'Think twice before moving': Expat urges caution to anyone thinking of moving to Portugal's Lisbon and Porto
Expats moving to Portugal are facing high rental costs
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Britons looking for a change of scenery often turn to places like Portugal for its warm climate and cultural appeal.
UK nationals currently comprise the second-largest expat community in the holiday hotspot, counting more than 46,000 residents.
Global Citizens Solutions shares: “Compared to other Western European countries, it’s a budget-friendly option for easier savings.
“Portugal also boasts a high quality of life, supported by excellent education and healthcare systems.
Portugal offers a high quality of life to expats
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“Additionally, foreign residents can benefit from attractive tax incentives when structured correctly."
One expat has urged caution to anyone thinking of moving to the country's most popular cities - Lisbon and Porto.
Victoria, who goes by @Vikaglu on TikTok, has documented her life in the Southern European hotspot, shedding light on certain problems that she was surprised to discover.
“Do you know that Portuguese activists have protested against evictions and skyrocketing rents caused in part by foreigners?” the content creator pointed out in a clip.
She said: “Renting is extremely high [and] bureaucracy is slow”. The minimum wage is also very low, according to Victoria.
A similar issue was highlighted in a previous video captioned: “Dear expats, think twice before you’ve moved”.
Victoria said she was encouraged to relocate to Portugal because it is the "perfect place for living", and a great location to start investing in real estate.
However, she went on to: “What I’m seeing is a huge real estate bubble in Lisbon and Porto, insane prices for rent."
She added: “Locals can’t live in their own towns because of gentrification.”
A study published in 2023 confirmed that Lisbon is the third most expensive European city for long-term rentals.
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Expats moving to Portugal are facing high rental costs
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Rent for a one-bedroom flat in Lisbon averaged around €2,005 in early 2023, making it more expensive than Amsterdam and Reykjavík.
The research, which analysed more than 52,000 properties on the rental market, determined that property for rent in Portugal is becoming more and more expensive.
Despite high rental costs, Portugal continues to be a relatively affordable place to live for British expats.
Experts often recommend Lisbon for British expats as it offers a significantly lower cost of living than in the UK.