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5 Places to Live in Portugal from $24,000 a…

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Lisbon Portugal

Lisbon Portugal

“In fact, we are giving one lucky winner, along with a spouse or friend, the chance to try out Portugal for themselves next year for a month in our Win Your Dream Retirement Overseas Competition.”

“Where could you live better for less? That’s the question we ask every day at International Living. And when the focus is Europe—the most ready answer is Portugal,” says Jennifer Stevens, Executive Editor, International Living.

“Often Americans wrongly assume living that living in Europe has to be expensive. But when you spend an extended amount of time there in the best-value spots, living like the locals do, you’ll find day-to-day costs can be genuinely affordable—particularly in a place like Portugal where the value is so good for everything from housing to meals out.

“In fact, we are giving one lucky winner, along with a spouse or friend, the chance to try out Portugal for themselves next year for a month in our Win Your Dream Retirement Overseas Competition.

“On a budget that would have you scrimping at home, it’s possible to live large in Portugal. The five spots we have included in our special report are ideal for people looking to increase their quality of life, while they spend less.”

A new report from the editors at International Living explores a selection of top retirement locales dotted around Portugal, with cost-of-living figures—from as little as $2,000 a month.

Here are International Living’s top five places to live in Portugal from $24,000 a year….

Porto—Portugal’s Charming Second City

Porto, the second-largest metropolitan area in Portugal after Lisbon, is located on the Douro River where it flows into the Atlantic. The city is home to nearly 300,000 people in the city center (about 1.3 million in the greater metropolitan area) and has a small city’s feel and friendliness. But it’s also a thriving international business city, with many expats finding all the amenities they need, including an international airport.

Rich in culture, here you’ll be surrounded by elegant parks with fountains, statues, and exotic plants, leafy boulevards, and cobbled streets lined with historic buildings. Porto’s cool, mild, climate means temperature averages around 65 F in the dry summer season, and 50 F in winter, which lasts from December through March and can be wet.

However, in Porto, there’s no need to own a car. There’s an extensive bus network and a tramway—the first on the Iberian Peninsula—using vintage cars, and the metro will take you to the golden sands of the Atlantic in just 15 minutes. But the town is best experienced on foot and its scenic riverfront provides the perfect backdrop for an anytime stroll.

This is a city where food and wine are inextricably interwoven into its residents’ lifestyles. Porto is of course famous for its fortified wine of the same name: port.

For all Porto’s natural and architectural beauty, fine food and wine, and pleasurable pastimes, it’s surprisingly affordable to live.

How much: A couple can live well on $2,000 a month, or $24,000 a year, housing included.

Braga—the Hub of Northern Portugal

Like so many cities in Portugal, Braga’s history was influenced by Roman occupation, and the city’s architecture and landscape vividly recall those ancient days.

Braga is the seat of the oldest Portuguese archdiocese of Roman Catholicism. Churches, chapels, and convents abound. And, as in most major and even minor cities in the country, grand fountains and statues punctuate its thoroughfares.

The University of Minho adds diversity to the populace as well, with Erasmus students coming from all over Europe and the Far East.

That youthful influence gives a lift to an otherwise very traditional city, and many of the younger locals speak passable English. This, and the fact that many shopkeepers and restaurant owners cater to tourists, makes Braga an easy spot for some expats to adopt as their own. It seems to go under the radar, but as the third largest metropolitan area in the country, it has much to offer.

Living here means doing what you want, indoors and out, virtually all year round. The climate is moderate. In summer, temperatures average around 69 F, while in winter that falls to around 47 F. December is the wettest month, with rainfall of about seven inches—similar to nearby Porto’s.

How much: In Braga, a couple can live well on $2,050 a month, or $24,600 a year, housing included.

Coimbra—”The Oxford of Portugal”

Two hours north of Lisbon lies Portugal’s former capital, Coimbra, home to one of the oldest continually operating universities in Europe. Located in the building that housed Portuguese monarchs from the 12th to the 15th centuries, Coimbra University is the heartbeat of this vibrant city of culture.

With a population of 144,000 spread over 123 square miles, Coimbra is a busy metropolis, yet it retains the mellow undertone that Portugal is famous for. The university is situated high on a hill, in what is aptly named the Alta, or high, district. Descend the steep and narrow streets to the lower area of the Baixa and you’ll discover a maze of serpentine alleys where shops are packed tightly side by side, outdoor tables display linens, pottery and scarves, and flowers stalls add bright splashes of color amid the neutral tones of the stone of the medieval city.

The climate in Coimbra is temperate. August is the hottest month, with an average of 73 F, and January the coldest, averaging 51 F. January is also the wettest month, delivering about six inches of rain. If you’re interested in beach time in the summer months, just head west to Figueira da Foz, which has an active expat community.

Without a doubt, this is a city where you can get by in English only. Between tourism and the youthful student population, being able to speak Portuguese is not a requirement to enjoying all Coimbra has to offer.

How much: A couple can live well in Coimbra for $2,210 a month, or $26,520 a year, housing included.

Tavira — The Algarve’s Secret Gem

A former Roman seaport once occupied by the Moors, and a town formerly known for carpet making and tuna fishing, Tavira lies 23 miles east of Faro, in the Algarve. Like many towns in the southern region of Portugal, Tavira was effectively destroyed in the Great Earthquake of 1755, so many of the lovely buildings standing today were constructed in the 18th century.

Situated on the Gilão River, the town invites visitors to experience a warren of cobblestone streets, traditional white-washed houses, and dozens of churches, many with exquisite azulejos, the classic ornamental blue and white tiles so prominent in Portugal. To the south of the city are the protected waterways, mudflats, bird sanctuaries, and salt pans of the Natural Park of Ria Formosa.

The medieval castle of Tavira lies in partial ruins but offers spectacular views. There are world-class golf courses in the area, as well as superb snorkeling and scuba diving. The town of Tavira is perfect for sitting in a plaza or a riverside café to indulge in a cup of freshly pressed coffee and some serious people-watching. But if wanderlust strikes, the news is good. Tavira is a mere half-hour from Castro Marim and the glorious Guadiana bridge spanning the river of the same name. Cross over and you can be in Sevilla, about 90 miles away, in an hour and a half.

How much: Renting a furnished two-bedroom apartment with a terrace and view of Gilão River, a couple could live well on $2,800 a month, or $33,600 a year.

Lisbon—Portugal’s Welcoming Capital

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal. Home to half a million people, it’s a place where you can enjoy a European lifestyle with history, romance, astonishing hospitality, and a seaside location to boot.

In this Old World haven, cable cars clatter over hilly, cobblestoned streets sweeping down to a sheltered bay. Lisbon’s climate is mild, even in the depths of an often rainy winter, average lows are barely below 50 F, while summers are gloriously sunny and generally in the 70s F.

With all the amenities of a capital at hand—museums and performance spaces, restaurants and nightlife, an international airport—Lisbon is also one of the most affordable capitals in Western Europe.

How much: A couple could live well for $3,065 a month, $36,780 a year with housing included, in Lisbon—or on considerably less a little outside of the city center.

Editor’s Note: Members of the media have permission to republish the article linked above once credit is given to Internationalliving.com.

Further information, as well as interviews with expert authors for radio, TV or print, is available on request. Photos are also available.

For information about InternationalLiving.com content republishing, source material or to book an interview with one of our experts, contact PR Managing Editor, Marita Kelly, +001 667 312 3532, mkelly@internationalliving.com
Twitter: @inliving

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About International Living

Since 1979, Internationaliving.com has been the leading authority for anyone looking for global retirement or relocation opportunities. Through its monthly magazine and related e-letters, extensive website, podcasts, online bookstore, and events held around the world, InternationalLiving.com provides information and services to help its readers live better, travel farther, have more fun, save more money, and find better business opportunities when they expand their world beyond their own shores. InternationalLiving.com has more than 200 correspondents traveling the globe, investigating the best opportunities for travel, retirement, real estate, and investment.

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Source: https://www.prweb.com/releases/5_places_to_live_in_portugal_from_24_000_a_year_internationalliving_com/prweb18223941.htm

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