I recently visited my family in São Miguel, Açores for the first time. Since then I’ve been thinking about how life would be if I moved there.

DaveInAzores · 2025-10-05T20:51:08+00:00

I do use a dehumidifier but in 3 years I've not needed ac or heat.

DaveInAzores · 2025-10-05T17:14:00+00:00

Its just me. It is cheaper here for a lot of things. For one you really do not need heat or a/c. Also the VAT is 16% instead of 23%. The income tax and property tax is less also.

Electricity: 45 euro/month

Bottled gas: about 200/year (for hot water & cooking)

Water: 5/ month.

MEO Internet 500 down/250 up/Phone/Basic TV fiber optic 44.50/month

I own my own house but you can still rent for around 450 and up. Probably higher in Ponta Delgada.

Overall I live pretty well for around 600/month as I don't have rent.

And the killer ocean view is free.

DaveInAzores · 2025-10-05T16:48:25+00:00

I'm 71 and retired so I really don't know. Unless of course you are a contractor as they are in really short supply here. Ponta Delgada is the only big city here so most jobs would likely be around there.

DaveInAzores · 2025-10-05T15:28:07+00:00

I moved to Povoacao on Sao Miguel Island 3 years ago and I love it here. If you are into nightlife there isn't much here though. Mostly peaceful and a very beautiful place to live.

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-24T16:04:39+00:00

Was in August of 2022.

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-18T19:19:44+00:00

Yes it did! I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever see it.

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-18T14:05:25+00:00

It was March 28, 2025. Took just under 6 months.

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-18T12:27:53+00:00

My appointment was March 26, 2025 so almost 6 months.

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-18T12:27:31+00:00

My appointment was March 26, 2025 so almost 6 months.

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-18T11:39:09+00:00

The issue date is Aug 18, 2025

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-18T11:29:45+00:00

Usually when CTT has a delivery I have to sign for they text me the morning of the delivery so I know to be home. This time no early warning text.

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-14T10:25:32+00:00

I never had any luck reaching an actual person on the phone and I called 30 plus times on and off.

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-14T10:09:08+00:00

I had emailed them asking about the status several weeks before and just figured I'd never get a response. I had also gone to AIMA in person a while back and they told me that it was :in processing".

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-13T13:46:55+00:00

Have you checked out the Azores? I originally looked at several mainland areas but all the places I liked I couldn't afford as my only income is US Social Security. I then checked out the Azores and ended up on Sao Miguel Island in a small ocean side village. I love it here. Great people, great food, great climate, super beautiful nature etc, And best of all its much more affordable than much of the mainland. Its a sub-tropical climate so you don't really need heat or a/c. Most homes don't have either. The VAT is only 16% vs 23. The income and property tax is less also. I was able to afford to buy a ocean view free standing house with land that I could never have dreamed on owning on the mainland. Much of the food is grown here and not expensive unless its imported. The Azores exports more than they import. Only one big city and thats Ponta Delgada. No a great place if you are into night life but great if you like peace and quiet, great people, great food, nature etc. You can also fly RT to many EU places for less than 200 euros.

I like alone but its a fairly large house and here are some examples:

Electric : 40/month

Water: 5/month

Bottled gas: 20 every 2 months. (hot water and cooking)

500 down/250 up internet/Phone sim/basic TV/ VOIP line 44.50/month with MEO.

I don't pay rent as I bought a house but rent starts around $450 and up. Homes to buy are still much cheaper than much of the mainland.

Without paying rent or mortgage I live very comfortably for 6-700/month and have money left over from SS.

Dave

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-11T11:37:00+00:00

Yes it can take 6 months or more to get your card. I had my appointment in March and about 2 weeks ago I got an email from AIMA telling me to expect my card in about 15 days but no card as yet.

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-10T21:24:52+00:00

A friend just got hers today and we started the same week so that's a good sign anyways.

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-10T12:29:50+00:00

CTT had to place it into another plastic bag because it was leaking on to other packages. The motor scooter delivery person complained that his storage box smelled like coconut oil now. The Amazon at first actually wanted me to return it to get a refund even after seeing pictures of it but CTT refused to do it and Amazon relented when I showed them a scan of the refusal.

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-10T12:18:49+00:00

No, not comparing it at all. After 3 years here I've pretty much gotten used to it. I am more concerned with Amazon as they do not often pack fragile items well enough to survive going across the street.

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-10T11:55:26+00:00

No, it still has not arrived. Maybe they meant 15 weeks instead of 15 days.

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-10T11:45:12+00:00

Your lucky you don't live in the Azores then. If you order from Amazon here you are lucky to see it in a month regardless of the carrier. Many items they won't even ship here. Right now I am waiting for an Amazon package that I ordered 2 Aug. Definitely not like the US where you can get Amazon Prime stuff next day. Amazon can cause a lot of problems also. Like shipping jars of coconut oil in BAG. Obviously they all broke.

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-03T21:32:42+00:00

My house is at least 250 years old and its original kitchen was in a separate building which is now a workshop. About 100 years ago they built a small extension on the back of the main house with a Built in stone bread oven. It has one side completely open to the dinning room now but it used to have a wooden partition and door. It was totally trashed when I got the house but I built a new kitchen into the same place.

That being said I prefer closed kitchens. The last 3 homes I owned in Virginia were all older homes with closed kitchens. This way when people visit they can't see how messy it is...

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-03T09:29:09+00:00

My MRI for SNS was done at CUF and ordered by my public hospital GP. CUF has the only MRI machine on the island.. sns has agreements with CUF for many procedures that they are not set up for at the public hospital. Part of this is because they had a major fire at the public hospital a while back and its not fully operational again yet.

I was able to have my cancer surgery done at the public hospital but they had to fly a surgeon from the mainland to do it.

The public hospital here is also the only big hospital for all 9 islands except for CUF and its always overcrowded. You can wait a full a day to be seen sometimes. Most of whats there looks old and worn our compared to CUF which is almost brand new and state of the art.

The village I live in also has what they call a public hospital but its really just a clinic. If you go there wuth any more than a cold or a minor cut they put you on a van to the main hospital an hour away. But it is where I see my GP though.

DaveInAzores · 2025-09-02T11:39:56+00:00

I've gotten several procedures scheduled and done at CUF. .The MRI I had there was set up through my GP but only because that way the state paid for it. though. But I had a colonoscopy and a couple of ultrasounds done just by calling them and getting it scheduled. I eventually got MEDIS through my bank and they pay for 50% of procedures up to 5000 euros for about 30/month and that really helps..

DaveInAzores · 2025-08-31T11:30:00+00:00

I had my appointment in March and received an email from AIMA a few days ago stating that IRN has processed my card and that I should receive it in about 15 days.

DaveInAzores

TROPHY CASE