How much money did immigrants contribute to Social Security in Portugal? The answer may surprise you. In 2021, immigrant contributions to Social Security generated a positive balance of 968 million euros. That’s right – despite the growing disdain and negative stereotypes often directed towards immigrants in Portugal, we have made a significant contribution to the …
When I first moved to Portugal, I paid twice to get my NIF. The first time to go get the NIF since I needed someone Portuguese to vouch for me (and I paid a company that did just that). However, it was not attached to the NHR regime, so I ended up paying a second …
I go food shopping every day. I am lucky to live next to both El Corte Ingles which has a high end supermarket and Lidl. Continente, Auchan and Aldi are also nearby. Today, I’ve got a comparison between two supermarkets (Lidl and El Corte Ingles – Supercor) to give you an idea of what the …
My two favorite holidays are Halloween and Christmas. Sadly for me, these holidays are not celebrated at all like they are in the United States. I guess I have become accustomed to a very commercialised Christmas holiday. The lights, the shopping, and the food. If you visit Portugal during the holidays, don’t expect it to …
The Delicious Flavors of Christmas: Traditional Christmas Dishes In Portugal Read More »
Christmas is a very different holiday in Lisbon than it is in the United States. It is usually spent at home with family. This means that finding a restaurant offering Christmas Lunch and Christmas dinner can be challenging. I’ve put a list of restaurants (the majority of them are in hotels) in Lisbon offering both …
Restaurants Offering Christmas Lunch & Dinner In Lisbon Read More »
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I am shocked when I keep seeing articles touting Portugal (and Lisbon) as one of the best places for expats and digital nomads to move to. Sure, it is still incredibly safe and the weather is still wonderful; but prices are not what they used to be. If you are moving to Portugal and you’re …
Why Portugal’s Housing Market Bubble Will Burst Soon Read More »
Changes in Renting In Portugal 2023 …Or How Much Can My Landlord Increase My Rent In 2023 Historically, renting an apartment in Portugal has favored tenants. However, things are changing due to the economic climate and the Portuguese government is putting changes in place that will affect both landlords and tenants. Here is what you …
Updated October 11, 2022 You have probably been hearing that Portugal is a wonderful place to live. I certainly think so. I have been living in Lisbon for 5 years. If you have been thinking of making your move to Portugal, you may be in luck. Portugal’s president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, announced there would …
The quintessential question in New York when you meet someone is “what do you do?” Nobody is going to ask you who your parents are. In Portugal, things are quite different. In Portugal, if you are not a foreigner, people will want to know what your last name is, who your parents are, where you …
The prices of real estate in Lisbon has been on an uptick from years. I started to visit in I think 2014 and moved here in 2017. In fact, in 2014, you could buy a 100 square meter apartment in Lisbon for around €265.00. The prices of real estate in Lisbon have more than doubled. …
Thinking of visiting Lisbon and wondering how much public transportation will cost? Are you thinking of moving to Lisbon and planning out your budget? Lisbon has a lot of public transportation options and can be very confusing. After living in Lisbon for the past 5 years, I am going to break down the price of …
In Portugal, most houses don’t come with central heating. Some, but not all will have fireplaces. I have one, and it is not enough to keep us warm since our floors are made of stone and we have floor to ceiling windows. Needless to say, heating your home during the winter can be challenging. Prices …
If you’re thinking of moving to Portugal, you’ve probably been reading about the incredible weather, the “low” prices, and the wonderful food and wine. However, I doubt that you’ve read up on things like the 7pm traffic jams, the struggles of finding a parking spot, the hidden costs, learning new words and phrases, and how …
18 Things Expats Are Surprised To Find When Moving To Lisbon Read More »
One of the most common complaints people who have moved to Portugal have is loud neighbors. Maybe it’s the Brazilians that think that 3am is the perfect time to drink cachaca and samba the morning away. Maybe it’s the neighbors who are doing illegal construction past 8pm. Perhaps its the British AirBnBrs who stayed up …