Portugal Forum

dajo
Joined 2016
Posts: 32

7 years ago

Life after getting here.

7 years ago

As previously stated in another thread, my wife and I arrived in faro on October 18. Our expectations were to have to spend a lot more money to live until we find out if we can get a residence permit and we were correct. I now have a few actual costs that I can share. First off we rented a townhouse at Boa Vista Golf resort in Lagos as this is the quality of home we are used to in Canada. We had been there before and knew it's level of comfort It is online if you would like to see it. In my opinion, it would have been way more difficult to show up in Portugal and cut our quality of our home life in half. For the first week we paid 90 Euros a night and then negotiated a monthly rate of 1,450. All the rents we ever found online were incorrect to some degree. Most of the time it was for long term lets of a year and those are quite reasonable, depending on your requirements. Personally, we like heat when its cold and a/c when its really hot. Not everyone needs these but we do. In Lagos, these luxuries are not easy, or cheap to come by. We just agreed to a three month let for a nice three bedroom apartment but it has heat only in one bedroom. The rest is heated by a wood fireplace. This cost 950 Euros all in with wifi.
We have not been able to find anything cheaper that we would be happy in.
Food is cheap @ 1/2-1/3 Calgary costs depending on what you buy. Wine is cheap @ 1/4 Calgary costs. Car rental is cheap at $160Euros a month. A pint of beer is 3 Euros.
We have not eaten out as we do all of our meals at home hence needing a really good kitchen.
The weather is incredible for us. 20 C. everyday right now.
We have been here before but it is still a huge adjustment. The buildings have hollow walls that allow sound to transfer easily and we can hear our neighbors talking. So far I have bought two fresh fish from the market and they cost me 7 Euros each time. One was a Hake and the other a Med. Sea bass and both were a meal for two.
Once we decide to stay in Portugal, our rents will undoubtedly decrease with a long term let.
We will be sharing our experiences as they happen.
Have fun everyone!

Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Living in Portugal Guide

Our Living in Portugal Guide is a primer on everything about living in Portugal: best places to live, cost of living, pros and cons, healthcare and insurance, obtaining a driver's license, how to bring your pet with you and more.

Portugal Forum
Join our Portugal forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Portugal.

Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Portugal.

Best Places to Live in Portugal

If you're thinking about living in Portugal, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Portugal in 2023.

Healthcare in Portugal

Expats in Portugal with a residency visa can participate in the national health care system. Here's what you need to know about the SNS and the combination of public and private services you'll need to manage your health in Portugal.

Cost of Living in Portugal

Expats offer insight into the cost of living in Portugal.

Moving to Portugal Guide

Expats moving to Portugal are drawn by a variety of places to live, a rich history and so much more. Here are some tips on what it means to move there, and how to make it happen.

Real Estate in Portugal

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Portugal.

Pros & Cons of Living in Portugal

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Portugal.

Retiring in Portugal

Advice for people retiring in Portugal.

Portugal Visa & Residency Guide

Thanks to Susan Stults Korthase for this helpful overview of current requirements to begin the process of obtaining a Residency Visa when moving from the US to Portugal.

10 Tips for Living in Portugal

If you've recently arrived in Portugal, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Portugal.

Additional Information:

Visit our Portugal Index for a Full List

Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Contribute
Help others in Portugal by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Portugal.