Moving to Portugal from Washington
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Washington to Portugal — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Washington to Portugal, you would find that Portugal is 28.5% cheaper than Washington. A $75,000 salary in Washington would need to be roughly €52,744 in Portugal to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lisbon averages 69°F vs 60°F in Olympia, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Washington to Portugal.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €52,744
To maintain the same standard of living in Portugal
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 28.7% less
Groceries
pay 36.3% less
Transportation
pay 2.2% more
Housing
pay 42.1% less
Childcare
pay 64.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 45.1% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Portugal cost about 32% less than cities in Washington.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Washington to Portugal, based on official data.
people moved from United States to Portugal · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to Portugal?
Top countries of origin for Portugal's foreign-born residents.
- 179,524
- 154,017
- 104,164
- 80,570
- 68,299
- 53,384
- · · ·
-
20.7,980
United States
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Washington to Portugal.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Portugal performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Washington performs better than Portugal across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Washington performs better than Portugal across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Portugal performs significantly better than Washington across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Olympia | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) | 61°/48°F (16°/9°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 65°/43°F (18°/6°C) | 71°/56°F (22°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/49°F (24°/10°C) | 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/36°F (11°/2°C) | 65°/53°F (18°/12°C) |
View all months
| Month | Olympia | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°/34°F (7.7°/0.9°C) | 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C) |
| Feb | 49°/33°F (9.6°/0.4°C) | 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C) |
| Mar | 54°/35°F (12.2°/1.7°C) | 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C) |
| Apr | 59°/38°F (14.9°/3.2°C) | 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C) |
| May | 65°/43°F (18.5°/6.2°C) | 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C) |
| Jun | 71°/48°F (21.4°/8.7°C) | 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C) |
| Jul | 77°/51°F (24.9°/10.4°C) | 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C) |
| Aug | 78°/51°F (25.4°/10.3°C) | 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C) |
| Sep | 72°/46°F (22.1°/7.8°C) | 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C) |
| Oct | 60°/40°F (15.7°/4.7°C) | 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C) |
| Nov | 50°/36°F (10.1°/2.4°C) | 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C) |
| Dec | 44°/33°F (6.8°/0.3°C) | 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Portugal. To live, work, or study long-term in Portugal, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Portugal's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Portugal
Visa Free
Portugal passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Portugal than Washington?
Yes — Portugal is on average about 20% cheaper than Washington. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Portugal?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €13,186 in Portugal on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Portugal?
Usually fine from major cities in Portugal. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Portugal compared to Washington?
Portugal performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Portugal compared to Washington?
The average high temperature in Lisbon is 69°F, compared to 60°F in Olympia. Lisbon receives around 29.6 in of rainfall per year, while Olympia gets 50.0 in.
What language do they speak in Portugal?
The official language in Portugal is Portuguese. In Washington, the official language is English.
