We Chose Portugal over Spain, France, and Italy. 2 Years Later, Do We REGRET It?

Overall decision & context

• Two and a half years ago, the couple moved from considering Spain, Italy, and France to living in Portugal, choosing specifically the Silver Coast.
• Since moving, several policy/cost factors changed:
  • NHR (expat tax status) changed: it expired “last year,” so new residents generally can’t access the same favored treatment (except in limited circumstances).
  • Prices rose, including real estate.
  • Citizenship timeline may change: Portugal’s pathway is under review and could extend from 5 years to 10 years (as of filming, not finalized).

Why they chose Portugal originally (and what still holds up)

They judged countries using:

• Safety
• Healthcare quality
• Cost of living
• Climate, aiming for year-round outdoor living (not too hot summers, not too cold winters)

What they still like after 2+ years:

• Safety: they feel “very safe” and at ease.
• Healthcare: they report healthcare is excellent and better than the US.
• Beaches & climate: the Silver Coast is described as a dream for outdoor life.

Things that got worse / changed in Portugal

• Higher prices (goods/services and especially real estate).
• NHR no longer available for new arrivals (affects financial “math” for planning a move).
• Citizenship pathway uncertainty (possible shift from 5 years to 10 years).

A “tradeoff” comparison: Portugal vs Spain/Italy/France

They agree all four countries are broadly similar on:

• Visa process: manageable (though varies by country)
• Universal healthcare in all four
• Safety generally rated higher than the US
• Lower overall cost of living than most US mid/major cities

Why they ruled out Spain, Italy, and France (at the time of moving)

• Spain
  • Key difference: 10-year path to residency (vs Portugal’s 5-year at the time).
• Italy
  • Also had a 10-year path to citizenship/residency (again giving Portugal the edge).
• France
  • Similar citizenship idea (they said it was 5 years “at the time,” but not certain now).
  • They chose Portugal over France primarily due to safety preference (Portugal described as among the safest countries).

Recap of their Portugal “pros/cons” framing

• Pros: beaches/climate, safety, citizenship pathway, lower cost of living (vs the US)
• Cons: they mention bureaucracy can be difficult (but argue it’s difficult “anywhere,” possibly a bit more in Portugal)

Updated criteria they would add if choosing today

• Connectivity by train
  • They realized travel by train can be less stressful than flights/road trips.
  • They plan to test this by visiting four cities by train.
• Limit on days outside the country (residency/visa rules)
  • Example given for Portugal: in the first 2 years, you can be out up to 240 days.
  • They note that frequent travel (including to the US) requires careful date calculations to stay within limits.

One country they’d add today: the Netherlands

They didn’t consider it originally because they “didn’t know” about key realities, especially:

• DAFT (Dutch American Friendship Treaty)
  • Designed for US citizens expanding/starting a business in the Netherlands.
  • They claim it can provide very fast residency, even quickly enough to get residency before the end of a typical 90-day tourist visa.

Why they’d consider it despite drawbacks

• Long/dark/cold winters
• Higher cost of living (not “bargain Europe”)
• High taxes in Europe (DAFT may include advantages—see their DAFT video)
• Housing crisis, especially in/around Amsterdam
• Dual citizenship with the US: generally not offered in most cases

Still, they’d add it for:

• Europe-wide connectivity (e.g., direct trains to Paris, London, Berlin from Amsterdam)
• More days out of the country (they estimate “just under 6 months per year”)
• Language ease for English speakers (Dutch exists, but English is used for everyday needs)

Ranking the countries today (their final order)

They ranked them identically:

1. Portugal
2. Netherlands
3. Spain
4. Italy
5. France

Key reasons by rank

• #5 France
  • Still attractive, but a bit less aligned due to concerns like safety (or cost of living being higher).
• #4 Italy
  • They love Italy and have strong personal ties (marriage/honeymoon, plus travel to Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Florence, Rome, Venice).
  • But they rate it slightly lower than Portugal due to cost of living and safety factors.
• #3 Spain
  • They’ve explored Spain more through an “expat lens.”
  • Notable places mentioned:
    • Basque Country / San Sebastián
    • Andalusia, including Seville and Cadiz
  • Climate concern: they felt Spain’s summers could be too hot (especially vs the Silver Coast).
  • They’re more open to living in northern Spain.
• #2 Netherlands
  • Strong advantage: central hub with excellent trains and also direct flights.
  • Business-friendly environment (they mention it makes sense for launching/expanding businesses in Europe).
  • Downsides: winters and higher cost of living.
• #1 Portugal
  • Still checks their core boxes:
    • Safety
    • Healthcare
    • Climate (Silver Coast—being outside “nearly every day” in the middle of the afternoon)
  • Connectivity isn’t as strong as the Netherlands, but they feel it’s manageable via airport access and flights.
  • Most important “real test”: they love traveling around Europe but always want to come home to the Silver Coast.

Notable locations, products, or people mentioned

Locations

• Portugal’s Silver Coast, Edinburgh, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin
• Basque Country/San Sebastián, Andalusia (incl. Seville, Cadiz)
• Provence (France reference)
• Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Florence, Rome, Venice

Programs / terms

• NHR (expat tax status)
• DAFT (Dutch American Friendship Treaty)

Speakers

• Matt and Don (video hosts/authors)