Kalie is from The United States. She grew up in Florida. Her family traveled a lot when she was young which fueled her love for travel.
Tell us about yourself
While in college, I met my now husband who also enjoys traveling. We decided to move abroad in 2009 and we’ve been abroad ever since. We currently live in Portugal and own a media content creation company called ExpatsEverywhere which helps others do what we do. Portugal is our fifth country we’ve lived in outside of The US.
Moving to Porto
When and why did you move to Porto?
We moved to Porto in October of 2020. We used to live in Madrid and would visit Porto from there. We loved the city and knew we would want to live here one day. It’s a city but it’s not overwhelming in size. It has great amenities. It has a river and is close to the beach. It’s safe and the people are extremely friendly. It’s a wonderful place to live!
What surprised you about life there when you first arrived?
Since we had visited before, nothing really surprised us. We had also lived in many other places so we understood the challenges of moving and settling in a new place. A lot of people say the bureaucracy is difficult, which I definitely agree with. Patience is key here.
How to find a job in Porto?
We moved here with a remote job so we work from home. Our company is registered in The US.
What did you bring with you?
We just brought suitcases. Some people choose to ship things but we try to move light and buy as part of our set up process. At the time, we moved with our 9 month old daughter and teacup Yorkie. So we had all the baby gear as well but we just did suitcases as checked bags on the plane.
How did you find an apartment in Porto?
Housing in Porto right now is a bit like the wild west. There’s a shortage of long term rentals which is causing housing prices to be high. There are way too many short term rentals but those aren’t a good option for long term living because they are set up for vacations so for example, kitchens are small and not very functional. idealista.pt is a common website to use to find housing but tread lightly because there’s all sorts of things out there. We tend to recommend a renter’s agent right now to ensure you get yourself into a good situation. Prices will vary by size and location.
How did you get set up? (phone plan, bank ..)
The great thing is the Portuguese people are very proficient in English so this is helpful when getting things set up. However, those in the utilities industry seem to have the worst English haha. So for something like phone and internet, you can walk into a store like Vodafone and speak English. They help you get set up. You can choose single services or bundles. If you go to the city water company, that’s where knowing some Portuguese would be super helpful. It really depends on who you get and the day you get them on. Some people prefer to hire someone like “a fixer” to assist them with these things. That helps with the language barrier. It’s totally doable to do it on your own but like I said before, patience is key.
Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance?
Our visa had required medical insurance so we had an international plan when we first arrived. After finalizing our residency, we were able to get into the public system which we have access to. We also were able to top up with private insurance to access the private hospitals and clinics. The process isn’t hard but can be time consuming.
Living in Porto
Do you need to speak Portuguese to live in Porto?
No, but it will be helpful to know at least some. You can get by without it but it will help in many situations and of course they appreciate you trying.
What are your favorite things to do in Porto specifically?
Drinking wine with friends. I love the cafe culture in Porto. It’s common to grab a coffee or wine and just hang out.
When’s the best moment to visit Porto?
The summers can get busy with tourism so the shoulder seasons are nice because the weather is good but it’s not too busy. April for the spring and October for the fall. If you do come in the summer, it’s not too hot, there will just be a lot of people. The weather is very pleasant in the summers. In the winter, you will catch rain for sure. It’s not awful but it does make walking around the city not as nice.
Where is the best area to live in Porto?
This is all about personal preference! Some people like flat but central so that would be Marques. The business district is more modern but not as connected. However, there are nice things to do there. That’s Boavista. Bonfim is also central but more local. It’s easy to get into the hustle and bustle of things but also be just outside of it so you can live comfortably. There are many more options for neighborhoods too. The metro spans quite far so if you’re looking for more space, you can go into the greater Porto area and some nearby municipalities as well. We actually did a neighborhood playlist for Porto here!
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Porto?
It really depends on your lifestyle. Right now rent is high so as a single, you want to budget around €1000 for rent. After that, the cost of living is quite low. A lot will depend on your social life. It could be done with €1500 but more enjoyable with €2000.
Do you feel safe?
Yes absolutely! Porto is very safe. It’s one of the great things about living here. I can live in a city and still be able to enjoy it while feeling safe.
What are your favorite restaurants and bars in Porto?
For typical Portuguese, O Buraco is a great place. The food is good, the staff is friendly, and the prices are very affordable. There are plenty of churrascarias around the city as well for those who like meat. Pedro dos Frangos is good for chicken among other dishes. For fish lovers, there are a lot of great options for fresh sardines out in Matosinhos. I personally love the francesinha but be hungry when you try it! Meat is common here but more vegetarian-friendly options and restaurants are popping up. That along with ethnic cuisine. As for bars, there are plenty of swanky bars. You have the option of a whiskey bar, craft beer places, etc but I really enjoy going to a little hole in the wall cafe for an inexpensive glass of wine.
Can you tell us something else about Porto that we might not know?
-Portugal is known for azulejos and tiles. Many homes and buildings in Porto have tiles. Some are decorative and others are a plain color. You find more tiles on buildings in the north to help with the rain. So not only are they pretty but they help whisk away the rain.
-Most people don’t know about vinho verde or green wine. It’s a specific vine that grows and is cultivated in a region near Porto. It’s not actually green though. It’s white but young and has varying levels of bubbles.
-Most people don’t know about vinho verde or green wine. It’s a specific vine that grows and is cultivated in a region near Porto. It’s not actually green though. It’s white but young and has varying levels of bubbles.
How can we learn about Porto or Portugal?
I think there’s a lot of content out there on the internet these days from both Portuguese and expats. So if you want to check out Porto and Portugal, I would turn to YouTube. We put out lots of content about Portugal on our channel, ExpatsEverywhere.
What do you know about Portuguese music?
Portugal is famous for fado. It’s beautiful and there are plenty of shows. For modern music, expect to be out late because some places for music and concerts don’t open until midnight or later.
Final Thoughts
Was it easy making friends and meeting people in Porto?
There are a lot of events in Porto which makes it easy to meet people. We also host open meet ups for others to grow their communities. It’s generally easier to meet expats first because when you move to a new place, you look to meet people. So expats are seeking it out. The Portuguese tend to already have their friend groups so it’s not that they are unfriendly, but they aren’t looking. It’s not impossible though. Plenty of Portuguese join these different events so you can meet and make Portuguese friends.
Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.
We know people who cycle, paint, sail, etc. So there are activities for everything. We like the social aspect of Porto so we enjoy going out to eat and drink with friends.
What does the future of Porto look like?
Growth for sure. You look at the skyline and you see many cranes. There’s a lot of construction going on to make the city better. We will see a good mix of traditional and modern which is exciting.
What should people consider before deciding to move to Porto?
Porto is not for everyone. Some people describe it as gritty. The architecture isn’t light and white like you might find in Lisbon. It tends to be gray which fits with the winter weather. It will get cool (not overly cold) and rainy but you do see the sun. For those wanting hot weather, it’s not for you.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? ARE YOU WORKING ON ANYTHING PARTICULAR?
We have moved around a lot the past 15 years. Our longest stay was in Singapore for 4 years. We will definitely be in Porto longer than that. How long? I’m not sure but we have bought a property and are renovating so I wouldn’t say we are putting down roots but we don’t have any plans to move any time soon. We love Porto and are excited to see it grow. We want to continue to showcase Portugal through our YouTube channel, ExpatsEverywhere and our podcast ExpatsEverywhere Presents: Let’s Move to Portugal. We give advice and help those interested in Portugal so if anyone wants to know more, feel free to email me at info@expatseverywhere.com
Thank you so so much Kalie for sharing your life in Porto with us! I have especially loved the lesson on green wine haha. All the best for your renovation and your ExpatsEverywhere projects!
