High-Value Living in Portugal

I've heard a few travelers and expats say "Portugal is so cheap!" and I have to talk about this.

Referring to Portugal as "cheap" can come across as dismissive or offensive, especially to locals who may face economic struggles, such as lower wages or challenges with the rising cost of living. I realize it's not meant to come off that way, but part of being in a society with such disparity, and being an 'outsider' I feel it's on expats to recognize that we need to kinda be at a higher level of communication and care in how we approach what we say.

There are a fair amount of people moving to Portugal from the United States because it has become too expensive to retire. So I asked someone one night - how would it feel for someone to come into your town, or be next to you at a restaurant and say, while you know you can't easily afford to retire, pay health care, etc. and they say "it's so cheap!". It wouldn't feel good would it?

For us to be seen as empathetic to our new hosts, I came up with some ideas. Here are some more considerate way for expats to describe their monetary experience in Portugal and still focus on value, affordability, or cost-effectiveness without making assumptions about everyone else's financial reality.

Here are alternative ways to frame the conversation.

My personal favorite: Highlight Value for Money

Instead of saying, "Portugal is cheap," they could say:

• "Portugal offers great value for money in terms of housing, food, and overall lifestyle compared to my home country."

• "I appreciate the quality of life here at a relatively affordable cost compared to my home country."

This approach acknowledges the expat's perspective while avoiding dismissive language.

Focus on Affordability Relative to Their Context

Recognize that affordability is subjective and varies based on personal income or home country norms:

• "Coming from [country], I find the cost of living here to be lower for many daily expenses, which allows me to enjoy things I couldn’t afford as easily back home."

• "Portugal makes it possible to live well without spending as much as in [home country]."

This conveys their experience while respecting the local context, and also gives an 'in' into a lot of cost issues a lot of people living outside of the United States do not understand like childcare and healthcare.

Appreciate the Quality of Local Goods and Services

Celebrate what makes Portugal unique rather than focusing solely on cost:

• "The fresh produce, seafood, and local wine here are both high-quality and reasonably priced."

• "The public transportation system here is efficient and affordable."

This shifts the focus to the quality and accessibility of resources.

Acknowledge Local Challenges

Show awareness of economic disparities:

• "While I find some things more affordable, I also recognize that wages and costs can be challenging for locals."

• "I appreciate that living costs here are reasonable for expats like me, but I also want to be mindful of the challenges local residents face."

This demonstrates cultural sensitivity and empathy.

Discuss the Balance Between Affordability and Rising Costs

Many Portuguese people are concerned about rising housing costs, especially in cities like Lisbon and Porto. Expats can recognize this issue:

• "The cost of living here is lower for me than in [home country], but I know housing prices are becoming a challenge for everyone."

• "I hope to support local businesses and contribute to the economy while being mindful of how expats impact housing and costs."

Using thoughtful and empathetic language can help bridge cultural gaps and show respect for the local community. It also fosters more constructive and inclusive conversations about the expat experience in Portugal and why we moved here. A lot of people don't understand why we are so excited about great food, approachable healthcare, or why people in the United States work so much. Showing empathy for the locals while recognizing each one of us added does contribute to the problem can open up doors.

This is the empathy we seek for expats to have so we can all build a community here together to lift everyone up. If you have specific questions, experiences, or concerns, contact us. We want to bring a more customized and bespoke way for people to move to Portugal so they are successful and impactful to the communities around them.