The Great Portuguese Migration
I have a friend who sold everything in 2023 and moved to Lisbon. I thought he was crazy. Now, three years later, he’s part of a massive wave. Portugal has become the number one destination for digital nomads, retirees, and expats. The numbers are staggering: the American population in Portugal grew by 45% in 2025 alone. I decided to spend a month there to see what the fuss was about.
Why Portugal?
The reasons are obvious once you visit. The cost of living is low—I rented a one-bedroom apartment in Lisbon’s Alfama district for €900 a month. The food is incredible: fresh seafood, pastel de nata, and wine that costs €3 a bottle. The weather is mild year-round. And the people are genuinely friendly.
But there’s a dark side. The influx of foreigners is driving up housing prices. Locals in Lisbon are being priced out of their neighborhoods. There’s a growing resentment toward expats. I talked to a Portuguese woman who told me, “We can’t afford to live in our own city anymore.” It’s a real problem.