No AC is a flat deal breaker.

Wow, what an eye opener. I thought that there are many more Americans in Portugal. I have been looking at some luxury apartments in Lisbon (because… dreaming is free) but I also see many affordable (for me) apartments in and around Lisbon. As a New Yorker I see a huge difference in the cost of living and housing, a tiny, shoe box size apartment in Manhattan will cost me millions. I believe that when we are ready to buy we will find the right place at the right price for us.

Thanks a lot, Joric! Much needed clarification on both the "droves of Americans" as well as the shills that write "articles" for the English language rags here – very misleading. I think looking at comparative costs most things are cheaper than the US, but not drastically, especially when you figure in taxes. The biggest surprise for most Americans is probably that even if the real estate is cheaper than where they came from, several key differences need to be either tolerated or paid for (like central heating/AC), so its not an easy apple-to-apples comparison. There are ways to enjoy cheaper cost of living within most budgets, but it requires compromises on area, space, amenities – and that part isn't obvious from these articles and expat forums.

Howdy Joric. I recently found your channel. Well done sir. Good info. I'm an American retired in Lisbon since early '21. Keep up the great work!

Thanks!

Thanks Joric. Always good but really enjoyed this one!

Another fine video, Joric. I am glad to have subscribed to your channel.

When I visited Lisbon just before COVID, I had previously assumed that the city was sort of like 1920s Paris in terms of its gigantic, inescapable American population. I also assumed that there would be a British expatriate on every street corner. Need I say that neither assumption proved to be justifiable?

Another great and informative video! Joric is right about million euros homes. We are interested and can afford condos in the 200’s, but not in Lisbon because it is too expensive for us.

"I don't know anybody that lives here that has that type of lifestyle": a) they don't mix b) they tend to be very discreet c) you're not in the right place (try Comporta, or some places around Cascais) d) some of the top real estate is sold in some obscure way that I haven't figured out 100% yet; when the properties appear online they are just selling the "leftovers".
Those nationality numbers that you read at the end are very misleading. Don't forget that we give away Portuguese nationality very fast. Those 200k Brazilians are just the ones that haven't yet completed the process. The real number of Brazilians living in Portugal is several times 200k, it's just that they now count as Portuguese (also Cape Verdians, Angolans, Ukrainians, Romanians, Moldovans, etc).

Numbers can be misleading. A lot of the Brazilians, Cape Verdeans, and Angolans are Portuguese citizens therefore they are not counted as foreigners. If you have acquired Portuguese citizenship, you are counted as Portuguese. This can influence the numbers reported.

It’s videos like this one that make me appreciate Joric’s common-sense and ‘boots-on-the-ground’ perspective. While I was aware US-citizens are low in numbers on the PT immigration front, I wasn’t aware of the so-called media that are a front for advertising. Where can I find that “BS meter” you mention? 😁 Thank you for bringing this important detail to my attention. Cheers.

Great video, Joric. You’re one of the few Americans in Portugal that is giving a realistic picture of what it’s like to live there. So many other on YouTube are being ridiculous with their portrayal. Anything for views I guess.

One if your top posts! Obrigada!

Thanks for yet another practical and informative video.

Thank you for this info.