The Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal 
By Tricia Pimental

“No legacy is so rich as honesty,” wrote William Shakespeare. I agree. So I'm going to be straight with you. What's the real story on Portugal? Is it as great as people say? Does the sun shine every day? Is it safe?

Coimbra is just one of the Portuguese gems Tricia has called home.

I've lived in Portugal for eight years, in the north near Braga, the central region outside of the university town of Coimbra, and close to the capital of Lisbon. Here's what I've learned.

Climate

Pros: Portugal's climate is a warm, temperate, moist, forest climate with wet winters and dry summers. The average temperature is 71.6 F. You can drive this compact country from north to south in about five-and-a-half hours. A road trip from west to east, from Lisbon to the Spanish border, takes less than half that time. Obviously there's not a great variation in climate.

Lisbon is popular with tourists not only because of its cultural offerings, cafés, restaurants, and physical beauty, but also its weather. Winter months bring about 10 days of rain and daytime temperatures of 50 F or higher, while in the summertime, wet days average from none to one or two, and the mercury hovers around 85 F.

Cons: In the north, winter means rain about half the time, and temperatures run about 10 degrees cooler year-round than farther south. Shorelines can be extremely windy. When we lived in Esposende, we were painfully aware of why it's a kite-surfing mecca. Same applies going down the coast, to the surfing destination of Nazaré, where a record was recently set with a 100-foot wave. Farther south, when we lived northwest of Lisbon and six miles from the beach, we needed a back-up plan when entertaining outdoors. Gusts would carry paper plates, plastic cups, and the occasional small dog upward in true Wizard of Ozfashion.

Earthquakes. More common on the islands of the Azores, they do occasionally occur on the mainland. The Great Quake of 1755 devastated Lisbon, of course. But if you've lived in Southern California as I have, most likely you won't find it an area of concern.

Cost of Living

Pros: Expats typically find their expenses in Portugal run about one-third of what they were in the States. While the exchange rate is not as favorable as it was when we first moved here, we still live a comfortable, although not extravagant, lifestyle for about $2,500 a month. If you choose to live in Porto in the north, Lisbon, or in the expat havens of Cascais or the Algarve, you probably want to bump that up to $3,000. You can, however, keep that lower figure simply by moving 20 minutes away from a city center. Enjoy urban amenities, then head back to the 'burbs and lower rent.

To enjoy the good life in Cascais, a couple will need a monthly budget of $3,000.

Cons: Electricity, gasoline, automobiles, and large appliances like washers and dryers are more expensive here than in the U.S. Tolls on the autostrada add up, too.

Safety and Security

Pros: The Global Peace Index rates 163 nations and has named Portugal the third safest country in the world. Gun ownership is permitted only for hunters and sportsmen, not for personal protection. The locals are peaceable people who seek to avoid conflict and just live their lives with family and friends. And eat fish and drink wine, of course.

Cons: Petty crimes of opportunity, mostly in large cities, exist everywhere. Portugal is no exception.

Medical Care

Pros: Professional, public, and private healthcare is available in clinics and hospitals throughout Portugal. Private insurance averages $46 per person monthly. We pay $40 a year per person for insurance entitling us to half-price doctor visits, and either use public healthcare or pay discounted prices in the private system. Cost per person for catastrophic insurance is $90 per month.

Cons: Scheduled for surgery in the public system? Be prepared to wait for months for availability.

Proximity to the U.S.

Pros: Portugal offers three international airports servicing many airlines. Plan ahead and you could snare a nonstop, seven-hour, roundtrip economy fare from JFK to Lisbon for less than $700.

Cons: Everyone wants to visit. If they're coming from any distance they'll want to stay long enough to make the trip worthwhile, so be prepared. Also, have varied tourist itineraries under your belt so you don't begin to feel you're a resident of all the palaces and castles you'll invariably be showing them.

Activities and Recreation

Pros: With half the country coastline, there's ample opportunity to enjoy surfing, snorkeling, boating, wind-surfing, and more. Landlubbers may opt for golf, tennis, horseback riding, hiking, and biking, or exploring Roman ruins.

Not so much for the outdoors? Head to the country's marvelous museums, like the Tile Museum in Lisbon, or go shopping on the pedestrian walkway, Rua Catarina, in Porto, and quaff a beverage at the Belle Époque Café Majestic.

Cons: Let me think… Sorry, nothing comes to mind.