Living in Portugal

Cost of Living in the Algarve: The Breakdown

A brown leather wallet with a gold zipper is partially open, showing several euro banknotes in various denominations protruding from it. The wallet lies on a reflective surface, highlighting the intricate designs and holographic features of the banknotes.

Portugal’s minimum wage is €920 per month in 2026, and that number matters because it is also the baseline many people use when they first look at moving to Portugal. In some cases, if you have at least that amount in passive income, such as a pension or US Social Security, you may potentially qualify to move here on the D7 Visa. But that figure does not tell you what it actually costs to live well in a place like …

Five professionally dressed individuals sitting on chairs in a waiting area, each holding folders of different colors: orange, yellow, green, and blue. They appear to be waiting for an interview or meeting. The group includes two men and three women.

As more and more people move to Portugal, a question that keeps coming up is: how do I find a job in Portugal? With its low cost of living and some of the best weather anywhere in Europe, it isn’t surprising that so many people want to move to Portugal. Most people that move here come as retirees or digital nomads, but that’s not to say that you can’t move here for work as well. And if you move for …

A white pickup truck loaded with boxes and miscellaneous items is parked in front of a rustic, stone-walled building with a red-tiled roof. The building has several small windows and a wooden door. Steps lead up to the door, and the sky above is clear and blue.

Portugal is still a very affordable country by Western European standards, but the cost of living has increased over the past few years — in particular, the cost of renting and buying a property. This is especially true in Lisbon, which has become one of the most desirable places to live in Portugal, but those increasing costs are also increasing all over the rest of the country, particularly in Porto and the Algarve. Looking at the cheapest places to rent …

A person wearing black-rimmed glasses looks upwards, with a contemplative expression. Above their head, "CONS." and "PROS." are written, separated by a vertical and horizontal line, suggesting a comparison chart. The background is grey and plain.

You’ve done your research, watched the videos, read the blog posts. Sunshine, beaches, cheap wine, €10 lunches. That sounds perfect. A little too perfect maybe? Don’t get me wrong—there’s a lot to love about Portugal. And I truly think it’s a great place to live. But the Portugal that’s advertised online—by lawyers, realtors, and YouTubers who’ve only been in the country for about five minutes—is very different from the reality. I think that’s why you sometimes see those Portugal SUCKS …

Joel wearing a beige cap and green t-shirt is holding a baby dressed in white. The man is looking down and smiling at the baby, who is staring at the camera with a curious expression. They are indoors, with a shelf and a television in the background.

Practice Portuguese is one of the most comprehensive (and most popular) tools for learning European Portuguese. It’s something many people living in Portugal will be familiar with, but most people probably don’t know the story of how it came to be. In this interview, I chat to Joel Rendall about how he came to live in Portugal, the difference between life here and life in Canada, and his personal tips for learning Portuguese. Also worth mentioning: Practice Portuguese normally costs …

A person wearing dark sunglasses and a dark t-shirt stands on the shore with the Belem Tower, a historic fortress with intricate architectural details, in the background under a partly cloudy sky. Another person is seen walking near the tower.

David McNeill is the owner of Expat Empire, a website that helps you in the process of moving abroad and which he runs from Porto. But although he’s based in Portugal now, this wasn’t where he initially thought he’d end up. James: Tell me a little bit about yourself and how you ended up in Porto David: I’m originally from California but moved around a lot growing up due to my parents’ jobs. For me, the travel passion all started …

A man with a beard is looking down while holding a large white sign that reads "DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?" in bold, black letters. He is wearing a black vest over a gray shirt and standing against a plain, gray background.

One of the most frequently asked questions on Portugalist is: how widely is English spoken in Portugal? Can I get by with English or do I really need to learn Portuguese? You may have travelled or lived in other European countries like France or Spain where English isn’t always spoken. Portugal’s not like that. When it comes to speaking English as a second language, Portugal is the 9th most proficient country in the world, according to the EF English Proficiency …

A supermarket shelf stocked with various Old El Paso Mexican food products. Visible items include burrito kits, fajita kits, taco shells, and a variety of salsa jars. The shelves are organized with price tags and labels.

If there’s one thing that many people crave when they move to Portugal, it’s good Mexican food. And there’s the thing: it’s hard to get good Mexican food not just in Portugal but in all of Europe. Some people saying that it’s hard to get good Mexican food outside of Mexico or the southern US states. While there are Mexican restaurants in most European cities, Mexican food is much more of an occasional choice rather than the norm as it …

A hand is holding a clear glass under a chrome kitchen faucet, filling it with water. The background features white tile walls.

When you move to Portugal, sorting out your water supply is key, along with sorting out other utilities like electricity and gas and arranging home internet. In Portugal, water services are managed by local municipalities. This means you don’t get much choice with your provider; it depends on where you live. Each area has its own supplier, and information about your specific provider is available through your local municipality. For example, Aguas de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo looks after …

An older couple sits at a table, smiling and looking at a laptop screen. Both wear glasses; the woman is in a white polka-dot blouse, and the man is in a grey checked shirt. They seem to be working together, with papers and a notebook on the table.

When you’re moving to Portugal, getting good quality, accurate information is not only important – it’s essential. You can find a lot of the information you need on blogs, in the many different expat Facebook groups, and on YouTube, but it can be hard to know how accurate the information is. A lot of the information can contradict each other and it can be difficult to know which sources to trust. Thankfully, there are now a few books and courses …

Cost of Living in the Algarve: The Breakdown

How to Get a Job in Portugal

Where Are the Cheapest Places to live in Portugal?

11 Pros & 16 Cons of Living in Portugal

From Cruise Ship Musician to Practice Portuguese Co-Founder – An Interview with Joel Rendall

Interview: From Berlin to Porto – David McNeill of Expat Empire

The Portuguese Places Where English Is Spoken Most

Where to Get Mexican Food Ingredients in Portugal

Getting Your Water Connected in Portugal

Courses About Moving to Portugal That Cover All The Essentials