What makes Portugal such a popular destination for retirees? Would you like to know the secret behind Portugal's popularity among retirees? To help you decide, here's list of 10 advantages of retiring to Portugal. 

1. Excellent weather

Portugal is situated in southwestern Europe, on the Iberian Peninsula with an area of about 92,000 km², this nation is bordered by Spain to the north and east and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west.

It has an average of more than 300 sunny days a year. That means you’ll be able to enjoy having a nice walk across the beaches for more than two-thirds of the year. Isn’t that fantastic?

The rainy season is between October and February. You will hardly see any rain during the rest of the year.

2. Tax Benefits

Portugal has one of the most desired tax regimes for expats: the all-famous Non-Habitual Resident Tax Regime.

In short, if you’re an expat and move to Portugal, you’ll be able to apply for this regime (deadline is March 31st).

This regime grants the new resident some of the most desirable tax benefits in the world that comprise:

A 10% flat tax rate on most of the incomes originating outside Portugal.
A 20% flat tax rate on most incomes obtained in Portugal.
Keep in mind that your income tax rate can reach an incredible 48% if you don’t apply for the NHR regime, although most Portuguese people pay a 23% tax rate.

3. The most beautiful locations

Portugal is a tiny nation with many of hidden treasures. You can easily find green landscapes and mountainous regions and even snow.

4. Friendly People

Among the world's inhabitants, Portuguese people are among the friendliest. Everyone is extremely kind and welcoming, even though there are subtle differences between people from different parts of the nation, rural and urban areas, etc. Moving was a lot less stressful because of that.

When you retire, you want to settle down, have fun, and feel like you belong somewhere. For that reason, Portugal is an ideal location for establishing meaningful relationships.

5. Great Food
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Portuguese cuisine is a delightful fusion of flavors influenced by centuries of trade and exploration. Fresh seafood dishes like bacalhau (salted cod), grilled sardines, prawns and octopus are staples along the coast, while hearty stews like cozido à portuguesa and feijoada showcase the country's love for comfort food. 

​An the most delicious desserts, mostly egg-based like the Pastel de Nata.

6. Low cost of living

Portugal offers a delightful retirement destination with a low cost of living, making it an attractive option for retirees. With various affordable towns and villages like Braga, Setúbal, Tomar, and Caldas da Rainha, a couple can live comfortably for under $30,000 per year.

Portugal's low cost of living compared to the U.S. is evident, excluding rent is almost 29% lower on average. 

Retirees can enjoy a comfortable retirement in Portugal with a monthly budget ranging from $1,500 to $3,000 depending on where you live (check out my apartment tour here). Cities such as Lisbon and Porto as well as the Algarve will be a bit more expensive.

In 2023, my average monthly expenses was €2500 and you can read about it here and I live in Lisbon.

7. Safety

Portugal is generally considered a safe country to live in, consistently ranking as one of the safest countries globally with low crime rates and a stable political environment. The country's commitment to safety, effective governance, and welcoming atmosphere makes it secure and appealing for residents and visitors alike. With a reputation as one of the safest nations globally, Portugal offers a high quality of life, affordable cost of living, family-friendly atmosphere, and an attractive tax system.

The Global Peace Index ranks Portugal as the seventh safest country in the world, with low crime rates compared to other European countries. Violent crimes are notably infrequent in Portugal, contributing to an overall sense of safety. Additionally, Portugal's commitment to safety permeates various aspects of daily life, ensuring a stable and secure atmosphere for residents and visitors.

I've taken public transportation as late as 11:30 p.m. and have walked home from the metro station to my apartment (about a 10 minute walk) by myself and have felt totally safe.

10. Ease of Getting a Residence Permit

Portugal has the easiest visa application process when compared to other nations like Germany, France, and Spain, because the local government actively promotes retirement in Portugal.

There will be more commerce, more jobs, and a better economy as a result of more people residing in Portugal.

Those who are in compliance with the visa process will be able to lawfully reside in Portugal and experience all that it has to offer.

Keep in mind that you can also become a Portuguese citizen after just five years of residence in the country.

Come along as I show you a tour of my cozy yet charming 1 bedroom 1 bath apartment in Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal. At the end, I'll tell you how much I pay each month for this fully furnished apartment as well as what it would have been if I rented it unfurnished. Whether you're planning a move to Lisbon or simply curious about what life is like in this beautiful city, I hope you enjoy this glimpse into my home.
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I get a lot of questions on how I do laundry here in Lisbon, Portugal since moving here just over one year ago.  So I thought I'd do a little video on my process.  I hope you enjoy.  If you have any questions, post them below.

Transcript
Welcome to laundry ay here in Lisbon, Portugal. 

I do laundry about three times a week, because as you'll see in a second, my washing machine is quite small.

My washing machine is actually in my kitchen and as you can see I have a very long galley style kitchen. 

I use the laundry sensitive skin detergent pods from Dropps. I brought these from the US and you just take one and you put it in the barrel of the machine and then you put your clothes in. 

In this case, I'm doing the towels today.

As you can see, it's pretty full now. And we're just going to close the door and turn on the machine. 

I just do the 15 minute wash, It's at 30 degrees Celsius and I find that it gets my clothes pretty clean. 

And then I'm going to just press the start button.

OK, the machine just finished, so let's go get the laundry.

Most apartments in Lisbon only have a washer. 

If they do have a washer, very few have dryers, and sometimes you'll find a washer dryer combination.

My apartment only has a washer, so in the winter time it's too humid in the apartments or too freezing cold outside to put them out on the balcony, which is what I usually do. 

So I take the towels and sheets to the laundromat. 

It's summertime. So I hang them out on the balcony.

Let me show you how I do it.

So here is my dryer during the spring, summer and actually into the fall. 

OK, the towels have been outside hanging to dry for a couple of hours, so they are probably dry.

Ohh, yes, perfect.

Alright, so I will bring them in and fold them up and then I will be finished with laundry for today.

Health Insurance in Portugal is affordable and averages somewhere between €80 and €180 per month, depending on multiple factors like age and pre-existing conditions. 

Check out my video below, for my personal experience with health insurance.

Thinking of moving to Portugal? These resources can help you with your planning.

I'm at home sick instead of exploring the many Christmas markets in and around Portugal.  But today, I received the best possible Christmas gift, my residence card.  I'm officially a resident of Portugal!

You may recall, I moved here on May 1st on a tourist visa since I didn't receive my temporary visa in time and I already had my ticket.  

Ten days later, on May 10th, I finally got the email that my visa was approved. So I headed back to the U.S. to get my passport stamped with the temporary visa in early June.  The temporary visa tells you where and when my SEF appointment is in order to get the 2-year residence card.

​My SEF appointment happened to be in Coimbra on September 6th. At the time, I was told that it would take about 2 months to receive the card.

When it didn't come around November 6th, I inquired in the Americans & Friends in PF Facebook group if this was normal.  Many people posted comments that Coimbra was notoriously slow and to be patient.

At the 3 month mark, December 6th, I sent an email to the SEF Office in Coimbra.  It wasn't answered.  So I waited and waited.

All I can say it that I'm glad that I'm sick because that means I'm home when the CTT (postal service) showed up at my door needing a signature to receive the card.

Now to get my address changed on my NIF and apply for NHR (non-habitual resident tax regime) status.