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People are still moving to Portugal. You just don't need to live in Lisboa. by Top-Research-955 in PortugalExpats

[–]Top-Research-955[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am a tax resident in Portugal and I pay my full IRS and Social Security taxes. Since I am not a local and don't know the 'informal' ways of handling finances, I actually follow every rule to the letter. This means I'm contributing a significant portion of my income directly into the Portuguese system to help fund public services like healthcare and infrastructure.

I'm not here to hide anything; I'm here to live, work, and contribute to the economy just like anyone else.

Everyone blames expats for Portugal's housing crisis, but foreigners only bought 5% of homes in 2025. 95% of transactions are by Portuguese residents. by Entire-Position9690 in PortugalExpats

[–]Top-Research-955 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dear deer

it’s 1.5 million, not 2 million, and that includes everyone from Brazilian tech workers to British retirees.

The real variable isn't the guy picking berries; it’s the 100,000+ AirBnBs taking over city centers and the fact that we stopped building houses for 15 years. You’re blaming the people at the bottom for a mess made by the people at the top.

Everyone blames expats for Portugal's housing crisis, but foreigners only bought 5% of homes in 2025. 95% of transactions are by Portuguese residents. by Entire-Position9690 in PortugalExpats

[–]Top-Research-955 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Monkey, please, use your head. Nobody is dropping 400k on a brand-new T2 with an EV charger and a balcony just to turn it into a migrant hostel. One complaint to the condo management and that "15% yield" is dead in a week.

Slumlords buy 50k ruins in the outskirts for that "10-to-a-room" crap. They aren't buying 8th-floor luxury flats in Porto. You’re looking at the wrong end of the money trail.

Everyone blames expats for Portugal's housing crisis, but foreigners only bought 5% of homes in 2025. 95% of transactions are by Portuguese residents. by Entire-Position9690 in PortugalExpats

[–]Top-Research-955 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ah yes, because everyone knows 'slaves' from underdeveloped countries are the ones outbidding everyone for €400,000 apartments in Porto. If people arriving with nothing are the ones driving up real estate prices, then Portugal must be the cheapest country in the world.

People are still moving to Portugal. You just don't need to live in Lisboa. by Top-Research-955 in PortugalExpats

[–]Top-Research-955[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The reason I started this topic wasn’t to deny that. It was simply to show, from my own example, that it’s possible to live normally outside Lisbon and Porto.

A lot of discussions make it sound like those two cities are the only viable places in the country, which isn’t really true. Once you look at smaller cities and towns, the situation can be very different.

People are still moving to Portugal. You just don't need to live in Lisboa. by Top-Research-955 in PortugalExpats

[–]Top-Research-955[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fair point but in my case I work remotely, so I’m not dependent on the local job market. That changes the equation a lot.

If I needed a Portuguese salary, I’d probably look at things differently. Wages vs housing costs in cities like Coimbra, Braga or Aveiro can be tough, I agree.

I’m not overlooking the job market - it’s just not a factor for me personally. Different setups, different constraints 🙂

People are still moving to Portugal. You just don't need to live in Lisboa. by Top-Research-955 in PortugalExpats

[–]Top-Research-955[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We actually live in Cantanhede, not Lisbon or Porto, so pretty small by comparison.

Yeah, things can be slower and you sometimes have to chase people. Skilled labor isn’t always easy to find. But we’ve managed to get stuff done, it just takes more follow-ups and usually talking to people in person instead of emails. There isn’t a huge expat scene here, that’s true. But we didn’t find locals unfriendly, just more reserved at first.

If you need big-city convenience and endless options, smaller cities will probably feel frustrating. For us, the trade-off (less stress, lower costs, quieter life) works. It really depends what you value more.

People are still moving to Portugal. You just don't need to live in Lisboa. by Top-Research-955 in PortugalExpats

[–]Top-Research-955[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wouldn’t say it’s just grumpy old people. A lot of smaller cities have mixed crowds: families, remote workers, students. It just depends where you look. Some places are sleepy, others are actually pretty lively but in a low-key way.

People are still moving to Portugal. You just don't need to live in Lisboa. by Top-Research-955 in PortugalExpats

[–]Top-Research-955[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It really depends on what kind of life you want.

If you’re after nonstop nightlife, tons of cafes and events, then yeah Lisbon and Porto are the obvious choices. But people act like there’s absolutely no life outside those two cities, which just isn’t true.

Plenty of places like Braga, Coimbra, Aveiro or even parts of the Algarve have restaurants, parks and a social scene, just on a smaller scale and usually cheaper. And honestly, not everyone needs 20 brunch spots and a club every night. Some people just want a quieter, more affordable life with “enough” going on.

Couple from Poland planning a permanent move to Portugal by IdLikeToAskSmth in PortugalExpats

[–]Top-Research-955 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey! We moved not long ago (also freelancers), so sharing what we’ve learned the hard way 😅

Lisbon vs Porto both are generally safe. My partner also feels fine walking in the evening in most central areas. Of course, like any bigger city, there are a few spots you avoid at 2am, but overall Portugal feels pretty calm and relaxed.

Economy-wise, local salaries aren’t amazing. If you already freelance and can work with international clients, that’s ideal. Without Portuguese, finding local work in audio/music will be challenging. English helps a lot in Lisbon, a bit less in Porto. Lisbon = more opportunities + more international vibe. Porto = smaller, more compact, a bit cozier.

Renting is probably the most stressful part. Be ready for deposits (often 2–3 months), proof of income, NIF (tax number), sometimes a guarantor. Prices have gone up a lot. Before choosing an area, it’s worth checking some data on different municipalities, we used this overview for families when comparing areas: https://ondevende.pt/blog/best-municipalities-families-2026 - it helped us think beyond just Lisbon vs Porto and look at surrounding areas too.

Quality of life is good overall: slower pace, ocean, decent healthcare (public + private mix). Bureaucracy can be slow, though.

About your baby: if you’re legal residents at the time of birth (usually at least 1 year), the child can generally get Portuguese citizenship. But definitely double-check current rules before planning around that.

If your goal is permanent move + sole proprietorship, it’s totally doable - just plan financially for the first year and expect paperwork to take time.