Seeking Paradise in Porto, Portugal - Low Cost of Living in Portugal - Early Retirement Expats
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- Опубліковано 16 чер 2024
- In this video we are scouting Porto, Portugal for low cost of living in early retirement. This picturesque city is full of narrow alleys, cobblestone streets, amazing viewing points and is surrounded by beautiful wide beaches. It is known as Portugal's capital city of food with an abundance of seafood restaurants along the Douro river and home of the port wine, a Portuguese fortified wine produced exclusively in the Douro Valley.
We are early retirees on a worldwide quest for our paradise forever home, exploring amazing cities and sharing invaluable insights along the way. Could Porto be the place? Let´s find out!
Follow us on / seekingparadisebugs too!
Chapter List:
00:00 Start Intro
01:30 Porto Introduction
02:15 Our Paradise Home Requirement Checklist
03:43 Train to Porto
05:05 Public Transport
09:04 Distance to Airport
09:37 Walkability
11:29 Things To Do
20:26 Weather
21:46 Access to Beaches
22:46 Cost of Living and Monthly Expenses
24:04 Medical Care
25:14 Safety/Security
26:27 Real Estate Prices/Neighborhoods
29:17 Final Thoughts
Our Forever Home Requirement Checklist:
□ Distance to International Airport: Less than 45 minute by car, train, subway or bus
□ Public Transportation: Reliable metro and bus systems, trains, rideshare services and bike/scooter friendly
□ Walkability: Markets/restaurants/shops within a 15 minute walk, parks and outdoor recreation within a 30 minute drive
□ Things to Do: International restaurants, parks/outdoor activities, live music and art scene. Beaches, nearby city attractions and dog friendly activities
□ Average Weather: Ideally between 60F - 80 degrees year round. 300 days or more of sun, exposure to no or few natural disasters
□ Access to beaches: Walking distance preferred or 3-hour drive max. Wide, quiet beaches with plenty of water sports
□ Cost of living: Low cost utilities, fresh foods, energy efficient alternatives
□ Good medical care: Major hospital within 10 miles, high quality care, low health insurance premiums and prompt emergency services
□ Safety and Security: Low crime rates, able to walk around safely at night and active police presence
□ Price/Style of Homes/Neighborhoods: Up to $400,000usd purchase price or $1,800 a month for rent -2 Bedroom/2 Bath minimum, yard space, high speed internet, approximately 200sq meters finished space. Detached home preferred, views, pool access and a gated community is a plus.
IMPORTANT LINKS:
Porto International Airport (OPO)
www.aeroportoporto.pt/pt/opo/...
Porto High Speed Train:
bit.ly/3uVrCLO
Porto Metro, Bus & Tram Info:
www.metrodoporto.pt/
Andante Card Info:
www.stcp.pt/en/travel/tariffs...
Lello Bookstore Online Ticket:
www.livrarialello.pt/en/store...
Douro Valley Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting, Lunch and Optional Cruise
bit.ly/3PuC4TM
3-hour Port and Douro Wines Tasting Tour With 10 Tastings:
bit.ly/3WpEaGC
Cost of Living Data and City Comparison:
www.numbeo.com
Best Guide to Porto:
porto-north-portugal.com/
CEO 2021 World Health Organization Rankings:
bit.ly/3HGpora
Visionofhumanity.org Global Peace Index:
bit.ly/3WinMI8
Internations Quality of Life Index:
bit.ly/3YmRy0l
Useful Facebook Groups:
Porto Expats
Americans & FriendsPT
Expats in Portugal Q&A
Real Estate Listings:
Idealista.pt
imovirtual.com
casa.sapo.pt
For Collaborations please send an email to seekingparadisebugs@gmail.com
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great video. however, your info on weather is misleading, Porto is sunny most of the year, and the weather is can vary across the city, depending on how close you are from the ocean, including temperatures. don't believe the stats: it's common to show 21Cº but in reality you get 25Cº for example.
Thank you, that's great info to know! We have to use stats because it's hard for us to judge when we're only there a short time out of the year. We really appreciate when people comment that know better!
Like San Francisco and the Bay Area. In July, it's cool foggy and only 59 degrees F, but as soon as you go 5 miles away, it's 74F and 20 miles away its 88F. Portugal has micro-climates, like we have in California. BTW, how is the humidity in Porto and Portugal as a whole, and how often do you guys feel earth tremors. I know you guys had a huge huge earthquake back in the 1700s, but what about today?
@@anthonydavid5121 We will have lived in Lisbon for 2 years next month and have not felt any earth tremors. The humidity is high in the winter and is something we have had to get used to as we have only lived in areas where humidity is high in the summer. The humidity during the cold season really makes it feel bone chilling.
@@SeekingParadiseBugs YES, I am familiar with the different kinds of bone chilling from winters in New England to those in San Francisco and Barcelona; not cold like New England but certainly not warm. I enjoy your videos. Keep them coming. Good luck and good health.
I’m with you on the weather!!! I’d need sun to be happy.
Fantastic video, U really appreciate how complete and marvelous places you show to me. Love you ❤😊
Thank you so much! You made our day! 🤗 This is what keeps us motivated.
refreshing honesty yazzzz
Thanks for watching!
I love the theme of your video, we are all looking for the best place to live in the world!
Your video is super comprehensive and awesome. I am planning a trip with my husband in early fall and this will be super helpful. I really appreciate all your hard work.❤
thank you so much! you will have a great time! let us know how you like it 🙂
Great video edits and scenes of Porto! We’re going to explore Villa Nova de Gaia on our next travels in country to see if it feels like home.
Thank you!! Porto is an amazing area. Best of luck finding your new home!
The beautiful lush green landscapes of Northern Portugal make up for the bad Weather. 😊
It is definitely beautiful!
You are amazing ur did well filming talking all of it u are the best
Thanks so much for the kind words!!😊
SUPER!!! Thank You.
Thank you so much!
@@SeekingParadiseBugs Welcome, from Australian Paradise.
we will be coming to Australia soon hopefully! 👍🏼
SUPER!!! Welcome.
I love you your great trip advisers you helps me understand how to live and in Porto if I wanted
Thank you!! Glad you like them!
I'd love to see a FIRE video!
We are actually working on one right now!
The wet weather and cold ocean would be a deal killer for me as well. Looks like a great place to stay for a few weeks.
it is a truly beautiful city to walk around and appreciate the views. But yes..the harsh weather is a big deal to us. Thank you for watching!
The wet season is short in most of Portugal . 300 days out of the year most of Portugal is sunny and dry .
Love your videos, always so informative and interesting with great photography!
Thanks Suzie!! 🤗
Wow, great job guys! Loved the video.
thank you! 😊
Would love for you to check out the Algarve - especially Eastern...
The Algarve is in our plans for this year! ☺️
Another great video full of helpful information and highlighting all the best things to see and do. Watching this convinced me that we need to go visit in the spring or summer and really take advantage of all there is to see and do - especially the Douro Valley. Wow! The views there are just spectacular! I am with you though, no way I could live in Porto. The weather during the winter would be way too depressing.
PS: the GNR section was HILARIOUS! Love it! :)
Agree with you on local police! Very nice and as tranquil as the fado music.
Thanks for another great video. I like the details down to the cost of the train, train stations, etc. Really gives us the "day in the life" info we are looking for. Looks like a great place to visit, but yeah the weather and rough beaches are a drag. You mentioned Abruzzo, Italy is on your travel list . . . ours too. The town of Vasto looks very cool.
awesome! we'll have to exchange thoughts about it next week! and thank you for watching!
Just came across your videos, subscribed and enjoying watching them we are taking off on our early retirement/slowmad travels in April next year. Busily using the time to cull all our belongings and planing our trip. Thanks guys for such enjoyable videos x
Thanks so much! Congratulations on early retirement!! You have an exciting adventure ahead. Good luck!
We're gong to be in Porto at the end of April this year. I'm dying to know where the Bunny street art building is!
It's in Vila Nova de Gaia one block back from the waterfront past the Sandeman building. It's by Portuguese artist Bardalo II.
The giant sculpture made of trash is a critique of society's wastefulness. We've seen some of his amazing sculptures in Lisbon too. Have a great time in Porto and let us know what you think.
Amazing travel view💕 wonderful video !! Wish you Merry Christmas❄🎄🎄 💗💖🤍💚💙❄❄
Thank you so much and Merry Christmas to you!
As usual, this video is PACKED full of info. The more amd more we look at Portugal, the more we likey!!
😅 you will love it when you visit! we can't wait!
I'm also ready to retire and move somewhere warmer. Thank you for you detailed video. What you think of Cadiz,in Spain and Faro or any one more southern in Portugal or Spain that are English speaking to live on the water coast and nice weather to retire and start enjoy warm weather rather 6-7 months of cold-30 to-40 C. and just couple of weeks of real summer in Canada.
We will be visiting cities in the Algarve this year and will visit more in Costa del Sol too.
Your videos are always so professional, interesting, and entertaining. I’d like to visit Porto, but I wouldn’t consider it as a place to live because of the weather. I’m still thinking of Lisbon, especially during the cold gray winter here in Prague!
come on down! we'll show you around Alex 👍🏼
I'm very interested in this. We're a couple in our early 50s, living in Canada (for now) and looking to retire early somewhere cheaper than here and also warmer 🙂 Great video guys!
great! we're working in the F.I.R.E. project and hopefully will have something out next month. Good for you guys! we highly recommend early retirement 😄
Hello from Leesburg VA. Heading to Portugal in May. Porto and Lisbon. Thank you for the great content Cheers 🍷
thank you so much! Hope you enjoy both cities! 👍🏼 let us know if you have any questions 😊
28:16 - A warning to those watching this video: Vila Nova de Gaia is NOT a neighbourhood of Porto, it's a whole different municipality, with different rules and different prices.
Thank you, we did not make that clear in the video and already pinned a comment from someone else explaining it also.
13:07 Rowling already said she never visited that bookshop
Thank you for letting us know.
Hello from Montgomery County Maryland. Great video. Wife and I are going to visit Portugal this summer, probably in August. Most likely going to hit several cities from Porto to the Algarve. Time permitting, Madeira also.
Hellooo!! Thanks a lot! Great plan to start in the North and head down South. We would definitely recommend visiting Madeira if you have time. We were impressed and are working on a video about it now. We should post the Madeira video within the next few weeks. 😊
that could be the most detailed video regarding porto in the youtube perhaps and looks great, however I heard that it is getting more and more difficult to live in Portugal due to increased rentals even there were some recent protests on streets since people can not live with their low salary such as less than 1k euro and paying 75% to rent for a room tho :/
Thank you! Yes, the rents have increased tremendously making it difficult to find reasonable accommodations for many people. Unfortunately, this is an issue in many cities around the world. The Portuguese government is working on measures to ease this issue and we are hopeful they can enact something that works.
@@SeekingParadiseBugs as long as they keep the min wage around 750 there is no way to fix it, it is also same for eng res and etc all salaries are low compared to rent ratio in any other European cities
Beautiful.
We agree!
Your videos are fantastic! We are heading to Porto for a month this spring. We are a vegan/FIRE family with a few more years until we can RE. :) We can't wait to create a life for our family in PT.
Thanks!! Those years will pass quickly and it's so exciting planning and working toward the goal. Have a great time in Porto!
Such a great video for me since I’m interested in living in Porto.
glad to see. Have you visited yet?
@@SeekingParadiseBugs yes, this past September, but Lisbon.
love to hear your comparison when you visit Porto as well 😊👍🏼
The oldest bookshop in Portugal, and in the world, still in operation, is in Lisbon, Livraria Bertrand
Thank you, we stand corrected! We should have said it is one of the oldest as Bertrand is definitely the oldest bookstore in Portugal by more than 100 years.
hello Dianne and Guillermo! I just discovered your channel and really enjoy your methodology for finding paradise. I started my overseas RE just south of Porto last fall. An ancient fishing village called Espinho. It has beautiful white sand beaches, warm friendly people, and an incredible 23km coastal boardwalk all the way to Gaia. Quick 30 minute train ride to Campanha. Other things to see and do are a casino, one of Portugal's largest weekly market fairs, and both indoor and outdoor salt water swimming pools. The heated indoor spa is especially nice in Dec/Jan. I'll re-locate to Porto next month then thinking about Madeira for warmer weather at the end of 2023. The places you have reported on are definitely helping to refine my list. Malaga sounds promising, Montevideo not so much. Possibly Ecuador or parts of Mexico but I can't bear the thought of not being able to drink the water. I'll check out your FB and connect to share tips. Thank you for your awesome and informative content!! Obrigada!
Best of luck on your move to Porto and thanks for sharing all the great info about Espinho! We're actually working on a video about Madeira now and should post within the next couple of weeks. 😀 Definitely connect with us, let us know if you have any questions and if you're in Lisbon some day, maybe we can meet up.
@@SeekingParadiseBugs Will do! Still figuring out how to find a long-term rental so I can transition from Airbnb. Definitely paying more than I thought I would for housing. Will buy once I find my little piece of paradise but learned from your channel that it can be fun to experience different places.
I am planning to retire and move from Toronto to Europe. I love your videos and have the same checklist, but I am wondering about the "gated community" preference. If the requirement is also low crime rate, can you tell me what the advantage of a gated community is?
Thanks for watching and congrats on your decision to retire in Europe! The gated community preference for us is because we travel and are away from home so much. If we have something delivered the gate can accept it and it's safer if our property is vacant for an extended time. We would receive the same benefit from a condominium apartment complex.
Thanks for sharing. I would be interested in the info re retirement tips. I was hoping to live not too far from Porto but l don't like the fact that it rains for about half the year. I need to be where it's not too hot but away from the constant rain. I will be moving from England and wanted to get away from the miserable weather. 🤣🤣😎
We're working on a video about Madeira now and it has beautiful weather. We'll be starting on the retire early videos soon!! 😊
👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼😍
Thanks so much! 😁
Porto is cloudy and freezing, people are also too conservative, why would someone leave their home and not head to a warmer place like Lisbon or a Spanish city is beyound me
We've actually been surprised by how many people like a cooler, misty locale. We loved Porto but definitely want to live in a place that has bright, sunny days most of the year.
Can you take your dogs on public transport
Most trains accept small dogs in a carrier and large dogs with a muzzle on. You should also have their pet passport and double check any other restrictions. We believe the metro in Porto allows dogs like it does in Lisbon, however, the buses typically do not. Uber and Bolt drivers may or may not accept them at their discretion. We have found this to be an issue even if you request an Uber pet ride also.
Liked you video although you keep saying Spanish and Spaniard’s were on holiday! They speak Portuguese in Porto - not Spanish!
We were there during a holiday week and many people from Spain had come also. We were surprised that we were hearing Spanish everywhere instead of Portuguese because so many Spaniards were holidaying there that week.
Please could I ask what is the best place you consider to live in all the places in the world you have been
our top 3 places that we would live in so far are Lisbon, Valencia and Málaga.
Relatively small for you that only visited a part of Historical Center and less than 5% of the City spots! Prosit!😂
we are planning trips to other parts of the city this year! we can't wait 🙂
You forgot to mention the downsides - Porto is now full of disillusioned expats that were silly enough to believe people who make money selling dreams via UA-cam... accommodation is almost impossible to find, and if you can, it's nasty quality for a high price. It rains a lot in Porto; the walls are thin and few places have proper heating. The beaches are on the Atlantic coast, and the water is cold. The people don't actually speak good English unless you only hang around a tourist area. The locals will smile at you, as to them, you are a walking ATM; you will be charged "expat prices". Before you sell up and move, spend AT LEAST 6 months actually LIVING in a location. It's a completely different life to just being a tourist in a renovated Airbnb- different challenges, frustrations.
Taxes are high - look up the Social Taxes, don't just believe the headline figures that immigration lawyers will quote you for NHR.
If you lose your foreign income, you are SCREWED. Salaries here are very low, and you will be at a complete disadvantage as you won't speak Portuguese.
Thanks for commenting! We all have different perceptions and understand how you may feel this way. As American expats living in Lisbon for the last year and a half we know the difficulties many people face finding affordable and decent rentals (they are out there if you search though), the temperature of the ocean water is not like the Caribbean and the rainy weather is an issue for some people, like it is for us. Although there are people in every country that will take advantage of you with price gouging, we have found it to be much less in Portugal than other countries. We have taken advantage of NHR for income taxes, however, VAT taxes for goods and services, food, restaurants, etc is definitely high but it's included in the advertised price so you don't have a shock when paying. Every city has positives and negatives and we wholeheartedly agree with you that someone should live in a place for 6 months before deciding if they want to live there long term.
@@SeekingParadiseBugs Also think of the damage you are doing; the monthly rent of a furnished one bedroom apartment in Lisbon is now higher than the Portuguese GDP per Capita. In Porto, 30% of properties purchased in 2022 were by foreign buyers. The prices went up 10% in November alone...
All these influencer style videos, and the immigration lawyers selling daydreams to people on behalf of the greedy Government of Portugal, is leading to a massive property bubble that is going to collapse, very painfully. In the meantime, Portuguese are often staying at their parents home into their 30's, or simply leaving the country, as there is no way to afford a home in Lisbon or Porto on a local salary.
This whole industry of "make money from You Tube videos encouraging mass immigration" is toxic.
We respect your opinion. Are you a Portuguese living at home? if you are, we understand your frustrations. but if not, then you have also contributed to the issues you describe.
Regardless, thank you for watching our video! your comments help the UA-cam algorithm.
Too scripted
But who cares...it's jam packed with good information.👍🏽
@@rebeccagutierrez1960 The place is overhyped,overpriced and overcrowded, just go there and see for yourself, they building everywhere, small narrow roads, and constant air pollution between Estepona and Nerja, check weather apps for air pollution