Considering relocating to Lisbon? Learn from someone who lived the move to Lisbon experience. Why Lisbon, what you need, finding a place to live in Lisbon, making friends, and more!
So you want to move to Lisbon just like I did early this year. Great! You will not regret it and I will tell you why in this blog =). Whether you are moving from the States, the UK, or any other country around the world, if you are considering Lisbon as a next destination here is what you will learn from my experience:
Contents:
Here's a quick rundown of the key things you'll need to sort before settling into your pastel de nata paradise.
Here are some recommended platforms to find a place to live in Lisbon:
However, something you should know is that finding a place to live in Lisbon is the biggest challenge of living in Lisbon. The short reason is that there is a high demand of people looking for an accomodation in Lisbon when compared to the supply or availability of accomodations in the city.
Here is a breakdown of the pricing depending on what you look for, but for more information on this topic check out my profile for more related blogs =).
I was lucky enough to have a close friend already living in Lisbon and moved in after one of his flatmates left, so the process was really quick, easy and affordable.
I met friends the same week I landed. How? Meetup!
This online platform connects people with shared interests. I started by joining groups that piqued my curiosity, like the Lisbon Digital Nomads (my favourite), Bachata Sensual (dancing is a fantastic way to break the ice), and a casual language exchange.
At these events, I met awesome people from Portugal and other places around the world. Helps a lot with practicing Portuguese and discover hidden corners of Lisbon by asking recommendations. We continue to do weekly stuff together.
So, if you're looking to expand your Lisbon circle, check out Meetup!
No. Although while many people do speak English or some level of English, you will find others that don't. As someone who speaks Spanish, I find the language relatively easy to understand and speak. Despite that, learning Portuguese is beneficial for several reasons such as making friends, solving queries, visiting other parts of Portugal, and for cultural reasons - you are here so you might as well try and learn some or all!
Here is a breakdown of what I usually spend per month:
Total = ~1,000€ per month (approx.)
Other estimated costs of interest:
One of my best decisions in life so far! The people, the food, the weather, the quality of life, taxes, among a lot more things are some reasons why I decided to experience life in Lisboa. Everyday I feel happy and greatful about this opportunity and unique experience.
As a digital nomad, moving to Lisbon is great because you get to experience life in a South European country, save money on taxes (if applicable), as well as to meet both local Portuguese people and expats from all over the world. Having said that, it's always good to give back to the community, respect local citizens, and support local businesses instead of large internation chains or related. It also makes the experience more enjoyable, especially the local Portugese food which is AMAZING!
Before you move:
✔ NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal)
✔ Accomodation and rental contract
✔ Passport
After you move:
✔ Bank account
✔ Navegante card (transport card)
✔ Groceries
✔ Home essentials (e.g. bedsheets, mirror, furniture, etc.)
✔ Gym membership (optional)
✔ SIM (optional)
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