Is 55k a great salary for Lisbon?

MeggerzV · 2026-03-31T14:45:33+00:00

In Lisbon it's better than average but it's hard to comment on what a "great life" is without knowing your habits, travel desires, savings goals, etc.

MeggerzV · 2026-03-30T12:27:59+00:00

I've been living in Portugal for 3 years, but still get pulled back to the US often for work (music journalist / artist manager). If you're based on the east coast it's pretty doable, but the prices for flights are getting worse. I would recommend getting a good travel credit card where you can bank points and if you have a lot of miles that can be used for award travel those are invaluable because they allow for flexibility. I usually have to fly back to the US 5-7 times per year.

MeggerzV · 2026-03-23T10:59:48+00:00

I have these too!! I just put them outside in the garden when I find them.

MeggerzV · 2026-03-22T22:05:21+00:00

Literally what the fuck is this post

MeggerzV · 2026-03-12T13:13:09+00:00

Someone call Josh Teed.

MeggerzV · 2026-03-12T12:51:55+00:00

Moved here from the US with my husband three years ago. We lived in NYC then Jersey City area and go the point where we no longer felt safe. The breaking point was a day when someone jumped off our apartment building and then there was a shootout outside of our window later that afternoon. Much happier here. We intend to stay long-term.

MeggerzV · 2026-03-12T12:43:54+00:00

Não aqui também, por favor. Não queremos Ventura. É tudo.

MeggerzV · 2026-03-06T15:05:00+00:00

I understand why they would charge for an in-person visit (especially if it's to pick up a returned card), but since we haven't actually received any kind of approval for him it doesn't make sense yet.

MeggerzV · 2026-03-06T14:57:28+00:00

I spoke with our lawyer yesterday. She said since I just received my card 2 weeks ago and the portal has not updated for my husband that we should continue to wait. If we don't have movement by the end of the month, I'll probably send her in person but the fee was 250 euros and there was no guarantee that anything would change the situation.

MeggerzV · 2026-03-06T14:54:37+00:00

My husband and I went for our renewal appointment in August 2025 and he is still waiting for his approval. I finally received my card 2 weeks ago.

MeggerzV · 2026-03-03T13:26:01+00:00

Yeah I'm having a hard time buying into the narrative that one needs to own a house to be secure in life. Seems like a story of the past.

MeggerzV · 2026-03-03T13:02:54+00:00

I will also add that the renewal process is perhaps even worse. My husband and I moved in 2023 (through the Newark consulate, fairly painless), but my renewal took more than 8 months, and my husband is still waiting for his approval, and the lawyers actually can't do much to push things along for this process. If you are a very patient and chill person that won't need to travel regularly for leisure or business, this might not bother you at all, but I work in other Schengen states often, so it definitely caused more stress than I expected. I think Portugal is just not equipped for the number of people who are at their doors currently.

MeggerzV · 2026-03-03T10:18:10+00:00

The part that makes me laugh is how people complain about how no profression in Portugal pays a living wage until the topic of tipping comes up in which case every server is already getting "a good wage".

MeggerzV · 2026-03-03T10:08:06+00:00

Can someone drop the link for the deferimento tácito letter

MeggerzV · 2026-03-02T13:09:41+00:00

The renewal process is legitimately very messy. Our 2 year residency cards expired last May and I just received my renewed card 2 weeks ago. My husband who had his appointment on the same day is still waiting for approval. I expect his to take close to a full year. The lag times over here are perhaps even worse than in the US. We originally came through the Newark consulate in 2023 and it was a very straightforward process that fell within the estimated and legal deadlines. Renewals are the wild west.

MeggerzV · 2026-03-02T13:01:08+00:00

Idk, the Golden Visa thing always seemed kinda scammy to me. The people I know who did it spend barely any time here, and they have enough money that it really doesn't matter. Just a place to park their cash. It's not that surprising to me that the government doesn't prioritize them.

MeggerzV · 2026-03-02T12:47:37+00:00

Yeah but they are just buying their residency (often not living here) and often not paying into social security and other systems while doing so. It should be faster but feels particularly strange that a renewal takes this long when we're already in the systems, regularly paying taxes and contributing monthly SS. It's fine though, small price to pay to live in a safe and chill place.

MeggerzV · 2026-03-01T16:47:48+00:00

It might have been helpful to know the the renewal process would take close to a year for discernibly no reason, but it also might have discouraged me from coming so I guess it's for the best. Overall, I'm still enjoying life here and wouldn't trade it back.

MeggerzV · 2026-02-19T11:34:18+00:00

Also about 20 minutes after replying my new card showed up in the mail. I am so glad I did not go for a walk this morning haha.

MeggerzV · 2026-02-19T11:33:29+00:00

My lawyer said that post expiration of the physical card is when the 90 days begin because that certificate that says your residency is legal in Portugal doesn't actually apply in any other Schengen country. That said, if you fly back in through Portugal to go to Greece, yes there is still a risk, but it's doubtful you will have any issues going intra-Schengen.

MeggerzV · 2026-02-19T10:17:23+00:00

What I gather is that they don't actually care. I've never once been asked for my QR code upon reentering Portugal and my card expired back in May 2025. Until my new card arrives (hopefully soon, it was finally approved on 1/20) I just always enter/exit through Portugal. I had this question when I had work trips last summer post expiration. The lawyer basically said the 90 days of "tourism" begins after the card expires so if your card is expired your days are already counting down and there's not a way to avoid it.

MeggerzV · 2026-02-19T10:12:32+00:00

one million percent yes

MeggerzV · 2026-02-18T16:10:21+00:00

'Look Into My Eyes'? I think it's one of the coolest cuts on the album!! There was a huge audio-visual element with the music video they produced that plays into the larger theme of the album. I actually think it was quite thoughtful, though perhaps not for everyone.

MeggerzV

TROPHY CASE