There is a magical undercurrent that pervades Portugal, a way of a carefully preserved past. Golden beaches with sparkling clean waters, flower-filled meadows, 12th-century castles…and, it’s the most affordable country in Western Europe—a couple can live well on less than $30,000 per year, immersed in history, culture, and eating out often.
Read on to discover five idyllic spots in Portugal where the cost of living is low and the quality of life is high:
PORTO
Porto, the second-largest metropolitan area in Portugal after Lisbon, is found on the Douro River where it flows into the Atlantic. The city is home but 240,000 people within the city center (about 2.4 million within the greater metropolitan area). It’s also a thriving international business city, with many ex-pats finding all the amenities they need, including an international airport.
Porto’s cool, mild, climate means temperature averages around 18.333°C in the dry summer season, and 10°C in winter, which lasts from December through March and can be wet.
For all Porto’s natural and architectural beauty, fine food and wine, and pleasurable pastimes, it’s surprisingly affordable to live here. A couple can live well in Porto, including rent for a one-bedroom apartment, for about $1,550 per month, or $18,600 a year.
BRAGA
Considered the oldest city in Portugal, it’s located within the north. The population of just about 200,000 is primarily Portuguese, but there’s a sprinkling of residents from Brazil, Africa, China, and Eastern European countries. The University of Minho adds diversity to the population as well
That youthful influence gives a lift to an otherwise very traditional city, and many of the younger locals speak English. This, and the fact that many shopkeepers and restaurant owners cater to tourists, makes Braga an easy spot for some ex-pats to adopt as their own.
Braga’s climate is moderate. In summer, temperatures average around 20.556°C, while in winter that falls to around 8.333°C. December is that the wettest month, with rainfall of about seven inches—similar to nearby Porto’s.
For all its richness, life in Braga is consummately affordable. Including rent for a three-bedroom apartment, a couple can live quite well in Braga for about $2,050 per month, $24,600 a year.
LAGOS
A coastal town in Portugal’s Algarve region, Lagos is one of the country’s sunny playgrounds. It’s blessed with a year-round moderate climate, with average temperatures ranging from 11.111°C in winter to 23.889°C in the summertime, when the normal average population of 22,000 swells with visitors from Europe and elsewhere.
Lagos’ status as a tourist destination means not only that excellent services are available, but also that English is widely spoken, making it an easy place for retirees to settle in to. Despite the tourist-oriented nature of Lagos, particularly during the height season of July and August, prices aren’t prohibitively high. Renting a two-bedroom apartment, a couple can expect to live a high-quality lifestyle on about $2,080 per month—$24,960 a year.
MAFRA
Mafra lies just half-hour northwest of Lisbon International Airport. A population of about 76,000 covers 112 square miles translates to the texture of a thriving yet pleasantly-paced small city. Lots of green areas dot the community, bursting with blossoms year-round.
Mafra is home to Portugal’s National Palace, inbuilt 1717, and a royal domicile until 1910. The Palace lends its Baroque and Neo-classical charm to the town.
Summers are warm, dry, and mostly sunny in Mafra. Winter is the rainy season, and average annual temperatures range from 7.778°C to 26.667°C, with extremes being 3.889°C and 32.778°C. A couple can live well in Mafra on about $2,400 a month including rent, which comes to $28,800 a year.
COIMBRA
Two hours north of Lisbon lies Portugal’s former capital, Coimbra, home to at least one of the oldest continually operating universities in Europe. With a population of 144,000 spread over 123 square miles, Coimbra is a busy metropolis, yet it retains the mellow undertone that Portugal is famous for.
August is the hottest month in Coimbra, with an average of 22.778°C and January the coldest, averaging 10.556°C January is also the wettest month, delivering about six inches of rain.
Between tourism and the youthful student population, English is widely spoken in Coimbra, so being able to speak Portuguese is not a requirement to enjoying all Coimbra has to offer. A couple can live comfortably in Coimbra for $2,430 per month including rent, which comes to $29,160 a year.