Portugal’s second-largest city has been the underdog to Lisbon’s charm and bohemian vibe for a few years now. But Porto has since climbed the ranks as a hotspot for expats wanting Portuguese authenticity with a little more edge.
It's usually unanimously agreed upon as one of the best places to live in Portugal for expats and digital nomads alike.
After giving it my best shot of settling into life in Toulouse, I decided to make a change and move to Porto. And while I'll dive into the details as to why in this article, you can go ahead and know that I'm so happy I decided to give living in Porto a shot.
In this guide, I’ll share with you what you can expect as an expat in Porto and why relocating here has been a teenage dream come true.
Short on time? Here's the cheat sheet:
💭Living in Porto is a great option for those that want city amenities in a more boho environment.
🏠The best neighborhoods to live in are Bonfim, Campanhã, and Matosinhos.
🛏️Start off by booking a hotel or vacation rental, like Vibrant Porto Apartments, located in the city center. This is a perfect place to apartment hunt and get a feel for living in Porto.
🤕Don't rely on luck alone. SafetyWing now offers 2 types of Nomad Insurance coverage options: Essentials for travelers and Complete for expats and digital nomads.
🛂Most non-European foreigners who live here are on either the D7 or D8 visa.
💰Cost of living is often considered affordable by foreigners but it is steadily increase with the influx of expats. Earn travel rewards on all expenses with a Capital One Venture Card.
📞Save the hassle of getting a local SIM or the cost of roaming with Airolo, an e-SIM that’ll have you connected from the moment you arrive.
☂️Although the bureaucracy is confusing and summer brings a lot of tourists,
🏖️You'll love the excellent social scene and great weather awaiting you.
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Why Porto?
Porto is known as a welcoming city with heaps of history and charming locals. The Portouense way is to be straightforward and neighborly. A warm hello greets you in every shop and you’ll be called pet names everywhere you go, such as “querida” (dear) or "menina" (miss).
With colorful tiled buildings and cobbled streets, Porto is a great way to experience Portuguese culture with a modern twist.
The international airport is close by with convenient flights to other European cities and further afield.
This friendly city offers a semi Mediterranean climate, excellent public transportation, international cuisine, and tons of activities year round at an affordable cost. What more could you ask for?
The Cost of Living in Porto
When compared to Lisbon, Porto has a more reasonable cost of living. However, it’s still pricier than other cities like Aveiro, Braga, and Coimbra.
As a single woman in a two-bed apartment, my average monthly expenses are as follows:
- Rent – €850
- Gas & Electricity – €50
- Groceries – €200
- Fuel – €70 for a full tank
- 3-course meal at a restaurant – €20
- Fast food meal – €8
- Gym membership – €33
I am on the national health service so I’ve never had to pay for routine doctor’s appointments. However, you can get a private health insurance plan for as low as €30 a month.
*Note: These numbers reflect my spending habits, so take them with a pinch of salt. Most expats moving here find food costs, in particular, to be low.
Best Neighborhoods in Porto
Finding an apartment in Portugal has become quite the rollercoaster in the past few years. Below, I’ve listed some of my favorite neighborhoods for you to try and find a place in.
Bonfim
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: €950
This is one of the most central, and therefore the most expensive, areas of Porto. If you want to be in the middle of everything, and a short walk from the Douro River, this area is for you.
📍If you're able to visit before signing a long-term lease, I recommend it so you can scope out the neighborhood and rentals in person before committing. Consider:
- Budget Stay: Cozy Nest Hostel: Save a lot by booking your stay in a hostel dormitory. As far as hostels go, this one is cleaner and cozier than most.
- Mid-Tier Stay: Vibrant Porto Apartments: Get more privacy at this one-bedroom apartment. Plus, it's pet-friendly if you're moving abroad with your pet.
- Luxury Stay: Chakra Duplex: This apartment offers modern and stylish touches in a cozy environment, plus the location will be hard to beat.
Campanhã
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: €950
Campanhã is close to one of Porto’s main train stations, so it has excellent links to nearby towns. There are also nice green spaces and museums to explore.
📍If you're able to visit before signing a long-term lease, I recommend it so you can scope out the neighborhood and rentals in person before committing. Consider:
- Budget Stay: Campanhã Boutique Station: This is a bed and breakfast with a variety of rooms to choose from so you can choose the space and amenities most important to you.
- Mid-Tier Stay: CL Freixo Apartment: This two-bedroom apartment is located in a charming building and is just steps away from the train station.
- Luxury Stay: Feel Corporate Housing: Get a taste of the good life at any of the apartments offered here. This is the best choice if you're moving with your family and need space for a larger group.
Matosinhos
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: €850
Matosinhos is Porto's beachside neighborhood with a metro line to the city center. Rent prices are high but the area has its own vibrant culture.
📍If you're able to visit before signing a long-term lease, I recommend it so you can scope out the neighborhood and rentals in person before committing. Consider:
- Budget Stay: Chill and Fun: Stay just a quick walk from the beach without breaking the bank at this room rental.
- Mid-Tier Stay: Ocean Beach House: Choose from a selection of rooms at this super cool beach house. It's recently renovated and has great style.
- Luxury Stay: By the Sea Apartment: Enjoy an entire place to yourself at this one-bedroom apartment rental with all the amenities you could ask for.
Vila Nova de Gaia
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: €700
Vila Nova de Gaia, also known as Gaia, is technically a different city just over the river from Porto. You can easily walk between the two and the metro connects both cities. This is a great choice if you want all the benefits of living in Porto, but with cheaper rent prices and a calmer pace of life.
📍If you're able to visit before signing a long-term lease, I recommend it so you can scope out the neighborhood and rentals in person before committing. Consider:
- Budget Stay: Villa Teresa Apartamentos: For the best budget stay, I recommend the studio apartment but they also have larger spaces to choose from.
- Mid-Tier Stay: 7 Gaia Roaster Apartments: This accommodation is like a hybrid between a hotel and apartment rental so you'll have the privacy you want but also a front desk to ask your questions.
- Luxury Stay: 296 Heritage Apartments: Enjoy fantastic river views of Porto from this stunning historic building.
Things to Do in Porto
Porto offers so much to tourists and expats alike. Here’s what I recommend:
See the sights
Porto is a cultural hub with much of the nation’s port wine originating from here (hence the name). Therefore, a trip to the port houses and wine cellars along the river is a must.
There are also many art galleries around Rua de Miguel Bombarda, with ever-changing art exhibitions for collectors and creatives. The main cathedral in Porto, the Sé, is a magnificent place to visit, as well as the Crystal Palace Gardens if you love green spaces.
If you don’t mind the queue, Livraria Lello is a gorgeous ornate bookshop reminiscent of Hogwarts. Even Porto’s main train station, São Bento, has been named one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.
Walk across the Dom Luis Bridge
Walking along the riverfront where the stately Dom Luis Bridge lies is a right of passage for everyone visiting Porto. Right by this UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll often find street performers, cafes and eateries.
You can also walk across the bridge to the Gaia side, where you’ll get a better view of Porto as a whole.
Experience Porto’s top-quality restaurants
Porto is home to some exquisite cuisines with exciting flavors and innovative chefs pioneering the culinary landscape.
Start your day with brunch from Hungry Biker or Nicolau. For lunch, you can get a traditional Portuguese experience and try the famous Francesinha sandwich at Venham Mais 5. Some of my favorites for dinner include Almada Terrace and Brasão.
Find your community
When moving from your home country, it's important to find your people. Porto makes that easy. If you’re a reader and writer, like me, there are plenty of book clubs and writing clubs on Meetup in both English and Portuguese.
Entrepreneurs will love the plethora of co-working spaces which host many international businesses and solopreneurs.
Porto hosts multiple general and specialized gyms including boxing, Muay Thai, pilates, yoga, pole dancing and so much more. Outdoorsy people will enjoy the running and hiking clubs as Porto is nearby by some incredible walking trails like Valongo, Paiva, and Peneda Gerês National Park.
With many cultural events throughout the summer, this charming city will bring so many people into your orbit.
I was never a super social person, but Porto has me outside at least three times a week!
How to Get Around Porto
Porto is a compact city that is easy to navigate. Though I have a car, I’ve never needed it within the city limits. Here’s what you need to know about Porto’s public transport.
Metro
The metro is the easiest way to get around Porto. With eight color-coded lines, you can reach almost all of the major neighborhoods; from Matosinhos across the city center and all the way to Gaia. The metro is clean, comfortable and dirt cheap at just €1.40 per journey.
Furthermore, service stops at 1:00am, which is handy on late nights out.
Bus
The bus line is equally comprehensive. You can pay for your journey by cash which is €2, or use one of Porto’s travel cards for unlimited travel.
Taxis
Taxis are the most expensive method but still reasonable. An Uber from Gaia to central Porto costs around €5. On the other hand, expect to spend €10 or more from Matosinhos to town.
Driving
You can drive in Porto but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Why? One word. Traffic.
With plenty of one-way streets, roadworks and narrow paths, driving in Porto is not for the faint of heart.
If you choose to get a car, it’s a better way to explore outside of the city limits like the stunning Douro Valley.
Getting a Visa to Live in Porto
If you’re a fellow EU citizen, you don’t require a visa to live and work in Portugal. You do have to register for a temporary residency certificate which will last five years. You can get this from the Câmara Municipal (town hall).
After your temporary expires, you can apply for permanent residency for up to ten years. This needs to be done with the immigration office, AIMA.
Non-EU citizens must apply for a short or long-term visa and residency permit from AIMA if you’re planning on staying for longer than 90 days.
There are several types of visas available, depending on your situation, including:
- Schengen visas
- Seasonal visas
- Student visas
- Scientific or academic work
- Self-employment visas
- Special purpose visas
- Family reunion visas
- Retirement visas
- Digital nomad visas
Check the AIMA website which outlines everything you need to know.
Except for people like me that don't need a visa to live in Porto, most foreigners I meet are on either the D7 or D8 visa. If you want to see more options before deciding on Portugal, consider the other European countries with digital nomad visas.
Pros & Cons of Living in Porto
Porto is a wonderful city, but is it right for you? Here are some pros and cons to consider:
Pros of living in Porto
- Amazing weather – Warm climate with mild winters and steaming-hot summers.
- Excellent social scene – Whether you love the nightlife or enjoy a quiet reading circle, Porto has something for everyone.
- Easy for English speakers – Porto is a highly anglophone city though, of course, learning Portuguese is vital for living a great Portuense life.
Cons of living in Porto
- Fierce rental market – As a student city, the rental market is competitive and pricey.
- Huge volumes of tourists – Like any major city, Porto becomes a tourist haven from March to October.
- Bureaucratic nightmares – Portuguese bureaucracy can be slow and confusing.
Ready to Move to Porto?
Moving to Porto is a teenage dream of mine that I’m so glad came true. Its color and electric energy carry through all seasons. With a vibrant international community and plenty to do, I believe Porto is a great place for expats who are curious about life in Portugal.
If you’re looking for a comfortable life where you’ll never get bored, Porto could be a great city for you!
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