Portugal always lingered in the back of your mind. As a child, you flipped through a calendar illustrating rustic lands and dynamic vineyards occupying this foreign country. You felt the pull toward Portugal but couldn’t pinpoint the best way to get there. 

Years pass, and retirement planning stares back at you. Where should you go? You could stay in your hometown, where the local bakery knows your coffee order by heart, or you could figure out why that calendar captivated you so much. Here are the best reasons to retire in Portugal. 

1. Cost of Living 

Retirees deciding to spend their golden years in Portugal also revel in the golden cost of living. When transferring from the U.S. to Portugal, retirees enjoy saving money, granted the cost of living is 34.9% lower in Portugal. For example, a standard meal at a restaurant costs around $11 vs. the U.S. equivalent of $15. As far as housing goes, the rent prices in Portugal dwindle 42.4% lower than those in the U.S. An adequate one-bedroom apartment in a Portuguese neighborhood averages $796.06.

For a one-bedroom apartment planted in the center of a Portuguese city, the average rent is $1,026.54. 

2. Healthcare 

A considerable factor leading retirees to Portugal is the amazing healthcare system. The Servicio Nacional de Saude (SNS) is free for residents over 65. Expats can access the SNS as long as they pay social security payments in Portugal. Additionally, an expat on a Portuguese visa benefits from the SNS system. As soon as the visa is approved and the expat registers with SNS, they can jump into their healthcare plan. 

3. Great Wine 

Portugal has some of the best wines in the world. I have a friend whose dad is from Portugal and grew up stomping on grapes and delivering the sharpest-tasting port wine to his family’s store. Part of the reason Portugal excels in wine is because of its year-round temperate climate. After the Romans invaded the Iberian Peninsula, they traded wine with locals. 

Eventually, the local bartering system gravitated toward trading wine with Rome, spurring elevated interest in Portuguese wine. Retirees adore sipping burgundy port while overlooking the temperate, grassy valleys. 

4. Language 

Lots of expats who move continents struggle with language barriers. Of course, the native language of Portugal is Portuguese, though numerous locals and transplants speak English. With that issue decreased in Portugal, loads of expats find the transition easier.  

5. Low Crime Rate

Who wants to live in an area conflated with crime? Portugal maintains a lower crime rate than the United States, causing many retirees to enjoy their golden years in a country with less commotion. According to nationmaster, the crime rate in the U.S. is 81% higher than in Portugal. The data suggests the amount of crimes and kinds of crimes differ greatly from the amount of crime (violent and non-violent) apparent in the U.S.  

6. Scenery

Who wouldn’t enjoy a retirement facing a vineyard, basking in the temperate sun as your spouse embarks on a hike through any of the ample scenic routes throughout Portugal? On one side of Portugal, cream-colored rocks dance around the Atlantic Ocean, painting a picture-perfect beach, while the other side features variegated buildings climbing up hilltops. Throughout Portugal, the moderate temperature and vibrant blue sky enhance the country’s natural beauty. 

7. Prioritize Travel

Certain countries are closer together than other countries. For example, an individual living in the U.S. takes a five-hour plane ride from one coast to the next to explore a fraction of the U.S. landscape. In Europe, someone lives in Portugal can jet around to other European countries in under three hours. This reason alone (easy ability to prioritize travel) keeps Portugal a common location of interest for potential retirees. 

8. Other Expats

Since the ability to travel via train, plane, or automobile appeals to retirees, Portugal sees a large community of expats thriving in the seaside country. Fellow expats find solidarity in community after arriving overseas for their move. Plus, the majority of Portuguese residents or expats speak English, making the transition easier for the retiree. 

9. Quality of Life

What makes for a high-quality life? Some leave that up to the scenery in their hometowns. Others credit healthcare or opportunities for their living satisfaction. Expats in Portugal combine high safety levels, breathtaking scenery, and a culinary scene fit for elite foodies, all with comprehensive healthcare, and an excellent public transit system for a contented lifestyle. 

10. Food

Bacalhau, or Cod, doubles as one of the main Portuguese dishes in the country. The beauty comes in the preparation. Chefs and families prepare bacalhau with a sautéed mixture of eggs and potatoes, or they flavor it with cream, baked potatoes, and cheese, similar to a casserole. Dialing up the notch, we have the bifana, a marinated slab of pork stuffed into a soft bread roll that melts in your mouth and leaves a mess. 

All foodies follow the same simple rule of saving dessert for last, right? A famous Portuguese dessert, pastel de nata, packs an egg custard into a crunchy tart with a sprinkle of cinnamon landing on the top of the custard. Those three items are just a snapshot of the culinary scene in Portugal. 

11. Laid Back 

Need a back massage after a long day of work? A recent study reports Portugal as the most relaxed country in the world due to lowered living costs. I would argue the implementation of a siesta also attributes relaxation to its residents’ mindsets. A siesta occurs in the middle of the day, between lunch and dinner, when shop owners and locals take a step back from bustling business and relax with their communities. They may nap or hold lengthy conversations with friends, but they ensure they stray away from the constant go-go-go mindset prevalent in the U.S.  

12. Visas

Portugal provides expats with a few visa choices regarding the big move overseas. A U.S. resident can trek to Portugal on a 90-day visa to check out the country in advance of moving. After the three months wrap-up, you need to get a temporary residence permit through any of the available visas: D2 Visa, D7 Visa, D8 Visa, or the Portuguese Golden Visa. 

The D2 visa applies to those who want to start a business in the county; the D7 visa applies to those who rely on passive income and don’t plan on investing after moving; the D8 visa applies to remote workers; and the popular expat option is the golden visa. The golden visa permits expats to start on a five-year residency journey, including investment opportunities. If the expat wants to stay past those five years, they can apply for Portuguese residency. (You do need to know Portuguese for this next level). 

13. Public Transport

Calling all expats who never learned to drive. Portugal may be the ideal destination for you. The country utilizes trains and buses to create a seamless public transit opportunity for everyone. Trains operate in fewer places than buses. Every Portuguese region controls its local bus system. Rideshare and taxis also exist. 

14. Weather

Imagine a country where the weather rarely dips into the 40s and seldom jumps above the 70s. Rain falls in the mountain areas and elevated climates, though the city and rural country remain stagnant in warm weather. Expats adore the comfortable Portuguese weather, stating during retirement planning, climate contributes to significant interest in Portugal. 

15. Easy Housing

Rejoice because foreigners don’t face hardships in buying houses in Portugal based on their country of origin. The major item needed to become a homeowner in Portugal is a Portuguese tax number. Obtaining that number includes visiting a tax office with a Portuguese ID and proof of address. Portuguese real estate agents sell homes, apartments, condos, farms, and land to citizens and expats. The clean-cut method of home buying lures expats to the southern European oasis.