Why Are People Leaving Portugal? 

Hello Rebecca, how are you doing?

Prices will not come down since so many RU-vidrs promote places where wealthy foreigners end up going and they then over spend since they think they are getting a bargain but could be getting a steal and that would help the less fortunate in the country and less fortunate who would love to move too but are out spent ❤

Totally agree with the tax on abandoned houses!!!

As a Portuguese who wants to move to a Nordic country, I believe I fit perfectly to comment here, and please bare in mind that I am in no way criticizing your answer, this is just my perspective. Portugal is becoming unaffordable for Portuguese people, simply because salaries are not following rent, either by greed or market. The way I see it, you either live with somebody else or have an amazing salary, or a remote and lower salary but living in the interior. It is almost impossible for you to be fresh out of university and be able to afford a flat because even though your salary might be enough for rent, you have bills and food. The only people I know that are able to afford to be living alone, are people who already have a career established and are earning above average to be able to afford rent and the other essential things we need. With this hybrid regime we have for work at the moment ( not even counting professions that really require for you to be at your workplace ) you could move to a cheaper location but then most likely you would need a mean of transportation, most likely a car.. and then you would have more expenses. Of course the grass is not greener on the other side, and I know what it is like to live abroad as I am moving back to Portugal later in the year ( due to personal reasons at the company/country I am currently living in ), but even though I have a house to stay at which I dont have to pay rent, I am not planning on staying for long, because cost of living is through the roof at the moment. The reason I am planning on moving to a Nordic country is simply because that is something I have always wanted to try. I got some offers years back but they were offered at the wrong time. I have reliable people living now in Norway and Iceland that inform me what is really like to live there ( as a foreigner ) and from their perspective and market research, it is definitely a better move for me there. What I gathered from all my friends that live abroad when i speak to them, including the ones living in the Nordic countries, is that they will definitely not be back. ( I believe they are trying something at the moment related to the abandoned houses/flats, but I cannot guarantee that )

@@agostinhofmmatos Oh don't worry, I understand completely. And you are right, housing is unaffordable for young people. The problem that most people fail to understand, is that it's the exact same complaint in every other European country. Go on any UK forum or social media account and you'll see literally the exact same complaints as I see on Portugese forum or social meida accounts ... And the same in Belgium too, where I've also lived for decades and was looking into buying a house myself. So I know from first hand experience how much less you get for the same money in Belgium than you would in Portugal. In Belgium I would have to pay 250.000 for a complete dump with a tiny back yard, and it would need 50-100k in renovation work, so a seperate loan on top of a mortgage, which is already unaffordable. In Portugal, you can find a very nice starting house for 150.000 that might need 50.000 renovation work, and also much less regulatory requirements and taxes. Not to mention huuuuge plots of land! I'm almost 40 now but for years I was considering getting a roommate in Belgium too, just because even with a decent wage, I couldn't afford a proper downpayment. I see the same complaints in Portugal. I work remotely now and I'm only just starting so pay is lower, but I know I couldn't afford to live in a Nordic country, or I'd have to work myself to death to do so. Also I don't think their societies would be a good fit for me. I prefer southern mentality. (even with the downsides) But it also depends where you are in life. I do believe that it was a good move for me to stay and work in Belgium for so many years until I was in the right place financially and mentally to move South, and I also firmly believe a lot of Portugese people will realize the same think eventually. Northern Europe isn't heading to a good place and I don't think a lot of Portugese people understand that, because they don't have the same problems. To many of us, if the only issue was housing, it would really suck but still be bearable. If you have high house prices on top of many other issues, then it becomes unbearable. But I hope it works out for you! Perhaps those countries are a better fit. Good luck!

Pity they dont apply it to their own cuisine.

We here in Kerala, India call Portuguese "parankikal"which literally means pepper people.

...we do.​@@almira565

🧢🧢

That sounds as if the English way to live is the best...I have holidayed in Australia, SA, UK (and 42 other countries) and believe me, it isn't. I also lived in the USA for 40 years where I moved to as a young teenager. I finally came back home to Portugal and wish I had done it sooner. Life in Portugal is safe, wonderful and beautiful. Many people may have difficulties, but boy...I sure saw tons of such in Sydney and Capetown to mention a few. Leiria now is a totally modern city with a very old history. I love it and it's a quite popular place nowadays.

@@Alfablue227 In my opinion, Portugal has one of the best qualities of life, thanks to its being populated by such great people but also because of the climate overall, the level of safety and the natural and man-made beauty. And it's a rich country by most standards, with real average consumption per capita not much below the European average. What other country is even in the same league? Maybe Croatia.

@@patricksweeney5308 Right on.Totally agree and tks so much for your kind words. We certainly are not perfect and still have much to accomplish but we sure try.

I moved from Dublin Ireland to a village near Leiria. If you have a fairly decent salary (>1.5k ) and no rent or mortgage, this is the best place to live. Especially for families with children. Leiria has grown on me to be honest. There so much to do and honestly in terms of shopping, eating out it beats Dublin hands down. Not to mention the climate which is one of the best in Europe.

@@RobIn-ky4uz For sure, this place is really quite nice despite its money woes. I was born and grew up in Lisbon, and I had the best childhood. To grow up here Is a privilege to most. There is always something going on, the weather is sunny and lovely for 90% of the time, it is SAFE, travel is easy, food is good... honestly, two working even on a minimum salary can make it quite well, so I don't quite get why someone wouldn't snap up the chance to live here. Maybe they can't...God knows it took me 40 years to return having left as barely turned 13 year old, and to each it's own, but having travelled all over the world, all I can say is that I have seen so much worse. Life is not just about money in the bank, capitalism, and manicured infrastructures. I love Eire, it's so beautiful, but so cold, rainy, dark and expensive!! So thanks for choosing us. May you continue to be healthy and safe in Portugal!

Same here -we are from Germany and had planned to retire in Portugal but they changed it (I think they don’t want only older people there ) investors in big style is what they want BUT the countryside is mostly empty!!oh well we will keep looking were we will go !

⁠@@testerintester864the countryside is almost empty? I am from the north of Portugal and can assure you it’s anything but empty, besides being beautiful!

trie to rent a flat in Parague for example. Don't speaking of London, Paris or Barcelona.

True in the U.S. investors buy 5-6 rentals, driving up prices every 12 months. Im moving to southern Portugal for a year. Where are legitimate yearly rentals listed ?

Hi. I don't live there, but I was in the process of moving there. But the...feelings I was getting was that the sentiment was changing. Anyway I did lots of research, had an immigration lawyer, real estate person etc., So there is drain on the youth. The young people are doing (at least) 2 things; moving from more rural areas to larger city areas. And they're leaving the country! They're going everywhere else in Europe. So it's pulling the workforce/and consumer base/tax base. The country does have a substantial tourism base and immigration base of funding--but my feeling is that those funds keep the country afloat, but it's not what's needed for major property restoration and maintenance. Next, abandoned properties in the rural areas are super high. Entire villages. And it's high in the cities also, but with wages being low but development costs being high-it's a vicious circle. The only people who can really do those renovations are the expats coming in--which they were doing. But, then those rehabbed properties have high rent, which the locals can't afford (see, the low incomes referenced earlier). So, it's my opinion there are multiple vicious circles. They also killed the "Golden Visas" which both contributed to renovated properties, but also high rent. But the bulk of immigrants were not the Americans or British--it's actually the Chinese, Indians, and Brazilians. Even though the Algarve has a really large Brit community/tourism numbers. I have one other opinion, but it's regarding the UK. I've watched channels like "turd town" and others where they show many, many towns and villages going bankrupt. And tons of people on food assistance and boarded up main streets. I think this guy @Tom_Nicholas just did a video on it. I don't point this out to say "your country is just as bad," but to say economies/youth movement/jobs have these sort of strange effects that are hard to predict or reverse. I'm in the US and LEAVING, because there's so many different KINDS of problems.

@BobKnight-mm2ze Hi Bob, thanks for that detailed explanation. It really makes sense now and you have highlighted what is probably a global problem. It is true that in Cornwall in the UK there are so many second homes and holiday lets and the locals can't afford the rents. Also the difference in property prices between north and south is massive. What it really boils down to is the growing gap between rich and poor and young people seeking a better life in the cities which seems to be happening everywhere. I can't afford to buy a property here and may end up moving to Nigeria. But that's another story! All the best with your endeavours!

@@geogoringHaha, trust me, I'll be traveling to that area too as I look for the place where I plant myself. The plan is "up and down" Europe/Africa for a few years. But I think you're probably right; the world is moving in a sort of Feast or Famine direction. I think it's a lot of factors, but this transition from sort of industrial age society to a sort of snowballing techno/information thing. Long story short; I think or tech is outpacing are ability as a society to adjust at the same pace is maybe at the core of it. And money. Everything comes back to money. Sigh...

@BobKnight-mm2ze Yes that is how the world is going. I think some people want us to believe it's all about money but actually that's a lie. I try to see limitations positively in that they can channel us in the direction we need to go, rather than what satisfies our desires which can be harmful to us. So all is good, brother!

Oxford and Aberdeen are small towns in your books then...right

It can be bad for people who only make a minimum wage and can’t afford now the house they used to afford before so many wealth foreigners came.

Algarve is a nightmare

Totally correct re the Algarve, this is true

Very interesting video, thank you very much.

​@@JuanMoreno-wo5ybforeigners are not the cause but the result. Blame your politicians.

High quality video thank u

Sorry, but no, not like this. Portugal is a beautiful country, but many ruins. Not a huge problem, but it's a fact.

The problem in portugal isnt crime is that portugese dont have kids, Portugal is very corrupt in its government, portugal has very low wages and many jobs are filled by illegal migrants and the law isnt enforced and portugese have been migeating for 200 years as portugal is one of europes poorest nations due to this incompetence of government.. They dont have enough babies but they all want to leave. In the past thry had many babies to balance the loss

My other home the Philippines.

He means the whole Metropolitan Area including Lisbon District, most of Setubal District and a bit of Santarém's

​@@noctusowl yes. Lisbon itself has about 500K

The metropolitan area (( the lisboa)) Had 2871173 habitants censo 2021

Check housing prices in Amsterdam for comparison...

"Spoiled" the portuguese? So they gave they lots of money and gifts?

You should visit Britain - we are being invaded on a daily basis by thousands of illegal immigrants. Our border control is non-existent. We are an overcrowded group of islands to start with without all these economic migrants and illegal asylum seekers wanting to live here! They have spoiled our once Great Britain.

Plot twist, the video was filmed in Brazil due to budget constraints

Terracotta tiles

An air-plane? Anyway. If the Earth is not a globe or a ball. Then what is the moon and what is the sun? Are they discs? The explanation of sun planets and moons, circling around each other, and keeping each other in balance, makes sense and seems logical. (not that i am 100% sure of that, i cannot check it). But it seems plausible. If the earth is a stationary disc or plate. How does all the other stuff stay in place (or move across the sky)? The "solar system" with moving planets and (our) moon, also explains summer and winter. And the year (12 months). And tons of other stuff.

Nonsense. The Earth is wedge-shaped, like a nice piece of Roquefort.

All of you have it wrong. My former neighbor showed me the light. As he explained it to me the earth is actually flat but also hollow and filled with lizard people. Honest. I wouldn't lie.

The earth isn't real. You're only dreaming it 😂

The surveying technique called triangulation demonstrates that the world is round.Who invented it,and when?

Agreed. Much astronomy is over 1000 years old. Simple observation on land of two people walking away from each other until they cannot see each other, repeated over any section of land. Both conclude that the only answer is that the world is round.

True but It was the church that demanded that people accept the bible version of a flat earth and that the earth was the centre not the sun.

Very true actually, i think people dont consider this factor. The american fibancial crisis tool 1/2 of the gdp of many nations in that time. Interestingly the us gdp grew rapidly although thry were most effected (if you look into it you well know is because thry have no econony infact they make revenue from international trade in us dollars which they stimulate allowing greater production and issuing more for free to large players on their domestic market) Spain and Portugal got totally crushed by this crisis and portugal has never recouvered. Other nations like kazakhstan and russia had higher gdps in 2008 than now. Australia lost 1/3 of their gdp but didnt exprience any recession as their government stripped industrury and ramped up foreign investmen in that time devaluing their currency by - 30-40%. However spain and portugal couldnt do this.. They are tied to the euro

Also, he sailed from Sevilla, not from Portugal as the video mentions

Hello beautiful, how are you doing today?

He's brazilian. 😂😂

We understand. That is what is important.