My Guide to Lisbon: 5 Answers to FAQs
You asked. Here are answers to five common questions.
Without exaggeration, every day someone asks me about visiting or moving to Portugal. Or, they tell me that they’re already in town and they’d like to meet up. This Tiny, Private Love Letter answers the five commonly asked questions. That way, I can simply forward this link the next time someone asks for info.
Caveat: These are my personal experiences as an American who lives in the Lisbon metro region. Answers may be heavily seasoned with that flavor, and your experiences may be different. If you have questions that aren’t answered below, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll likely answer it in the next update.
1. Can I tell you how to move to, or visit, Portugal?
First, let’s figure out if we know each other.
Yes, we know each other: Check your call history, texts, and DMs. Chances are, if we’re regularly in contact, we’ve probably already talked about Portugal, and I’ve explicitly told you to come visit. Happy to answer specific questions; I’m getting inundated, so I’m prioritizing family and folks I already know.
No, we don’t know each other well (or at all): I often get messages like: “Hey, I want to move to or visit Portugal. You live there, and it looks like fun. Tell me what to do.” If that sounds like you, here’s the truth: Because we don’t know each other well, it’s hard — if not impossible — to offer you tailored advice. You can probably easily find what you need via Google, AI, or a travel agent. Here are additional resources:
As a general heads up, if you pay someone to tell you how to move here, it’s probably a good idea to remember this: They may be financing their lifestyle with your money. It’s not inherently problematic, it’s just something to keep in mind — especially if you’re planning to uproot your life and move to a new country based on that advice.
I know many of these creators linked above, and I believe people should be paid for their labor. So, to support them — and to share personal experiences and insights — I’ve been a guest on many of their YouTube channels, events, and podcasts for free. For example, check out Why AMERICANS Choose PORTUGAL Over England.
Psst! In case you were wondering, no, I didn’t pay anyone for advice about moving. I did my own research; I also relied heavily on Facebook groups dedicated to expat communities. Those groups, too, will often tell you to research, check files, Google, etc. before asking any questions — because they, too, are getting inundated. You’ll likely choose the paid or unpaid option that suits your needs best. For what it’s worth, I’m awful at asking for help, and I’m working on that. I think friends who paid for tailored support from relocation specialists, lawyers, etc. had an easier adjustment than I did.
2. What’s the healthcare situation in Portugal?
Depends on your personal needs and circumstances. Here’s a quick breakdown.
Universal Healthcare: If you’re an American and you like the idea of free or affordable, vote for candidates who support universal healthcare in the U.S. Portugal, like most other nations (except the U.S.), has universal healthcare. That said, as migrants, because we haven’t paid into the system, we’re asked to pay for private health insurance.
Private Health Insurance: I have private health insurance. Common providers include Médis, Allianz, and AXA.
Navigating the System: Because healthcare is critical, I don’t want things to get lost in translation. So, I pay for a healthcare concierge service, too. They:
Explain how the Portuguese healthcare system works.
Answer questions in English.
Provide English-language support to supplement care from doctors who may already speak English, too.
Medical Records: Okay, so, it matters if you’ve got something negative growing in your body. Your doctors would only know that if they had a “before” picture to compare to the “after”. It’s called: continuity of care, and it’s easy to forget about that when you’re moving. I finally recently requested my U.S.-based records so I can add those to the records here, and I’ll get my Portuguese records sent back to the U.S. That way, doctors on both sides of the Atlantic can have a more complete picture of my medical history. This is so important for early detection of developing problems and aberrations. But, heads up, if either the U.S. or Portugal denies “prior conditions”, record sharing might hurt your pocket.
3. Can I help you find a job in Portugal?
I’m not a recruiter. For what it’s worth, I can offer two pieces of advice.
First, wherever you usually search for jobs, search for “remote” jobs.
Secondly, research local wages. The average monthly salary in Portugal is around €1,000 - €1,500 per month. Average Lisbon rents are the same, about €1,000 - €1,500 per month. Locals tell me it takes one salary to pay the rent and a other to afford everything else.
So, if you want to afford life here, plus expenses like trips home to see family, you’ll need money and/or roommates.
4. What’s the best neighborhood in Portugal?
Portugal is a wonderful country with many different amazing areas. The pace of life — and cost of living — will vary greatly depending on where you go:
Busy, High-Cost Areas: Central areas of Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve are more expensive, especially in the more trendy neighborhoods. They also have more things to do and are more culturally diverse.
Slower, More Affordable Areas: Suburbs, smaller cities, and rural areas are much cheaper yet still offer a higher quality of life — though options might be more limited.
For more information, check out HoodPicker. It compares Portuguese cities to places that you might already be familiar with. For example, they say Cascais is like Bloemendaal, and it’s true. The place is monied, on the water, and outside the main city. But, HoodPicker also says Belém is like New York’s UWS. I disagree; I think it’s much more like what the High Line / West Village area used to be like many many years ago. Charming and more up and coming. So, take everything there with a grain of salt.
Local Guides
At any rate, once you’ve found a place that you like, check out local freguesias (i.e. city councils, neighborhoods, or parishes). Their social media channels often list community events. Also, many often publish free, monthly, glossy magazines with great insights about life in the neighborhood.
5. Do I need to learn Portuguese?
In my opinion, yes. ❤️ If you’re going to live in a country, you should learn the language spoken there. Do it for yourself, not anyone else. It only helps you to know how to:
understand what people are saying around you,
ask for help in case of an emergency,
know how to cuss someone out in their language if they’re being xenophobic,
develop deeper connections with the local community,
read street signs and directions, and
everything else.
In Portugal, they even offer free languages courses to help migrants get better acclimated. It’s a great perk! Plus, remember, while many people speak English, especially younger generations, Portuguese is the official language of Portugal. So, that’s often going to be the default option — and, sometimes, the only one.
Make Your Own Decision
Portugal is a wonderful place. You really owe it to yourself to find out if this is the kind of place that you’d enjoy. Or if, maybe, Spain, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, England, Ghana, or someplace else might be a better fit.
Subscribers to my Private Parts can read Questions I Asked Before Moving Abroad. For me, it was important to make this Public Display of Affection available to all, simply due to the sheer number of people asking. Besides, my life’s work is more about:
Helping nonprofits, NGOs, and others widen their audiences and gain financial stability. Send potential clients our way. ❤️
Spreading sexual and reproductive health info. I recently co-authored a Roe paper that tells you what you can expect from a Trump Administration. Read it. ❤️
In the Tiny, Private Love Letter, I share life updates and experiences. If you found my reflections about Portugal helpful, consider subscribing for more updates. If you have questions, feel free to leave a comment below. Wishing everyone love, a sense of calm, and peace wherever you are in the world.
