Living In The Algarve As An Expatriate

Article by Viv Europe - Official Legal and Relocation Partner to KipperTree.

27 02 2023

Every year, thousands of people from around the world choose to move to the Algarve. This region is famous for being a fantastic beach holiday destination in southern Portugal. But what is it really like to live there? What are the pros and cons of living in the Algarve as an expatriate?

While Portugal has something for everyone, there’s no place you could call absolutely perfect. But certainly, there are numerous places very close to being perfect. The lifestyle in the Algarve has attracted millions of tourists every year, so what’s so special? 

To answer these questions, we’ve selected the top 5 pros and cons of living in the Algarve. Let’s talk about why ex-pats choose this region and why others stay away from it. Happy reading!

Pros of living in the Algarve as an ex-pat

1. Sunny days all year round

Let’s start our list of pros and cons of living in the Algarve with one of the favourite things people love about Portugal!

The southern Portuguese region is blessed with over 300 sunny days per year, hot summers, and not-so-cold winters. It is one of the nicest places in the country and most days enjoy blue skies, warm sun, and cool breeze.

You can notice that here in the Algarve, people do a lot of outdoor sports. Restaurants almost always have tables in the street, and you can wear shorts in February, even though it’s winter. Don’t forget your sunscreen and enjoy the Algarve all year round.

This pro is one of the many reasons why Portugal hosts millions of tourists every year, especially during summertime. People from colder regions in Europe come here to soak up the golden sun and make the most of the beautiful beaches in the Algarve.

2. Some of the lowest prices in Europe

One of the factors that do impress most ex-pats in Portugal is the low cost of living.

This small country in southern Europe also has some of the lowest prices for groceries, rent, healthcare, and more.

To give an example, in the Algarve, you can buy a coffee, croissant, and natural orange juice for just €2.50. A typical lunch dish costs around €8, with a drink. And, for those interested, a large beer costs around €3. A much lower cost of living than other European countries.

Of course, you have to research prices and avoid areas that are too touristy if you want to save money, but in general, you live well by spending little in the Algarve.

Recent surges in tourism have contributed to an overall increase in prices, but ex-pats still consider it pretty affordable compared to other regions with the same perks.

To give you some perspective, here’s the breakdown of the cost of living in the Algarve region: 

3. Clean air and lush nature

The proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, smaller and scattered urban centres, and natural scenery make the Algarve an ideal place to enjoy quality of life.

Although it is a dry region and occasionally receives air from North Africa, the relative humidity of the air does not fall below 30%.

There is a lot of wind, but the beaches are mostly calm waters and few waves.

Even better, the Algarve has stunning beaches, mountain ranges with their own microclimate, and even white sandbanks.

In other words, it is the place with the ideal conditions to have fun with mountain biking, running, bird watching, golfing, sailing, and kayaking. Sounds great, doesn’t it? 

It doesn’t only sound fantastic; it lives up to the expectations of everyone who lives here! 

4. Growing expatriate community

It is natural that being a region with so many benefits, the south of Portugal attracts so many foreigners. Millions of tourists visit annually, and many decide to make this region their forever home. 

This safe and loving country is famous for its hospitality. Portuguese people are welcoming and inclusive, despite what nationality you have. 

According to official Pordata data, 698,536 ex-pat citizens are living in Portugal with residence cards as of November 2022. Out of those, 105,137 are in the Algarve region alone. 

That’s 15.5% of the total number of residents, way above the national average of 5.7%.

The English, French, and German communities mainly have their centres with events, newspapers, and neighbourhoods of their own in the Algarve.

Albufeira, Carvoeiro, Lagos, and Tavira are some of the favourite cities to live in the Algarve as an ex-pat.

5. Most people speak English

Unlike other Portuguese regions, the Algarve is an area whose local population has always been in contact with foreigners.

The driving force of the Algarve economy is tourism, which means that most of the attendants in the place speak at least basic English.

Communicating here will be much easier, and the Portuguese people are, in general, very attentive and helpful.

For families, it is good to know that there are also some excellent International Schools in the Algarve that teach in both English and Portuguese. These institutes have well-rounded curricula that help ex-pat children fit in better within the new community. 

The local population is increasingly globalized without ever losing security and tranquillity.

To read the cons view the full article here.