What I Wish I Knew Before Living in Portugal (That No One Tells You)

Portugal wins you over fast.

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Maybe it’s the tiled streets, the calm pace, or that first pastel de nata. Whatever it is, it sticks.

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Life here is sunny, simple, and peaceful. But there are a few things I wish I’d known before moving.

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So here’s what I’ve learned—no sugarcoating, just the kind of stuff I would’ve wanted to hear upfront.

Life Feels Different in Portugal

If you’re someone who’s always in a rush, Portugal will slow you down, in the best way. Life here doesn’t move at New York speed. 

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People take their time, talk to each other, and stop for coffee like it’s a full event, not a quick transaction.

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Lisbon is small, so you’re never far from the ocean, a park, or a great café. 

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The transportation is simple. The food is fresh, affordable, and healthy. 

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And the sun? It changes everything. Locals are already heading to the beach in March. You’ll see stores swap to summer clothes the second the clouds clear.

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So yeah, living in Portugal has a vibe. It’s calm. It’s safe. And if you’re coming from a place that runs on constant pressure, you’ll feel it right away.

The Expat Community Here Is Growing Fast

One of the best parts of living in Portugal as an expat is how easy it is to meet people.

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Lisbon is full of remote workers and international students, so there’s always something happening. 

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From coworking cafés (my favorite is Honest Greens) to language exchanges and cooking classes, it’s easy to make friends and feel like you belong.

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Most people speak English, especially in bigger cities, so you won’t struggle to get around or ask questions. 

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And little things, like greeting people with a friendly “Tudo bem?”, go a long way here. Portuguese culture is kind.

But Let’s Talk About the Real Stuff, Too

Now, for the part that doesn’t always make it onto social media.

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The bad things about living in Portugal mostly come down to two words: bureaucracy and housing.

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Paperwork here moves... slow. Like really slow. 

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You’ll need a residence permit to stay long-term, and getting it can take four to five months after your first appointment. 

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Once you apply, you can’t leave the country until it’s approved. And if you miss your official appointment at AIMA (the migration office)? You could be looking at €1,000 - €2,500 or more to fix the issue with a lawyer.

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It’s not the end of the world, but it is something you want to get right the first time. 

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The other challenge is finding a place to live. Especially in Lisbon, apartments go fast, and they’re usually small. 

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Even places that look decent online might turn out to be outdated or overpriced when you see them in person. You’ll be paying € 700 - €1,000 for a tiny room in Lisbon.

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So if you’re planning to move here, start your housing search early. I recommend HousingAnywhere. It’s been reliable for me—even though you pay a little more in fees, it saved me from scams and helped me lock in a place before I even arrived.

Here’s How I Made Life Easier (Without Losing My Mind)

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If I had to do it all over again, I’d prep more things before landing.

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First thing? Get your Portuguese tax number (NIF). You’ll need it for everything—opening a bank account, buying groceries, signing up for anything. 

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I got mine online through an agency while I was in my home country, and it saved me hours of waiting in line once I got here.

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I also skipped opening a traditional Portuguese bank account and used Revolut instead. I signed up through the app, added my info, and had a working card in three days for just €6.

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And because I work remotely and can’t afford to be disconnected, I used GigSky to set up my eSIM before arriving. 

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That way, I landed in Lisbon with internet already working on my phone. No scrambling for airport Wi-Fi or waiting in line to get a local SIM card. I even used my data to hotspot to my laptop and book a ride from the airport. Easy.

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Their 43-country Europe plan covers me even when I leave Portugal, which means I can hop over to Spain or Italy and still stay connected. It’s a small thing that made a huge difference.

The Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal (No Fluff)

There’s no perfect place, but Portugal comes close.

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Here’s how I’d put it after living here for one year:

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The pros: a calm pace of life, safety, sunshine, great food, affordable cost of living, and a friendly, growing expat community.

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The cons: paperwork takes forever, and finding housing can be frustrating if you don’t plan ahead.

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But once you’re in the rhythm, it all starts to feel like home.

One Last Thing You Should Know

When the university semester starts—usually September and February—the housing market goes wild. Prices spike, places disappear fast, and even small rooms get expensive. 

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If your move overlaps with those months, be ready for some extra competition.

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Also, apartments here really are tiny. That’s not a complaint, it’s just something to expect. 

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Portugal is an old, compact country, and space is limited, especially in popular neighborhoods. But the lifestyle more than makes up for it.

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Living in Portugal as an Expat [Quick Recap]

• Lifestyle Reset: Portugal offers a slow, sunny, and peaceful pace of life—ideal if you're escaping high-pressure environments.
• Community & Belonging: A fast-growing, friendly expat scene (especially in Lisbon) makes it easy to meet people through cafés, events, and English-friendly spaces.
• Hidden Challenges: Bureaucracy is slow and unforgiving; housing is competitive, expensive, and often smaller than expected.

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Key Prep Moves:

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1. Get a Portuguese NIF (tax number) online before arrival.
2. Use banking apps to skip local bureaucracy.
3. Activate a GigSky eSIM in advance to land with working data.

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Timing Matters: Avoid moving during university semesters (Sept/Feb) to escape housing surges and price hikes.