The best small towns to live in Portugal offer you the diversity of landscapes and culture. Here is a guidebook about the best small towns to live in Portugal.
Submerging yourself in multicultural waters is a great idea after retirement. But that’s not all you need to live the rest of your life in peace and calm. Whether you are relocating for a job after retirement or for a family, you need a place with a lot to offer.
Best Small Towns to Live in Portugal
Have you been looking for the best small towns to live in Portugal after you retire? Well, you are in the right place to be. Here, we will list down the best small towns to live in Portugal and everything you need to know about these towns. Let us take you through different towns in Portugal which might turn out to be the best place for you to live in. Keep reading and find yourself a place that matches your aesthetics.
Tavira
Tavira has been one of the best small towns in Portugal, and it has caught the eye of both tourists and digital nomads. This town is located on the south coast of Portugal in the Algarve and is known to be the best city in the Algarve, which is more than just a saying!
Tavira will charm you with its soothing beaches, romantic bridges, and casual cafes.
The town that survives on fishing is a medley of two of the Mediterranean staples: golden beaches and vintage Moorish architecture. The cobbled labyrinth of streets is floored with traditional tiles. Life flows here as smoothly as the Gilao River.
To the south of this picturesque town are waterways and mudflats of Parque Natural Da Ria Formosa, after which you step into the spectacular beaches of Ilha de Tavira. The geography of Tavira is surrounded by the best small towns to live in Portugal, including the Olhao, Vila Real de Santo Antonio, and cabanas.
If you are a golf lover, there is no better place other than Tavira for you! It has world-class golf courses and untouched countryside. Algarve has 39 golf courses, while Tavira hosts six out of them, which is an ample amount for golf lovers to book their tickets to Tavira for their vacation tour.
Furthermore, if you want a quieter and steady life to live in some corner of the Earth, far from the traffic roars and the city’s pace, you should go nowhere else. Tavira is your place to be. With its mature aura and unhurried vibes, you can rest and have the peace of mind that you missed as a corporate employee throughout your life.
Also, the city is considered to be a safe place to live in, like the other parts of Algarve. It is known for its friendly and welcoming culture. However, you must take general precautions as you would in any part of the world.
Travira, one of the best small towns to live in Portugal also offers you some tax benefits. It is a pretty affordable place to relocate to, and with the non-habitual tax regime, the expats can benefit even more.
In addition to this, Portugal’s healthcare system is one of the best in the world. You will find that the healthcare settings in Travira are similar to the ones found in Canada and the UK. Likewise, if you have a student in your family, Travira is still a good choice to relocate because it offers an ample amount of educational institutes.
Vila do Conde
Vila do Conde is one of the best small towns to live in Portugal; it is located in the heart of Douro port and is a town of Pinhao. There are almost 80,000 people, as indicated by the 2021 Census. This place is a hub of wine production and is a blend of modern boulevards, cafes, gardens, and a historical or traditional old city that retains its vintage charm within the narrow streets, historical churches, and squares void of traffic.
If you are about to relocate to one of the best small towns to live in Portugal which is Vila do Conde, you should know the expanses you are about to face. Here is the breakdown of general expenses an expat might have to pay while living in one of the best small towns to live in Portugal:
| Cost of living | One person | Family of 4 |
| Total with rent | $886 | $2390 |
| Without rent | $453 | $1453 |
| Rent & Utilities | $433 | $937 |
| Food | $290 | $773 |
| Transport | $52.5 | $146 |
| Monthly Salary After Tax | $1260 | |
However, the quality of life in Vila do Conde is 65%. In addition to this, the average cost of living in this small town of Portugal is $886, which makes Vila do Conde rank in the top 36% of the cheap countries in the world. Likewise, if you want a peek into the grocery expenses as an expat in Vila do Conde, here is a glimpse:
| Milk, 1 L or 1 qt | $0.75 |
| Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb | $0.82 |
| Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $1.29 |
| Eggs, x12 | $2.09 |
| Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $7.03 |
| Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $8.47 |
| Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $11.8 |
| Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $1.85 |
| Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $1.31 |
| Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $1.71 |
| Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $1.36 |
| Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $1.34 |
| Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $0.75 |
| Water, 1 L or 1 qt | $0.15 |
| Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz | $2.19 |
| Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle | $3.74 |
| Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz | $0.83 |
| Cigarette pack | $5.35 |
| Cold medicine, one week | $6.53 |
| Hair Shampoo | $5.1 |
| Toilet paper, four rolls | $2.1 |
| Toothpaste, one tube | $2.4 |
One of the many advantages of living in Vila do Conde, is that you can participate in events like the International Short Film Festival, Gastronomy Fairs, Agricultural Activities Fair, National Crafts Fair, and much more.
Portimao
One of the best small towns to live in Portugal is Portimao, western Algarve’s largest city. Once widely known as the city of fishing, Portimao has now gained its reputation as a mecca of shopping and, needless to mention, tourism.
With its 65,000 population, most people pass the city en route to its splendor beaches while others reap the daily benefits of living in Portimao. Historically, Portimao was known for fishing owing to the coastal area, but with its downfall, the fishing industry has been taken over by the tourism industry.
Relocating to one of the best small towns to live in Portugal can be the best retirement gift one can ever have. With its serene and soothing landscape, this city offers all the facilities you need to live a quality life.
It has shopping malls, medical and dental clinics, and private and public academic institutions that won’t cut off your city lifestyle even when you are living a low-laid life. The city will reflect its history through its traditional, Portuguese-styled boulevards, vintage cafes, and old churches.
In addition to this, one of the best small towns to live in Portugal; Portimao, has a population that frequently speaks English. This implies, you won’t have to spend a huge junk of your retirement time learning the local language. Instead, you can relish Portimao’s benefits without worrying about the language courses.
To add on, the city is well-connected with the outer world despite its uncrowded streets and quiet parks. You can easily get public transport, including buses and trains, both for inter-city travel and within-the-city travel. Hence, if you have a job in a nearby city, you can commute to your office daily using the city’s public transport.
Likewise, the Faro International Airport is just a 45-minute drive from the center of Portimao, which makes it easier for you to see off and pick up your guests from the airport.
Speaking of the living cost in Portimao, it is the best choice even for people who have a budget to manage. For instance, in Portimao, you will only need €2,433 to live a lifestyle that will need as much money as €6,132 in London.
A couple with an average monthly budget of $2500 can live a quality life in the area. You can buy yourself private health insurance, which is quite affordable and starts from $50 per month for a person. Furthermore, you can buy a two-bedroom apartment which is fully furnished and is located in the heart of the city for $660 per month.
Águeda
Agueda, the umbrella city, is a two-hour drive north to Lisbo in the Aveiro district. Although most of the tourists prefer neighboring Aveiro, which is also termed the Venice of Portugal, Agueda still holds a special place in many hearts.
Agueda is a city of umbrellas because the town turns into a Kaleidoscope every summer with more than 3000 umbrellas suspended in the streets, creating an eye-catching, colorful canopy. Agueda is a city that won’t serve you with crafty streets but is a place where you can live a quality life. You can shop from local shops and nearby grocery stores.
Furthermore, there are plentiful restaurants, hospitals, and clinics. You can buy a two-room apartment worth $600 in the city center. Furthermore, you won’t have to learn the local language because the residents are pretty much capable of understanding the English language.
Vila Real de Santo Antonio,
One of the best small towns to live in Portugal, lies on the eastern tip of the Algarve region, which is Vila Real de Santo Antonio. In addition to its artistic charm, the Vila Real de Santo Antonio is an affordable place to be in Portugal, with soothing beaches, shopping, and restaurants within walking distance. You can get a two-bedroom apartment at a price of $788.
You can also get access to large grocery stores, hospitals, and dental clinics in this small town in Portugal. Living in one of the best small towns to live in Portugal, you will be connected to the rest of the geography as well and yet enjoy the crowdless town.
All in all, Vila Real de Santo Antonio is one of the best small towns to live in Portugal and is affordable to relocate to. You can benefit from its diverse landscape and affordable living style, along with its calm air. Hence, if you are looking for a historical city and yet want a metropolitan lifestyle, places like Portimao, Vila do Conde and Tavira are the best choices to go with.
Also, read about, 14 Best Places to go in Portugal for Couples>>
