Lisbon has been up and coming for the past few years, receiving a lot of buzz thanks to its food and drink culture, economic revival and it’s creative scene. It also has had a rise in unique startup businesses, which has seen people relocate to Lisbon for business. But overall, it’s the beautiful quality of life that attracts everyone these days!
I’ve put this article together to give a more realistic view on moving to Lisbon, as not all articles online or Instagram posts can tell the right story. Of course, there are plenty of positives, which speaks for itself when you see the boom of people moving there. But it’s good to understand a few things about real life in Lisbon, too.
Here’s some pointers and advice for you:
1. The cost of living is very low
Although some salaries may be low, it’s important to realise that the cost of living is comparatively low as well, which balances out. Plus, with startups and creative businesses on the rise, there are new opportunities and rising salaries in the right places. For lower cost of living, it’s more the outskirts that reflect this. With Central Lisbon, the prices have gotten higher in recent years due to the tourism boom, but still as a local resident you can easily work around this. The bonus points are things such as food and drink can be very affordable, plus transportation in Lisbon is quite cheap.
One thing which is due to rise is rent prices, which have been slowly increasing recently. It’s worth properly factoring this into your budget. But rent aside, living in Lisbon can be very affordable. Portuguese property prices are on average more affordable than in the UK. And a great stat to round up with is that the cost of living in Lisbon is 48% cheaper than in London!
2. The Portuguese are very friendly, but also reserved
The Portuguese are are a very loved nation, and it is very true that Portuguese people are friendly, calm and relaxed. They can be very tolerant people. It’s hard to find anyone who meets Portugese people and isn’t impressed with their down-to-Earth attitude and warm manner.
However, don’t be alarmed if you find the Portuguese to be a bit quiet or ‘stand off-ish’ at times. It’s more to do with their reserved nature, with a calm and gentle temperament. There’s a saying that they can be a little like coconuts – hard on the outside but soft in the inside.
The lovely thing is that there is a huge number of Portuguese who have travelled well or have worked abroad, especially visiting placed like the UK. This means they are no stranger to mixing with other cultures and understanding the tourist world.
3. The quality of life is spot on
Life in Lisbon can be pretty amazing! The climate is up there as one of the best in Europe, where you can expect around 9 or 10 months on average of good weather, which is what us in the UK wish we had! The summers are not at too much risk of getting ‘too hot’, and you usually get to enjoy breezy, balmy nights making evening plans lovely to make.
There are so many gorgeous beaches, with lovely beach walk stretches lined with cafes and restaurants. There are so many lovely little towns to explore, which you can access by sea front drives, or driving a little further out into the more rural parts. A lot of tourists do this as you can easily find the cheapest car hire in Portugal, so you have a quality car suitable for trips. Public transport is exceptional around Portugal, so you may not feel the need to actually own your own car.
If you enjoy water sports and surfing, it’s also littered with opportunities for this! There is always something fun going on in Lisbon, along with cultural events and festivals. It’s a big enough city to host amazing activities, but small enough to not make you feel overwhelmed by the size and hustle and bustle. You can reach Lisbon in almost 30 minutes from surrounding areas, too.
Overall, transport, retail, hospitality and events are superb!
4. Work/Life balance is ideal
One of the most important factors about living in Lisbon is the good work/life balance it holds. It’s why a lot of people from the UK flock here, as they are keen to escape the hectic stresses of life and switch up for a more enjoyable, relaxed one. Life in Lisbon can feel slower paced, even though it is still a city. There’s something about a more relaxed working culture, the warmer weather, outdoor attractions and an appreciation of the enjoyable things in life which make living in Lisbon not all about ‘work work work’.
It was recently reported that under the new rules Portugal has, employers could face penalties for contacting workers outside of office hours. How incredible is that for work/life balance? It was reported also that companies will have to help pay for expenses incurred by remote working, such as higher electricity and internet bills. Since the pandemic, WFH is becoming more the norm in Lisbon, but it sounds like with the added support from work companies, too.
5. It’s safe
The best news here is that Portugal is the fourth safest country in the world, according to the Global Peace Index 2021. This means it is sitting just behind Iceland, New Zealand, and Denmark. In other words, it is second among the countries of the European Union. So if you are worrying about the safety of being in Lisbon, you needn’t be filled with concern.
It was highlighted in the Institute for Economics & Peace report last month that “Portugal is one of the 5 safest countries in the world and the second among the countries of the European Union”. This makes it considered as one of the safest countries in the world, and contributes to the quality of life in Portugal being superb. It gives it a competitive advantage over other countries. This should hopefully give some comfort to those who worry about crime rates. The UK is quite high, so it’s refreshing and comforting to hear that they are very low in Portugal.
Well I don’t know about you, but reading up about Lisbon makes me want to pack up my life here and move to the sunnier climate and beautiful city life! Anyone else?
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