ve noticed food getting more expensive. I assume gas prices and rent have gone up but I don’t have a car and I’m not looking for a new place so I’m not 100% sure

[@FunnyMoments-fn8lo]

I am bangladeshi but love you portugal..

[@boscodcunha6788]

Hey Julia amazing video I am Goa India Portuguese colony till 1961 waiting to move to Portugal 🇵🇹 plz suggest Best place to settle in Portugal. Viva 😊

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Hi Bosco, that's really subjective but I'll give you some things to think about. It depends on your budget, if you prefer city or countryside, whether you want to be near a coast or more inland,.

[@boscodcunha6788]

Thanks Julia

[@rahatmehmood6829]

thanks for information , i planned to move asap , can you mention way to find the sources to get cheaper home , almost 500 a month is nice.

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Basically, if you look outside of big cities, especially more inland (Castelo Branco for example), you will find much cheaper places. Also if you're able to purchase a home, I hear that mortgages are much cheaper than rent, but I haven't done this yet myself

[@visaandtravel3609]

Really great

[@christopherm7356]

When you speak of two-bed apartments south of Lisbon, to what towns/cities were you referring?

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Palmela, Quinta do Conde, Seixal, Barreiro

[@audreynaidoo2797]

I have been to Portugal in 2018,spent more time in Fatima ,like the slow paced living,peaceful and serene,would love to live there ,felt safe shopping late in the evenings ,not sure about the cost of living there,would like to hear from you soon 👍

[@prettycool4775]

How do you do your online shopping? Am I right they don't have Amazon there? Could you please share your experience about that, as coming from US it seems to be impossible being unable to order stuff online and get it delivered to your porch in a couple of days(((

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Ugh online shopping here is not like in the US. It’s not terrible though and I’m already more used to it. You can order from Amazon Spain or Germany and it will take a few days to a week or so. Other shops, I’ve sometimes waiting a couple weeks. It depends on the store and the item. I got a microphone delivered in two days from the north of Portugal (I’m central) and then a toolkit took two weeks from the central of Portugal so I never know.

[@SaedKarzoun]

Thank you, very helpful. I am thinking of starting my own startup, does D7 visa help? Can I just open a bank account as an international? Thanks

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Yes, you can start a business in Portugal. The D7 visa is a path to the temporary residence permit, which is valid for two years and is renewable, so yes I think it could help. And yes, you can open a bank account even if you're not Portuguese.

[@copashearts2324]

Try to have a residence visa in the US and you see if you only have to wait 3 days.

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Just to be clear, I waited 5 weeks for the residence visa after submitting my application. The 3 days was for one form I needed to get another form I needed while I was getting the documentation together for the visa. But yes, I imagine it would take a long time to get a visa in the US.

[@katiekrackers4210]

Thanks for this video. I've subscribed and look forward to hearing more from an expat in Portugal as I am moving to Lisbon later this year. Also, girl, your hair is fab.

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Thank you so much! Let me know if you have any questions about moving to Portugal. Feel free to DM me on my IG @juliarochelleabroad

[@bethechange1316]

Hey girls

[@jeannineosorio6566]

Hello Julia! Thank you for a great informative video! As a retired teacher I'm truly looking into traveling there later this year. Just wondering about your thoughts on living in Porto?

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Hi Jeannine, so excited for you to travel in Portugal. I just posted a video on tips for a trip to Évora. Would suggest considering it on your journey although the north is also a great option. Porto is more expensive than other areas of Portugal but may be cheaper than Lisbon. It can rain quite a bit in the north but there are tons of great weekend trips around Porto and of course great wine!

[@SanteeRocks]

Thanks for this info, btw Nice teeth :)

[@rosemaryfengchannel]

Girl I love you share all the things to usReally helpful, if we want to do freelancer job, then we need to register that code. Could do share this in a video to us? Thank you😘Greeting from Shanghai, China I guess the local language is very hard for Asia people.

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Hi Rosemary, you will need to sign up for an account on portaldasfinancas.gov.pt You can add your professional activity on your account there. I can try to post some information on this in the future!

[@nuruzzamanbhuiyan4594]

Wow...I just can't but tell you that your content makes me bound to think once again about Portugal. Earlier I used to think that only european guys live there so what benefit I can achieve studying masters in English over there but watching your videos it gives me hope. So would you help me giving an information that if I' go there to study MA in English it will be better for me or not???

[@jamescameron7645]

God bless you kid! We know you're trying to impress but no luck! Look for your own kind kid!

[@jameswalker9455]

Hello! Great video! I’m thinking about moving to Portugal as I’m not retired and would also be working freelance. I was wondering if you knew anything about how possible it is to get mortgages for houses there. Thank you!

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Without regular employment, it will be more difficult but not impossible. Really depends on the bank, the value of the property and the size of your down payment

[@Alfablue227]

Three days for a document is reasonable, taking into consideration the perpetual lack of staffing Portuguese government offices suffer from. In the USA it took just as much time to get a copy of my divorce decree. What is horrible is to have to wait 6 months for an appointment to do an inheritance certificate. Thankfully, a non government (private) notary house was able to do it in less than two weeks, I paid a bit more but so worth.

[@antoniodasilva1230]

In the US my dads death certificate was at JFK airport for two months and from Portugal it was in the Air in 24 hours

[@parmjeetsingh182]

M Silva I m looking divorced girl I m from India how we can conversation each other❤️

[@lhmsc]

Agreed. 3 days is heaven compared to Germany. Tons of endless paperwork and piles of letters in your mailbox to deal with simple things, plus many months of wait. A lot of times you need to schedule an appointment just to go there and schedule another appointment lol

[@Alfablue227]

@@lhmsc Wow, so we got it from the Suebi!!! 😳 😱 ! The Italians will be relieved to know😅they think our burocrocy is awesome...because their is way worse! 😀

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

@@lhmsc I love hearing about how other countries compare. It gives some perspective. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@kawingchuirua]

Good video. Do you have one about taxes?

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Not yet, but I'm in the process of planning one now. Do you have specific questions?

[@earlkey2905]

I understand in some instances you need like a sponsor to gain utility services or other services

[@alefermin]

Hey Julia! Thanks for your great videos. I have a question regarding the visa application: I've heard and read that you need "passive" income such as pensions and dividends but not remote employment or freelance work supposedly because it would be a Portuguese source income (performed locally). Would freelance work qualify for the D7 visa? Sorry for the cofusion

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Hi Alejandro, this is often a source of confusion. When I applied, I was open about the fact that I would work as a freelancer, and I didn’t have a problem. My permit says I have the right to conduct a professional activity. I would encourage freelancers to apply for the D7 because I have heard it’s the simplest and has been granted to freelancers in the past.

[@alefermin]

@@JuliaRochelleAbroad thank you!!

[@aminulIslam-po1ci]

Thanks Julie. it's the really great information. I am planning to go Portugal as a freelancer under B2 visa. Can you advise me which is the lowest monthly expenses city in Portugal?

[@unmy400]

which website do you recommend to look up for rent apartment ?

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Remax, century 21, imovirtual, idealista

[@annielin2894]

Julia love your video approximately how much money savings I should have in order to move to Portugal?

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

For the D7 visa, you need to have around 8000 euros to prove financial means

[@annielin2894]

@@JuliaRochelleAbroad OMG I love you thank you for the info! Can't wait to get myself together! Thanks!

[@muhammadalibhatti3293]

Its cool

[@atnap9339]

Loved your video, What is life for seniors there? We are in Canada,would love to check out Portugaĺ, We are in our seventies,healthy but looking for a warmer country we are retired but my husband is a photographer and I am a painter

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

I don't live the senior life myself or know many seniors but I can try to shed some light on this. Portugal is certainly warmer than Canada, but you may be surprised how cold it can feel in the homes here. Nothing a heater can't fix. Some cities, like Lisbon and Porto, are very hilly so it can be tough if you're not used to walking a lot. Compared to the US, healthcare is much more affordable here, but maybe you already have affordable healthcare in Canada? There are lots of English-speaking retirees in Portugal to connect with. The only real headache I suppose is planning end of life logistics in a foreign country but hopefully that is a long way away for you!

[@atnap9339]

@@JuliaRochelleAbroad Thank you so much for taking the time to answer,yes It is a big step to do that i your seventies,I know it can get cold in the homes, My mom , who was then 95 years old ,with one of my sisters spend for 8 years the month of dec.in the zalgarve

[@atnap9339]

,so may be just coming for a couple of months might be better at our age Will see thank you so much

[@VaigaProductions]

Nice

[@miskovic99]

Hi Julia! Thank you so much for this info. I’m a student in the US with an offer for an internship in Portugal for next year. Since you mentioned that you were there as an intern first, were you on a E6 visa? Would you mind sharing a bit about that process in a future video or here in the comments? Thanks!!

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Hi, it was an exchange program through my university for six weeks, so it didn't require a visa. Sorry I can't help more!

[@jorgealvarado9880]

Thank you for your video, which is very informative. One question: when you talk about rents being cheaper south of Lisbon, do you mean still in Lisbon's metropolitan area? Or already in another town south of Lisbon? I am planning to move there, so I am looking to where to rent exactly. Thank you, Julia!

[@donnacosta5633]

Hi Jorge, I'm going to answer because I know the area, I've lived in and around Lisbon for many years. I'm portuguese. Rents get cheaper as you go further away from the center of Lisbon, and even cheaper outside Lisbon. The area south of Lisbon is another town called Almada on the south bank of the Tagus River, and even cheaper than Almada is Barreiro... another town also south on the river, but with a mixed population of predominantely migrants. If you don't need to be in Lisbon every day of the week, I'd recommend the picturesque town of Tomar, 1.5 hours by train from Lisbon, with a well established international crowd. A 2 bed furnished flat, will rent from 600 Euros per month. Food & restaurant prices are also lower than Lisbon. You can have a good meal with starter, main, desert and wine from 12 Euros per person. A quick lunch of, say, main dish of roast chicken, chips, rice, salad + soft drink will cost you around 8 - 9 Euros. Most main dishes come with chips, rice and salad anyway. You just chose if you want chicken, pork, turkey, beef, burger etc. daily menu, every day different choices. Tomar has a daily farmers market where you can buy all fresh foodstuffs, cheaper than in the big supermarket chains, and we have 5 of those chains as well. The prices in the chain supermarkets are lower than same in Lisbon, but the daily market is the lowest of them all. If you are a foodie and enjoy cooking, Tomar is a great place to live.

[@jorgealvarado9880]

@@donnacosta5633 Thank you for taking the time such a detailed piece of information, Donna, it is really very useful!

[@donnacosta5633]

@@jorgealvarado9880 You're welcome!... And another "portuguese secret": the cheapest way to live in Portugal (or anywhere else, for that matter) is to buy a flat. You can still buy a 2 bed flat in a small town for say, 120K with a 20% down payment and the remaining 80% from a bank loan (aka mortgage) and you'd be paying less than 200 Euros per month in mortgage repayments for the duration of the loan, usually 25 years. You could then rent out the spare bedroom for around 200 Euros per month and it would mean that income alone would be paying your mortgage... How do you do this? SAVE VERY HARD and make sacrifices for a period of time till you have enough savings for the downpayment of 20% on a flat. This is the portuguese way of living. The majority of the population here own their homes. Also... choose your bank well and stay with it while you save. They'll be checking your saving / spending history when you apply for a mortgage and if the bank is impressed with your efforts, you'll get your loan really fast... I recommend the state owned bank "Caixa Geral de Depositos" because their fees are low, they exist to serve the population, not to enrich themselves like private banks. Worked for me many years ago. And still works today. Happy planning!

[@jorgealvarado9880]

@@donnacosta5633 Thank you again Donna, for your helpful and detail answer, it makes a lot of sense!

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

@@donnacosta5633 I love all the details you have shared here! I hope to visit Tomar soon. It looks beautiful!

[@leslieisaacs3080]

How well do you speak Portuguese?

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

I speak at an intermediate level

[@janecurtis5555]

Thank you Julia a very informative video. Im looking to retire to Portugal from the Uk in a few years time. Can you tell me how much income i need to have and how much is sufficient savings for the D7 visa. Thank you

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Hi Jane, thanks for your question. Currently, you need to show about 8000 euros to prove financial means for the D7 visa. In a few years, it may be different. However, it hasn't changed much from when I applied two years ago.

[@janecurtis5555]

@@JuliaRochelleAbroad thank you. How much income do i need. I will have 2 pensions which will be 12.000 euros a year but my hubby wont have an income but we will have alot of savings to cover him for 2 yrs till he gets his pensions. Do you think they will accept that for a D7 visa. Thank you

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

@@janecurtis5555 Beyond the 8000 euros, I don't think you need to show anything else. If you're on Facebook, I would recommend joining Americans & FriendsPT. There are other people in similar situations in that group and lots of files to help :)

[@janecurtis5555]

@@JuliaRochelleAbroad thank you so much for your help. I will have a look at the group. X

[@joserolo8544]

Hi Jane, I'm a Portuguese from Viana do Castelo, I have a very comfortable house 15km from the city and I can rent it for 400€. You can leave a message, sorry for writing English wrong. Thanks

[@AdatheTraveler]

If you go out with the people there, do they have a "on time" habit?

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Mostly yes

[@YogiDavids]

We’ve just moved to Portugal! Love the video, I’ve just posted our journey so far, we’ve been here a month now. Xx

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Welcome! Hope you're still loving it

[@CheerioWeOh]

When you're out at a restaurant eating alone and the waiter isnt coming around , are you on your phone or what is entertainment while you're eating? Do you just sit there and think? Or do people not usually go out alone since eating at home is more common? I'm from california.

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

I guess it depends on what you want to do. I sometimes read on my phone or just people watch/enjoy the scenery. I think this is normal here.

[@asifmuniruniverse7732]

Oh!

[@Izanami2050]

How do you make your hair so smooth while living in Portugal? My hair went crazy when i was visiting Porto and none of my normal hair products helped :(

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Hi Irina, coming from Houston, Texas, the weather in Portugal has been a blessing! My favorite product is the OI All in One Hair Milk from Davines: amzn.to/3QJQ7os

[@pabarreira]

The paperwork is slow even for us that were born here. Sometimes is a realy nightmare...

[@softprincess1]

Hi: I am from Canada and retired teacher. Thinking of moving to PORTUGAL. I live on my pension now. I like warmer weather and beaches. Can you suggest a town with reasonable rent but good medical facilities since it's important for me. Thanks 👍 😊

[@travelwithyuan]

I'm srilankan. I have been working in south korea for 10 years. I'm thinking to move to Portugal. Can you give some advice for me.

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

First things first, know with clarity your reason for moving away from where you are as much as why you want to move to Portugal. The rest is logistics that anyone can achieve (even though there will be a little frustration because of paperwork and confusion, which are Norma, parts of the process). Watch this quick video where I summarize the most important things to consider: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmTPiIOkip5_bJo

[@user-rk8mr8ux5s]

We’re looking to move to Portugal next year, and wish to keep our expenses low since we enjoy traveling. It seems like we’d be able to find a studio or one bedroom for under 500 Euros, is this true?

[@tamaramadelin4831]

We are moving to Portugal from France asap and hope to find an affordable appartment...Looks like it's a little outside of Lisbon, but 5-600 seems possible! If you want to talk and compare email me because it's not easy from what we are seeing! [e-mail]

[@katiekrackers4210]

@@tamaramadelin4831 @april I am also moving to Lisbon later this year. I have seen smaller studios and 1 bedrooms for 500eu on idealista.com outside the city centre.

[@tamaramadelin4831]

@@katiekrackers4210 Yes, Idealista seems to be the best so far! We've looked on other sites and the reviews are horrible and a lot of rip off schemes out there so be careful!

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Hi April, it depends on which area you are referring to. Lisbon could be difficult for that price. Maybe a studio in some areas, but I'm not confident about that. However, there are 1 and even 2 bedrooms for that price in other parts of Portugal.

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

@@tamaramadelin4831 Yes, please be careful. Ask questions. Get a contract. Compare listings. I've heard of things going poorly before. Sounds like you're on the right track :)

[@charlesdanieligwilo5751]

What will it cost me to get a D7 visa from Nigeria.

[@Staronqueen]

A foreigner moving to another country is not the same as living in your country of birth. The processing of documentations and the policies for foreigners require due diligence. Every country has to protect themselves from people coming to their country to avoid fraud and abuse. If a Portuguese person in a similar situation as you, were to move to the United States, Canada, UK etc., they would have to provide several paper documents to different governments agencies that would be very similar as what is required in Portugal and it may even take a longer processing time based on volume. Whether you are an Immigrants, a person on a specific work Visa, a Student Visa, a self employed individuals, an Executive/CEO from another country, every country has regulations that have to be assess and verified to satisfy that each applicant/foreigner/Immigrant is there for the reasons they claimed. Three days to process a document is not unreasonable. No one person is responsible to process a government document; there are checks and balances. The person who took the document gives you an estimate base on how many others documents that are in the system already; and as I said before, there are checks and re-checks to be done by different people in that office or sometimes in different offices. I am Canadian and I have worked in Government offices for many years I felt the need to come to the rescue of the Portuguese Government method of doing things🤗 Yes, Portuguese people are laid back when compared to other countries and that is why people are being drawn to moving there. Love your blogs, great content, and delivery is well done. Please share with us the names of the desirable areas where the rent is not as expensive as Lisbon. 🙏🇨🇦

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Lots of good points there, Esther. Thanks for sharing. In terms of areas, you could consider Setubal, Mafra, Leiria, Santarem, Aveiro. I'm still exploring, but all of these areas are cheaper than Lisbon. Setubal is a little pricier if you live in the center but still cheaper than Lisbon.

[@wa7812]

Hello Julia, is D7 can lead to PR and citizenship?

[@arturjcrebelo3275]

PR i dont know what the meaning. But yes D7 can give you Access to Portuguese citizen and passport. But need to have a criminal record clean to have the D7 visa, dont commit any criminal action that can give you jail time in Portugal for that 5 years (for exemple Public Urination only give you a fine in Portugal no jail time you dont lose the access to Portuguese citizenship for this act) need to live that 5 years in Portugal and pass a easy Portuguese language exame.

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

I believe you mean permanent residency, and yes you are eligible for this and citizenship

[@yogizala6420]

Hey yogi here I am planning to D7 visa for retirement in Portugal what you say about retirement in Portugal not in Lisbon I love to live country side make 1 air BNB and enjoy life what you say about this plan can suggest me anything about this plan I love to live in Europe I am 39 year old businessmen

[@softprincess1]

Hi: I am from Canada and retired teacher. Thinking of moving to PORTUGAL. I live on my pension now. I like warmer weather and beaches. Can you suggest a town with reasonable rent but good medical facilities since it's important for me. Thanks 👍 😊

[@stelas9307]

Isn't south of LIsbon a bit dangerous?

[@pedro161977]

Yes. The sun will kill you.

[@wecantstayput4958]

😂😂😂

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

I don't have the crime data in front of me, but I can tell you it feels the exact same if not safer than Lisbon, but of course it depends on the neighborhood.

[@sophiabittencourt747]

Hi! I was wondering how you found your internship in Portugal? My study abroad program just got canceled and I really want to go still and still haven't canceled my apartment. Any advice?

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Hi Sophia, it was offered through my university as an exchange program and it was very specific to my degree. If you are a recent graduate, you may have a lot of options in large companies. I know the pharmaceutical industry does this

[@Gwen-joyful-light]

Hi Julia, is it true that Portugal has no crime and if one of my family members who specializes in repairing computers can he get a job over there doing this type of work, I ask this because I keep hearing that they don't allow foreigners to seek work there. Thank you :)

[@nunottx]

no crime - False. we do have crime, but its heaven compared with US crime rate, jobs - anyone can get a job here if you have companies searching for it, (keep hearing that they don't allow foreigners to seek work there) - False, other countries in Europe only accept foreigns if no national for that job.

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Hi Gwynn, thanks for your questions. I would say there is probably crime everywhere. However, the rates and types of crime may differ from place to place. This is something I'd like to do more research on to give a full answer. Portugal has often been said to be one of the safest countries in the world, but I haven't looked at the raw data to make an opinion for myself. I would certainly watch your belongings in the tourist areas of Lisbon and on public transportation. In terms of working, I am a foreign currently working at a Portuguese company, so it is definitely allowed. That being said, competition is high. So, is it possible? Yes. Is it guaranteed? No.

[@fxpipcollector]

When people say it's hot in summer how hot is it.

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

It can get up to around 100F (38C) but most summer days it's more like 90F (32C)

[@ClausThanner]

Not a bad presentation.

[@alissaburge6375]

Portuguese in Brazil is little bit easier than in Portugal there are some parts of Portugal influences of English language is one is Galician one most of the country. Galician is influencing of Portuguese and Spanish and influence of English language in parts of Portugal. I can understand more of the Brazilian Portuguese and my plans live part of Brazil.

[@robertp.wainman4094]

Interesting video - I've been visiting Portugal for many years, but find grocery shopping considerably more expensive than here in the UK. Apart from Lidl and Aldi there aren't any bargain type stores, although the traditional markets are great. 'Calm, relaxed and slow pace of life' - hmmm maybe, but certainly not on the roads!

[@alvafaleiro]

Do you think PingoDoce and Continente both portuguese stores have expensive prices?

[@robertp.wainman4094]

@@alvafaleiro For most items they are more expensive than equivalent UK supermarkets - but I guess that's just down to the cost of living in different countries.

[@robertp.wainman4094]

@@alvafaleiro I'm actually in Lisbon now and was comparing prices in Pingo Doce (a fine Portuguese supermarket by the way) to Tesco or Morrisons in UK. Apart from some fruit and vegetables, chicken (maybe?) - and wine, I would say everything I checked was more expensive, some by a large margin. These prices must be difficult for Portuguese people on lower salaries, as electric, petrol and other utilitity costs are also quite high. Yet I'm always surprised by the amount of expensive new cars on the roads, which I would struggle to afford. I've tried to be fair in my comments as I very much like Portugal and it's people - but have written what I've found over visits stretching back twenty eight years.

[@simplemen3620]

Hi Julia, You are so confident. Bless you. I am British citizen and hold UK passport issued by European Union. Can I claim EU residency certificate if I come now!! Thanks

[@jalagamprudviraj305]

Hi How to get job in Portugal and would you refer any consultancies You 🥰looking gorgeous 😍

[@lyricspopkpop5135]

My question is , Is it hard to find a job in portugal

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Sorry to say but yes. It took me a year and a half to find a job, and I only got my position with networking and a little fate. Searching while in the country already with a visa and knowing Portuguese help.

[@realhawaii5o]

The whole Portuguese government experience is like an extra large DMV

[@abduza38501]

Is language a barrier for english speaking folks.

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

You can get by with English in most situations. In the government offices, there are workers who can’t or won’t speak English.

[@Seelan295]

♦️Can you help me♦️ How can get work permit visa from purtugal

[@AlexandreSilva-kc6kc]

Bureaucracy is the main portuguese industry.

[@Roxy00726]

Thank you for making such a lighthearted video. Planning to move to Portugal from Australia (fascist state, open prison)

[@DanDascalescu-dandv]

Interesting, what drives you out from Australia?

[@joelmadrid2193]

Panama relocation tours!

[@idreeskhan2360]

Wow u r gorgeous. Want to visit Portugal , m planning. Wish to meet cutes like u

[@arturjcrebelo3275]

Not so cheap even food.If you want to eat like home, you going to pay like at home. I'm a single guy and my food cost about 120€/month and i eat only biologic things from big chains. Why is so cheap because i try to eat the local food and know the best way to buy, always farmers market the seasonal fruit/vegetables. I buy my potatoes/honey/wine from my high school friend that have a farmer and sell direct to me to me, is good for him to, he avoid pay taxes (i avoid pay IVA) and he avoid to IRC in taxes returns, is not against the law do this when you buy from small farmers that dont have help of the UE. I know him for so long and buy for the entire year. There are ways to preserve the potatoes for the entire year, and wine is even better with age. My girlfriend love avocados and they cost almost 5€/kg in Portugal. A foreign going to spent a lot more than the Portuguese because they want to have that feeling of home and buy some products that cost a lot in Portugal that are foreign products. In Portugal do what the portuguese do. Go to farms market (it's very good to the environment) because they are products that come from local farmers without big trade chains.

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

You have a point there, Artur. If someone wants to eat what's best back home, their grocery bill may not be cheap in Portugal. I've adapated what I eat a lot to Portugal. Buying products that are more common in this area is definitely worth it. I want to know your trick on how to preserve potatoes!

[@arturjcrebelo3275]

@@JuliaRochelleAbroad I put them in a corner of my garage and i use to cover them with some sand from the beach (that sand have some salt) and let them from when i buy them (crops) until the cold weather (November) when the "Phthorimaea operculella" die because of the cold (In Portuguese we call them Borboleta da batata), after that i take them from the sand and put a powder in them (clorprofame) to avoid the potato to germinate until i eat all of them. gives a little work, but if i can buy potato for 30 cents € for kilo, at the store the cost is almost 3 times more. And the wine is very good and i buy lots of wine (great red wine he dont produce white) for 1€/litre (the bottles in the shops have only 0,70 litre) and no way you going to find one for 1€.

[@copashearts2324]

Dear Julia, we are slow but we give you free healthcare. Try to have that in the US

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

I haven't had a lot of luck actually getting an appointment with the free healthcare system. My centro de saude is difficult to work with, but yes I'm glad some people can access the free healthcare

[@kawingchuirua]

And Portugal salaries?

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Compared to other western European countries, it is low. The minimum wage is around 700 euros per month, and the average salary is around 1000 euros per month.

[@idreeskhan2360]

How to access u ? Email pl if psbl

[@asifmuniruniverse7732]

Can I ask that what do you wanna from me?

[@fabricio4794]

Portugal?why not Spain??

[@AsifSaifuddinAuvipy]

if you know spanish it would be easier to learn portugues

[@mdbasir6097]

Hi medam I lab Portugal you help medam visa plez

[@jazzyeric21]

Good info but honestly the extreme editing gave me a headache!

[@JuliaRochelleAbroad]

Thanks for the feedback

[@asifmuniruniverse7732]

bye

[@zahidlucky7112]

You're so Sweet n Cute i love your Attitude... Love from Pakistan... 🥰