Lisbon is a favored destination for expats and digital nomads, making it no surprise that you're interested in living there. However, before you move to Lisbon, it's important to understand what the area offers and key considerations to keep in mind.
Lisbon's many attractions draw people to the city, but there are also factors that could influence your decision to live there. It's crucial to be well-informed about what you're getting into. If you need a removal service to Portugal, contact Pinnacle Removals & Storage. Now, let's dive into the things you need to know before moving to Lisbon.
1. Lisbon is popular with ex-pats and nomads.
Once upon a time, Lisbon was a niche destination to move to and live in. It was a tourist spot but not a place to put down roots. However, times have changed, and now, the good bits about Lisbon - of which there are many - are known worldwide. Thousands flock to Lisbon for a new life.
The problem with this should be obvious to anyone—there are too many people in one place that wasn’t built to house and manage everyone. Digital nomads and anyone looking to take advantage of what Lisbon has to offer have led to a housing shortage, and the government is currently debating how to address it.
Popularity is a double-edged sword for moving - you’re in good company, but finding jobs and housing might be tricky.
2. Local salaries are lower than average.
Finding work in a new place is always a tricky task, but Lisbon is especially difficult due to the average salary being lower than most people would like. Unfortunately, even skilled jobs don’t pay much more than about €1000 (£842) per month, which is enough to get by and considering the average rent in Lisbon is lower than in other parts of Europe, it’s also not enough to make you ridiculously wealthy.
Portugal as a country is having issues with wages, being on average lower than other neighbouring countries in the area. Therefore, if you are going to move to Lisbon, it’s worth having a job already lined up or working online where you don’t have to worry about local salary.
3. Bureaucracy is a headache at best.
Something which most expats simply aren’t ready for when they move to Lisbon is the headache that comes from Portuguese bureaucracy.
Many expats have complained that things that are normally quite simple in other parts of the world, like opening a bank account, often require a complicated series of processes and the signing of many different documents just to open the account.
That’s not to say that Lisbon isn’t worth moving to if you are attracted to what it can offer; it’s more that you have to prepare yourself for a slow process to get things done.
4. There’s a real sense of community and quality of life.
It may seem like we have a laundry list of complaints about Lisbon, but the truth is that it’s actually a very nice place to live once you get past the small details and strange habits that seem to populate the area.
Lisbon is just big enough to have everything that would attract city lovers, but at the same time, it is small enough that there is a powerful sense of community, and everybody is very friendly.
The likelihood is that you’ll make a lot of friends and be invited to all the local events in the neighbourhood, which is great for helping you acclimate. The climate is pretty good, and your overall quality of life will be quite high, although it is often tied directly to your income.
5. English is plentifully spoken.
If you’re moving to Lisbon and aren’t sure about speaking Portuguese, then you don’t have to worry when you first get there. English is a very common language in Lisbon, to the point that it crops up a lot on television programs as a subtitle.
This will help a lot with settling in, but it is worth learning Portuguese where you can because there are still certain aspects of life where it’s not the most commonly spoken language, and knowing what to say would help you a lot. Plus, learning the language is always good for settling in.
6. Looking to relocate to Lisbon?
So, when it comes to Lisbon and the things that it can offer, it’s important to understand that Lisbon is a nice place to live. However, it has become oversaturated by experts and nomads, which does lead to a shortage of places to live and jobs, but these aren’t necessarily deal breakers. If you’re somebody who is moving to Lisbon for work and already has a good opportunity lined up, then you probably have the capital at your disposal to find a nice place to live.
As is the case with moving to any part of the world, if you want to keep costs down, you live like a local to offset the lower salaries in the city. You will be invited to join events and participate in the sense of community, so it would be wise to do this.
The good thing about having a lot of expats living and working in Lisbon is that there are plenty of communities you can join that are full of people here in exactly the same situation as you. Plus, you can benefit from their experience living and working in the area because they will know of useful services and places to go.
There are definitely positives to come from any situation, so it’s just worth keeping these things in mind rather than using them to make a particular judgement. As usual, Pinnacle Removals & Storage remain at your disposal to help you if you have any needs with moving and can take care of everything for you.
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