This past March, we led a scouting trip from the U.S. to Portugal and Spain for three weeks. 24 people on the trip chose to visit Portugal, where we spent several days exploring the coastal city of Porto.
Porto is Portugal’s second-largest city, with 1.7 million in the greater area. Portugal’s got a thriving expat population that includes about 10,000 U.S. immigrants and 240,000 Brazilians. Here’s why Americans love moving to Porto, in particular:
Rich Culinary Traditions
Portugal is known for its coastline, architecture, wine, and food. Port wine and vinho verde both originate from this region. The country’s architecture showcases its medieval and modern influences, where centuries-old structures sit side-by-side with elaborately-tiled homes.
Thriving Food Culture
The most famous local food is the Francesinha, a decadent layered sandwich with meat, sausage, cheese, and a rich tomato sauce. Portuguese people really enjoy their seafood, as well. Canned sardines, a popular treat, come in a range of flavor profiles, while the country imports Norwegian cod to feed its endless appetite for fish. Be sure to try their pastel de nata custard pastries with your afternoon espresso; we found both at every food vendor we visited on our tour.
Leave Your Car at Home
The city has a variety of charming, walkable neighborhoods that expats call home. Antas, Gaia, Matosinhos, and Foz do Douro are the most popular for expats in Porto. Each of them offers ample public transportation options, from ride shares to subways, buses, and trains to move you throughout the city and greater Portugal. Our March 2024 scouting trip showed us that we could navigate the city quite well without owning a car.
A Safe and Healthy Haven
Crime is low in Porto, with petty crimes like pickpocketing being the most common. High quality public healthcare is available for residents, which expats can buy into after three months. Even paying out of pocket is affordable, compared to the U.S. One of our clients sprained her ankle on the March scouting trip; she paid about $150 USD and was back on the street in under an hour.
Housing Options for Any Budget
The cost of living is more affordable than in busy Lisbon, which you can reach in about three hours by train. A two bedroom apartment in Porto ranges from $860-$4300, depending on neighborhood and proximity to city center. Our real estate, financial planning, and accounting partners lead our expat seminar that kicks off the next scouting trip in September. They’ll be glad to help you imagine your own life in Portugal.
We’d love for you to join us on that September scouting trip to Portugal. In the meantime, here’s what Jen had to say about why Americans are flocking to Portugal:
