Best cities to live in Portugal for expats

Lisbon

One of the absolute best cities to live in Portugal for exapts is the capital: Lisbon. It’s a bustling and exciting city to live in. For those on the lookout for activities, there is always plenty to do and see in Lisbon: from restaurants and museums to concerts, movies, theatre and much more. As it is the capital city, you will find everything you need in Lisbon: jobs with high pay, hospitals, banks, administrative buildings, schools, etc.

Compared to the rest of the Portuguese cities, Lisbon is a bit more expensive than average, but you can still find attractive property deals if you look well. Some of the best neighborhoods to live in Lisbon are Alameda, Areeiro, Entrecampos, Almada, and Oeiras. Another pro about Lisbon is that it is located very close to fantastic beaches, offering amazing getaways from city life.

Porto

Located in the North of Portugal along the Douro river, Porto is one of the best cities in Portugal for expats. It’s a beautiful city to live in. Picturesque and authentic, Porto is the second-largest city of Portugal. It is notably famous for its Porto wine, gastronomy, and architecture, which have attracted many tourists over the years. For those looking to work in Porto, the city has been an upcoming hub for the start-up scene, with many international entrepreneurs relocating to Porto.

A bit cheaper than Lisbon, Porto has some great neighborhoods to live in such as Foz do Douro, Riberia, Boavista, Campanha, and Avenida do Aliados. The only con about Porto is that its weather can be colder than the rest of Portugal. Apart from that, living in Porto is absolutely worth it.

Faro

Faro is the main city of the Algarve, the southern region of Portugal. It is considered a place of sun, sea, and delicious seafood where many expat retirees have chosen to settle down. Some of the advantages of living in Faro are: wonderful weather all year long, proximity to some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world, a very relaxed lifestyle and slow pace of living.

With a booming real estate market, Faro is a comfortable city to live in, with rental property prices cheaper than in Lisbon. Well developed with efficient transportation and health infrastructures, it is only a two hours’ drive from the capital city. With a huge expat community living in Faro, you will feel at home in no time.

Viseu

Viseu is a city located in the Central region of Portugal. It has been ranked as the best city to live in Portugal multiple times, as well as one of the best cities to live in Europe. This is due to Viseu’s excellent quality of life. From great weather and excellent education to efficient public transportation and an outstanding healthcare system, Viseu has all it takes to be happy.

In Viseu, the housing is not expensive, and the job market is thriving. The city’s Renaissance architecture is also very charming, and as it is surrounded by nature, living in Viseu is perfect for hikers and excursion-lovers. Considerably less well-known than Lisbon and Porto, the city is a perfect place to live in for expats looking for an affordable, tranquil and top-quality lifestyle.

Évora

Évora is the main city of the Southcentral region of Portugal called Alentejo. With the temperature rising above average all year long, Évora is a beautiful and calm city with medieval architecture to live in.

Famous for its ancient history  — Évora is full of charm and wonders to discover.

Relatively small in size, Évora is very agreeable since it isn’t crowded. If you choose to live here, you will enjoy a very relaxed pace of living, as well as plenty of delicious cafes and restaurants to go to.