Como é Morar em Portugal Depois de 3 Anos

Life in Portugal

After three years in Portugal, the couple say it is the longest they have lived in one place after a decade of traveling. They chose the country as a home base where they could build friendships and travel around Europe more easily. Their time there has also brought major projects and new skills.

Projects and Daily Life

They spent nearly 10 months building a tiny house on wheels themselves, learning largely from YouTube. It is now ready to live in while they work on their main home.

On their rural property, they demolished an abandoned house and began building a replacement using light steel framing (LSF). A construction team assembled the frame in four days. The planned home includes two suites and a large, open-plan living and kitchen area. The couple estimate that they spent about a year and a half working on the land over three years. The property is around 10,000 m² and cost €47,000.

They also own a three-bedroom, three-story home in Porto, where they relax. They built a deck, added a jacuzzi and pergola, and set up a home gym with items bought on Facebook.

One regret was renting a very large house for nearly €4,000 a month when they first arrived. They say it was expensive and did not suit their lifestyle. They also felt they spent too much time at home.

Their View of Portugal

What They Value

• Safety: They describe Portugal as safe, particularly the countryside, where neighbors know one another. They feel comfortable leaving their property while traveling.
• Rural life: The countryside offers quiet and, in their experience, relatively affordable land. They note, however, that the peace can also mean fewer activities and fewer young people nearby.
• Porto: They appreciate the city’s historic, charming character, its riverfront, and signs of development, including metro expansion.
• Property and construction costs: Buying property and building worked for them, especially because they earn money abroad. They note that local salaries can make the economics very different.

Challenges

They found immigration paperwork difficult. After arriving on a digital-nomad visa and receiving a two-year residence permit, they found the renewal process stressful. They say it involved legal help, and that more than four months later, their new card still had not arrived.

The renewal difficulties made them feel unwelcome, despite following the process and investing in the country. They also miss having more young people and activity in the countryside, while recognizing that larger cities offer more of both.

What’s Next

The couple do not expect to stay in Portugal forever. For now, they plan to remain, finish their projects, and possibly seek new adventures in another country in the next year or two. Portugal will remain an important base and a meaningful chapter in their lives.

Notable Locations, Projects, and People

• Locations: Rural interior of Portugal, Porto and its riverfront, and a beach shown near the end
• Projects: Tiny house on wheels, LSF construction, home gym, and trampoline plans
• People: Lawyer Vasco Steves; speakers Eliezer and Eda