Moving to Portugal for a better quality of life: An expat's story

Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from, and when did you leave Italy?

My name is Bruno and I come from Veneto, from Teolo to be precise, a town in the province of Padua located near Abano Terme and nestled in the Euganean hills. During my professional life, I have been a company manager and an executive in the “parabanking” sector. I left Italy in early 2019 for a short stay in Portugal before moving there permanently in October 2019.

What made you decide to move to Portugal?

Well, during my professional life, I have changed companies, businesses, and locations several times. When I was on a management course, the trainer told me that I was a "change-oriented" person. When my professional career came to an end, and when I went into pre-retirement and then into retirement, I returned to my Venetian origins. After a while, I felt the need for a change of scenery, a change of life and to travel and discover other places. I chose Portugal purely by chance, even if this country has always been one of my favorite destinations for its climate, tranquility, safety, and its reasonable cost of living, along with the bonus of a ten-year tax break. I just hope to be right!

Where do you live currently and what made you choose this place?

I live in Quarteira, in the Algarve, and I must say that I was lucky! At a dinner party with my former classmates, I met an old friend who had recently made that choice. He invited me for a short stay, and I liked it immediately. Quarteira is a well-planned city with a great climate, by the sea (which is what I really wanted) and close to the hills and some prestigious Portuguese sites. It's also a very convenient city for travel, thanks to its proximity to Faro airport.

What are your thoughts on the services and facilities provided by this city?

If by services you mean those intended for citizens, I must say that, in general, I have not encountered any particular difficulties. I was assisted in my integration by a specialist and by my friend. So far, I don't have any particular needs, so I have barely used the basic services like A.T., Freguesia, Centro de Saude, hospital and local clinics. I think the only organization I had some trouble with was the ITM in Faro for the registration of my driver's license, but otherwise, I had no particular issues. And if you want to know about the services related to the distribution of electricity, gas, etc., I must admit that once the activation request was made, again, I had no problems.

Did you find it hard to adjust to your new life in Portugal? How did you overcome this?

Definitely! It was indeed very complicated to adapt to the new rhythm! So naturally, I was somewhat frustrated at the beginning! But after spending some time in Italy doing nothing, I had no trouble adapting to a daily life driven by my interest in sports, music, cinema, and cooking. In the end, thanks to the many people I met during my private Portuguese lessons and those who became friends, I overcame the absence of my relatives and friends in Italy, whom I regularly visit when I return during the year. Thanks to them, I have been able to develop new interests and enjoy a lot of my free time.

What does your everyday life as an expat in Algarve look like?

Most of my day is devoted to physical activity. I'm a good cyclist, and if there are no unforeseen circumstances, I ride about 8,000 km a year. The climate here is definitely conducive to outdoor activities almost year-round. I also go to the beach to swim in the sea, often go for walks, watch a little television (movies and dramas) and last but not least, I like to cook for myself and for my friends with whom I enjoy spending my evenings.

There are certainly some aspects of life in Portugal, positive or negative, that you have discovered just by living there. Can you tell us about them?

What I liked most about this country is the ease with which different situations are dealt with. Of course, those who are used to a hectic everyday life may not appreciate it, but with all the free time I have, I have no problem waiting a few extra minutes at the market or the post office! And I believe that respect and care for people, namely on the roads for pedestrians and cyclists, should be an example for the whole of Europe.

What are your thoughts on the cost of living in Portugal in 2022?

In the Algarve, the cost of living has indeed gone up a notch. I understand that current rent prices have very rarely been increased, and if they have, it's only a few dozen euros. There are also the prices of restaurants, especially the more prominent ones, and real estate costs, which, in my opinion, is a huge speculative bubble. In addition, there are Russians who have recently immigrated and who buy on "paper". As for the rest, there is nothing comparable to the cost of living in Italy. Here, coffee still costs 70/80 cents, the cost of basic necessities rose slightly, and gasoline is still as expensive as last year. As far as electricity, water and gas are concerned, there is nothing like the bills I receive for my house in Italy, which is almost always empty! Having said that, if some people want to give up on the climate, the tranquility and finally on the well-being that tax breaks bring, let them do it... and basta!