Moving to portugal

[ChildFreeAndOhSoHappy]

Short backstory, we have been in the UK for almost 10 years. I am American and I wanted to move here after some time country hopping abroad together. My husband is british and never wanted to move back to the UK but he did it for me.

Anyway, we were in the process of buying a house here and just had so many issues come up, everything that could go wrong did, and 2.5 years after putting the offer in we have only just now gotten close to exchange. Only, now we are both wondering why are we even trying so hard to be here? We have no real ties to the country (other than his family) but certainly no real love for the uk. So we have decided to move to Portugal. I'm lucky enough to be in a highly paid remote job that will allow me to get NHR 2.0 in portugal. Has anybody else done this and moved their family to portugal? Do you love it? My husband is highly qualified but works in an industry which is less likely to hire full time employees on a remote basis, though contacting is getting more and more popular and this is what he would do. So while we would be moving there initially on my salary alone, I have no doubt he could find work, it just may take time. On the other side of it, the job he would be leaving in the uk is not unsubstantial, he makes well over 100k, although after taxes here its meh. Anyway, can we make this work with one job? The cost of living is lower, the quality of life is higher, the taxes are much lower and my salary is still in the top 1% for portugal. Plus we have a very big chunk of money which we were going to sink into a million pound house in the UK which we won't be now so we have savings. It all feels super doable to me but curious if anybody has done the same and what their experiences were.

Do you pick up new languages with ease? Most Portuguese people under 45 seem to speak some English in tourist areas, so if you were in Oporto, Lisbon or a university town, you'd probably find an international circle of friends fairly quickly.

I know people who moved to Portugal years ago, have absolutely loved it, and are now returning because with climate change the weather has become, quote 'nasty'.
Anyone who moves anywhere in the climate firing line now, when it's become completely clear how it's going, is nuts.

Sounds like a daft plan, a £100k salary is a lot to give up to be unemployed in a foreign country.

The climate changing is, in my view, a very valid reason to proceed cautiously.

I have British friends coming back from Portugal after being there for 15 years. Climate becoming unbearable and “it’s not the same as it was” . A Portuguese friend I have who lives and works in the UK won’t go back to live there, prefers London and the UK climate, also commented that the employment market is getting tougher there ( as it is in the UK)

I am under 45 and do pick up languages pretty easily, I will also be spending time now until we move learning Portuguese.

Lots of Portuguese seem to be moving to the U.K. so it can't be all that great?

But when you look up countries that will be least affected by climate change, Portugal comes up, as does the uk. Not sure why UK is so much better in this regard esp when portugal accepts it and is actively working to mitigate it while the next UK govt (likely reform) want to do away with net zero, regulations and seem to openly deny it in general.

After uk taxes, he loses 50% of that. However in portugal, he would qualify for NHR 2.0 meaning he would only be taxed at 20% and therefore have to earn less to keep the same amount After tax. Anyway, with his CV we see no issue with him being able to get very large contracts regularly.

I suppose the question is, do we stay in the UK and be miserable or move to Portugal with one good job, a big chunk of money in the bank and the ability to do well contracting.

I’ve lived in Portugal for over 20 years.

If we visited now for the first time, instead of in 1988, would we still want to move here? I doubt it.

We’re thinking of moving on in the next couple of years, but it won’t be back to the uk

Happy to answer any questions

It's diff though. Portuguese living in portugal aren't well off, the taxes for them are high (up to 50%) and the salaries are low. I would be on a London salary and bc I work in tech, I get a tax incentive and pay less than half (20%). So london salary with Portuguese quality of life, completely different scenario and best of both worlds. Those coming to the UK from portugal can find marginally better salaries (our salaries compared to cost of living are laughable) but a much much higher cost of living and no tax incentives. So, yeah, I would def be curious to know how those people are finding it.

Do you mind if I send you a pm?

How do you think the Portuguese feel about foreigners coming here with tax incentives and cash to splash, pushing prices up for everybody?

Yes no problem

What is it about the climate that is putting people off?

Unbearably hot in the summer. I couldn't live in that climate.

I'm guessing the same way many people feel in diff countries with the same or similar incentives. I however have only life to live, and if I would be much happier in portugal and can have a better quality of life, the resentment of others really isn't going to be a massive deterrent.

It's getting massively hotter - even for Portugal. Fine if you're on holiday & lazing by the pool but everyday living & working - not so much.

It sucks and is a reality, but it's a reality everywhere, not just in portugal.

We’ve actually had a cooler summer than normal, but some parts, particularly inland have had temps of 40+.

We have got used to the heat in summer, it’s only for 2-3 months, and the rest of the time it’s very pleasant, and can even be a bit chilly in winter.

What about moving elsewhere in the UK? I have friends who moved to Portugal but are also now moving back and have decided to settle in Scotland.

In addition to that, the tax incentive is for highly skilled workers in specific industries and the govt created this to incentivise a higher skilled workforce to move there which positively impacts the country as well. Even at a lower tax bracket I will be paying more tax overall than most and will be buying food and goods and contributing to the economy. So yeah, don't feel bad about that.

We did it 2019, best thing we ever did. Friends of ours have done it too, all in our 30s / 40s. We’re on the NHR and work remotely. I know the country well, have been coming here all my life and lived here previously in childhood.

Climate change issues depend which region you’re in - avoid the centre and anywhere near large eucalyptus or pine plantations.

Feel free to PM.

Lots of Americans coming here too.

Because we’re all priced out of where the jobs are. Life away from the coastline is substantially cheaper, but you’ll struggle to find a job and if to add to that you don’t have a lot of family support, you’ll struggle even more.

Portugal has a long history of migration though, I don’t think there was a time where we didn’t. It’s quite common. If anything I’m surprised when I meet people who never wanted to live abroad or have no emigrant relatives.