Portugal: the Best Place for Remote Workers and Digital Nomads

With exceptional quality of life, welcoming VISA policies and a bustling expat scene, Portugal has ranked the best place to work remotely in the world.

Photo by Adam Hornyak on Unsplash

It’s official: Portugal is the best country in the world for remote workers. New rankings place the sunny beach-side nation at the top of entrepreneurs, tech workers and managers' dream destination Wishlist. This is why.

Portugal: the best place to work remotely in the world

Portugal has been ranked the best place in the world to travel and work remotely in 2022, according to Momondo's Travel and Work index. Based on 22 factors, the study highlights local prices, social life, health and safety, remote working conditions, travel cost and weather. The folks over at Kayak came to the same conclusion. In a recent ranking across 111 countries, Portugal scored a perfect 100/100 score, beating Spain, Germany, Japan and even Mauritius to the top spot. Kayak cited the nation’s political stability, excellent weather, and the high percentage of English-speaking locals.

PORTUGAL IS THE BEST PLACE TO WORK REMOTELY - Source: Kayak

So what is it about Portugal exactly that makes it such a top destination?

What is it about Portugal for remote workers?

Portugal is not new to the remote work scene. The digital nomad infrastructure is well established and welcomes a wide international community of expats and remote workers who’ve been living the nomad life for years. Reasonable living in most cities won't run more than $2,000 a month including rent, it is deemed safe for women and LGBTQ+, and has high marks for racial tolerance and friendliness to foreigners.

Great weather, intense social life, low crime rates and affordable cost of living make it an extraordinary place. That means remote workers can get work done during the day and immerse themselves in Portuguese culture, cuisine, and history on evenings and weekends.

It does not hurt that the Portuguese Government invested heavily in attracting foreign workers, either by provisioning digital and tech visas or simplifying tax legislation. The Portuguese government has determined a 10-year tax break on most foreign-sourced income, including dividend, interest, rental and pension income, as well as real estate capital gains, under the so-called Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax status, which is granted to new residents. 

Regulators have also devised a Tech Visa, a fast-track program created by the Portuguese Government that allows companies based in Portugal to access a highly qualified pool of workers from outside the European Union. Any tech company can partake, as long as they are inserted into the global market, with headquarters or permanent establishment in Portugal.

As a result, the Portuguese Startup Ecosystem boomed. In recent years, highly qualified talent has been flooding in, as have global companies, from Google to Volkswagen. Portugal’s exceptional quality of life and the ease of settling in have won over tech entrepreneurs from around the globe. To know more about Portugal as a Tech Destination, download our ebook here. 

Best places to work remotely in Portugal

From bustling cities such as Lisbon and Porto, to surf hotspots and sandy paradises, there is something in Portugal for everyone. These are some of the best destinations to consider for remote work.

LISBON, FOR SOPHISTICATES AND HIPPIES ALIKE

"Lisbon was a serendipitous discovery”, “Lisbon is really a cool city” or “compared to California, I found my team here to be extremely engaged and motivated” were just some takeaways we got from recent interviews with leading CEOs and investors in tech. What is it about this sprawling, charismatic city?  

Photo by André Lergier on Unsplash

Spread across seven hills on the seaside, Lisbon offers a little something for everyone. Regardless of whether you’d like to live in a fashionable & modern residential neighbourhood such as Príncipe Real, or one with a soul of its own and extensive history, like Graça, Lisbon has a way of making people feel at home. With the average rental price for a furnished apartment being around €1000, the cost of renting in Lisbon is average for a European capital. 

Home to the Web summit, the world’s largest tech event, Lisbon boosts the largest entrepreneurial scene in the country, with an easy-going attitude that is a signifier for the entire country. With year-round events, plenty of expat organisations and groups, a tolerant population of diverse backgrounds, and exquisite cuisine, Lisbon is recurrently considered a leading remote work destination. It is also close to Ericeira, a seaside town known for its expat scene, relaxed vices, cuisine, impressive beaches and world-renowned surf spots. 

PORTO, A RELAXED ATMOSPHERE IN A VIBRANT CULTURAL SCENE

The second-largest city in Portugal, Porto, is home to welcoming people and a relaxed atmosphere. Its region, Porto and North, has been traditionally the main driver of the country’s economy, as well as an industrial and technological hub where the nation itself was born, in the city of Guimarães, back in the 12th century. 

Photo by Square Lab on Unsplash

Porto is becoming one of the main hubs of startups in Europe, and every year technology companies from all over the world choose the region to base their headquarters or expand their operations. In fact, just like Lisbon, it has different co-working spaces with excellent facilities – and the city’s infrastructure is continuously growing. 

Somewhat cheaper than the capital, Porto is a creative hub with stunning tiled buildings and neighbourhoods lined with art shops and galleries. Porto is also home to some of the most disruptive tech companies in the world: from unicorns Farfetch and Sword Health, to startups revolutionising the manufacturing and fashion industry such as Platforme. 

If you value a peaceful life by the coast, while eating rich food and being surrounded by warm people and an innovative professional scene, the birthplace of Porto wine is a top choice for remote work. 

MADEIRA, A BEAUTIFUL SETTING FOR A REMOTE WORK EXPERIENCE

The beautiful islands of Madeira are on route to becoming an impressive hub for digital nomads. Removed from the hustle of big cities, its serene ambience appeals to remote workers looking for access to the ocean, as well as hiking trails. Not only is the area one of the most picturesque locations in the world, but it also boasts blazing-fast Wi-Fi speeds. 

Aside from Funchal, the capital city, there are plenty of other options available to digital nomads. The islands have explicitly been set up to receive remote workers and boost plenty of coworking locations and accommodations for every type of person. In fact, Madeira is home to the very first Digital Nomad Village in Ponta do Sol: the project, developed by the Regional Government of Madeira together with Startup Madeira, attract digital nomads from all over the world - and it’s working wonders! 

ALGARVE, MUCH MORE THAN A TOURIST DESTINATION

The Algarve is known for its sunny weather, great food, and popularity with tourists. Most people don’t realise that it contains several ideal places for remote work. It is the perfect setting for remote workers looking for year-round pleasant weather, stunning ocean views, and great restaurants and cafes.

English is widely spoken among the local population, and towns like Tavira, Albufeira, Lagos, or Olhão are specifically set up to receive remote workers, with plenty of co-working spaces. The cost of living is surprisingly low, but the quality of life is very high. The area is also known for its golf courses, which are regarded as some of the best in Europe. And to top it off, Faro airport, Algarve’s capital, has standing connections to Europe’s capitals. 

With a great year-round climate, fantastic beaches, impressive food, high quality of life and low living costs, it is no wonder Portugal consistently ranks among the leading expat destinations. If you are considering starting fresh in this exciting and welcoming country, contact our team.