13 Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal (2023 Updated) (2024)

Portugal is located on the Iberian Peninsula and is a southern European country that borders Spain.

Its culture is highly influenced by its position next to the Atlantic Ocean.

The architecture dates back to between the 1500s and the 1800s. Its national dishes include grilled sardines and salted cod.

There are many reasons to love this country, such as the fact that it has been ranked one of the safest countries to live in by the Global Peace Index in 2019.

Or its cuisine, which includes very fresh ingredients such as seafood and sun-ripened fruit.

But beware, this type of cuisine does not travel well.

Hoping to make the move to Portugal?

Here are a few of the top advantages and disadvantages of living in this country.

Pros of Living in Portugal

1. Climate

Portugal is a small country with a size of92212km².

But, the climate does differ quite a bit between the north and the south.

Overall, the summers in Portugal are warm, dry, and mild with an average year-round temperature of approximately47°F to 83°F.

The country rarely gets colder than40°F or hotter than94°F.

Autumn and spring are both mild in temperature.

The warmer seasons are from June through September and the average temperature during this time is78°F.

The coldest months of the year are between January and March and the northern part of the country does experience some snow.

Overall, the country has a very pleasant climate for most of the year, which makes it an ideal destination to live in.

2. Low crime rate

This is an ideal country to raise a family in.

The crime rate in Portugal is relatively low and violent crime is almost non-existent.

According to rankings by theVision of Humanity’s 2021 Global Peace Index, Portugal is ranked as the sixth safest country to live in, globally.

A large contributing factor to peace and safety in the country has to do with the political climate and the fact that it has been quite stable for many years now.

In addition, the overall crime rate in Portugal is the lowest in Europe and it has held this position for quite some time.

So, if safety is a concern for you, then you have little to worry about when making the move to Portugal.

3. English is the second language in Portugal

Usually, moving to a foreign country requires that the ex-pats acclimate to the culture and learn the official language of the country.

In countries like France and Italy, this may pose a big problem as a large part of your success will be attributed to your ability to learn the language, as English is not the official language and few residents speak it fluently in these countries.

However, in Portugal, English is widely spoken, especially in the bigger, more popular cities like Lisbon andAlgarve.

Therefore, ex-pats are not required to learn Portuguese in order to get by in this country.

But it would not hurt to immerse yourself in the culture and language.

Especially when living in some of the more rural areas, where tourists do not visit as often and English is not as prevalent.

4. Pace of life

Portugal is generally known for its laid-back, easy, slow pace of life.

This is very appealing to mid to older generations who do not want to live in big, overcrowded cities.

You will quickly notice how slow the pace of life is here when you see that locals are rarely in a hurry.

This can be a disadvantage as well, as the locals are also not as punctual as in more metropolitan cities.

However, this lifestyle is ideal for raising a family or for retiring.

5. Good education

The education system in Portugal is one of the better systems in the world.

The standard of education in this country is excellent.

There are some international schools that offer schooling in English.

Especially in the bigger metropolitan cities like Lisbon.

There are a variety of schools, universities, and international schools in Portugal to choose from.

The system includes free state schools and private schooling.

The structure of education in this country can be categorized as follows:

• Pre-school education: ages 3 to 6
• Primary education: ages 6 to 15
• Secondary education: ages 15 to 18
• Higher education: ages 18 and above

6. Cost of living

Portugal is one of the cheaper countries to reside in western Europe.

You could get by on a monthly salary of around€1,500 per month.

This, of course, will depend on which part of Portugal you live in.

The rural areas have a much lower cost of living than the metropolitan cities.

In comparison to other larger countries, living in Portugal is very affordable, from housing, groceries, and utilities, to education, and even some luxuries.

Keep in mind that the salaries do match the cost of living in this country.

So, you may need to live frugally if you earn a lower income.

7. The food

This is a topic that is up for debate.

Some say that the food is amazing and fresh in Portugal, while others complain that the food is bland and is made to taste better by adding salt.

However, there are plenty of reasons to love the cuisine in Portugal.

The ingredients are always fresh.

The main protein is usually seafood.

The food is inspired by theMediterranean.

The food can be described as somewhat spicy, warm, and sometimes a bit of a surprise.

Cons of Living in Portugal

1. Too many tourists

As can be expected, with such a lovely year-round climate, delicious food, and hospitable residents, Portugal is a mega attraction for tourists all year long.

Many Brits love to come here during their winter time to bask in the sun and work on their tan.

But, the downside to that is that everything always feels a bit crowded.

In fact, this small nation had a whopping4 million tourists in 2020.

Tourists flock here to see the beautiful, historic landmarks, lie on the beaches, enjoy the cuisine, and visit religious sites.

It may feel overcrowded at times.

The reason for this is the fact that the cities are not designed for the large influx of people.

The streets are narrow and the cities are very compact.

It is quite unpleasant to visit historical sites when there are so many tourists.

2. Smoking in public spaces

While smoking inside restaurants, bars, and other indoor spaces has been banned since 2008, there is no ban on smoking in public spaces as there is in other European countries.

There are still some establishments that designate areas inside a restaurant or bar for smokers.

This has not yet completely been phased out.

3. The ocean is very cold

Surprisingly, you will find that even though the country does enjoy a warm climate, the ocean is very cold.

This is primarily due to the Nortada that blows in the summertime, making the ocean colder in certain spots.

The Nortada is a weather phenomenon that is typical of the coast of Portugal where the wind blows on the surface of the ocean, causing the colder water below to upwell to the surface.

The best time to go to the beach and swim in the ocean is around June and July and the worst time is during August.

4. Scary drivers

There are bad drivers all over the world, but in Portugal, this style of driving is more often attributed to being a cultural phenomenon.

You will often find that indicators are not used.

There is a lot of drinking and driving, people flashing you in order to overtake, or even tailgating.

This can be downright scary if you are not used to this kind of driving.

Furthermore, you will often find bad parking where a driver will park a vehicle over two parking spaces, or even worse, touch parking.

It is definitely something to get used to.

But, if you are a nervous driver, it may take a while longer.

5. Bad customer service

In Portugal, the customer is not always right.

In fact, the customer is rarely right.

The country has a bit of a reputation for bad customer service, across the board.

Sales assistants will rarely go out of their way to help you, apart from what is their immediate responsibility on the job.

Forget about getting anyone to get back to you.

The slow pace of life means there is little sense of urgency when dealing with clientele.

In addition, representatives seem to have a “do not really care” attitude when dealing with customers.

This can be very frustrating if you come from a country where customer service is a priority.

6. Cold winters

Some of the northern parts of the country experience much colder weather during the winter, often getting an inch or three of snow.

This part of the country can get quite damp and wet during the winter.

And, because the housing is much older, you will find that they do not have insulation or heating, which could make the homes much colder inside than outside during the winter times.

But, generally speaking, the winter is a lot more chilly in the north than it is in the south.

If milder whiners are a priority for you, then you may want to consider the location and housing before you make the move.

Madeira has quite a mild winter that is much more bearable and less wet.

Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal – Summary Table