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00:00Nestled on the Atlantic coast with its Mediterranean climate,
00:04the country of Portugal is too pretty to be left out of your travel bucket list.
00:08The charming country is raw and authentic with beautiful landscapes and scenic coastlines.
00:14The mountains and hills, the vineyards, the warm beaches, and the laid-back lifestyle
00:20make Portugal one of the best countries to visit.
00:23But recently, Portugal has seen a huge increase in immigrants,
00:27especially Californians, coming to make the country their home.
00:31Why Has Portugal Suddenly Become the New California?
00:35The world wondered what Portugal had that so many people were suddenly moving there,
00:39and not just us commoners either. Many celebrities, too, seemed to be escaping to Portugal.
00:45Madonna moved from London to Lisbon in 2017, a move that surprised many. Actress Scarlett
00:52Johansson bought a flat there, while German pilot Michael Fassbender bought a house with a
00:57river view. Actor John Malkovich went the same way and was so impressed that he even posted a
01:03video on the internet describing the setting. A feast for the eyes, the architecture and the
01:08variety of houses, the colors, the landscape, great culture, great people, great food.
01:16The list of celebrities goes on and on. Today, Portugal has a diverse community of expats from
01:22all over the world. Brazil, France, Ukraine, Britain, Africa, Italy, and very recently,
01:29California. The British, Brazilians, French, Italians, and the Chinese had known of this
01:35paradise for a long time, but the Americans were very recently introduced to it and seem to have
01:41fallen in love with it. The Link Between California and Portugal
01:48The 2007-2008 global financial crisis saw a lot of Portuguese professionals losing their jobs.
01:55Portugal ended up as one of Europe's poorest nations in the disaster. The Lisbon government
02:00basically went into action mode by drafting immigration legal guidelines to aggressively
02:05court overseas professionals. They talked to the rich people, who could buy residency by
02:10purchasing land in the country, and to remote workers and digital nomads who could get
02:15citizenship here by earning abroad and spending it here. Ricardo Marveo of Beta iLisbon, along
02:21with his co-founders, traveled around the world to look at what was happening everywhere else
02:26and think about what could work in Lisbon. The first stop was California, where they visited
02:31Google, Facebook, Stanford, and IDEO. Marveo invited 10 California technologists to head
02:38a conference called Silicon Valley Comes to Lisbon, which became a catalyst for technological
02:43innovation in Portugal. This is how a bridge was built between California and Portugal,
02:49benefiting each other culturally and financially. According to authorities,
02:53foreigners have invested more than $6 billion in Portugal since 2012 just through property
03:00purchases. The vacationer and rental industries added more than $10 billion before the pandemic,
03:06accounting for 15% of Portugal's GDP. The California of Europe
03:13Fernanda Caprinha, a former development executive at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles
03:18and now founder and CEO of WeGlobal Studios, said to LA Magazine,
03:24They often joke that once upon a time Portugal and California were one and they split. The climate is
03:29the same, the plants are the same. It's pretty wild. And truly, Portugal does seem like California's
03:35twin. Without the wildfires and droughts and all the bad parts.
03:40Similar Weather and Geography
03:43Portugal has weather that is very similar to California. The cool Mediterranean climate
03:48that draws Americans to California is the same that is drawing Californians to Portugal.
03:54Portugal receives more hours of sunlight per year than California and even the winters are
03:59not as harsh. When it comes to geography too, Portugal has a lot of beautiful mountains and
04:05mesmerizing scenery, similar to California. Both countries also have lots of beaches.
04:12Similar Vibes The vibe of a place is also
04:15something that helps you make a connection with it. While the rural towns of Portugal might feel
04:20outdated, the cosmopolitan cities tell a totally different story. Cities like Lisbon and Porto in
04:27Portugal have diverse populations and urban cultures. They also have an active nightlife,
04:32which is very similar to California. The beaches of Portugal can be quite
04:37attractive to surfers everywhere. This is also an activity much enjoyed on the coast of California.
04:43People spend a lot of time on gorgeous beaches. Southern California and the Algarve Coast
04:51One thing extremely common between California and Portugal is the expansive coastlines that
04:56both the places have. The Algarve coast of Portugal has a coastline that is extremely
05:02similar to Southern California. Both the destinations have amazing beaches with pristine
05:07blue waters, a gentle breeze, and a pleasant climate. Both places are also surfing hotspots,
05:13attracting the best surfers from around the world. Golden Gate Bridge
05:19The Golden Gate Bridge of California may have a doppelganger. No, we're just kidding. But Lisbon
05:25in Portugal does have its own red bridge. This bridge, painted red, is suspended across the
05:31River Tagus and closely resembles the Golden Gate Bridge, if you look at it right.
05:38Why Are People Moving to Portugal? Immigration of people from the USA to
05:43Portugal cities of Lisbon and Porto increased by 33% in the year before the pandemic.
05:49Portugal gained even more popularity during the pandemic. It offers a feel of California,
05:55with its sunny beaches and laid-back attitude. The country is rooted in history with its
06:00architecture, cobbled streets, museums, and palaces. But while California and Portugal
06:06are similar in many ways, there is quite a difference when it comes to the cost of living
06:11and the quality of life. Cost of Living
06:15There is a huge difference in the cost of living between Portugal and California,
06:20and it's one of the major reasons why people relocate to Portugal.
06:24If you have lived in America and are used to the American prices,
06:28Portugal will seem very inexpensive. The cost of living is less than half of California's,
06:34and you can get good-quality wine almost cheaper than bottled water in the States.
06:39And yet, a lower cost of living doesn't mean a poor quality of life in Portugal.
06:45According to statistics, Lisbon has a cost-of-living index of 51.23, while in California,
06:51it's 79.71. This means that Lisbon is 28% cheaper than California. Regular expenditures such as
06:59groceries and rent can cost up to 92% and 86.7% higher respectively in California.
07:07It does, however, also depend on your lifestyle, in the way that cooking meals at home will save
07:12you quite a bit of money, but you won't get to experience the restaurant culture of Portugal,
07:17so you need to balance it carefully. Even in Portugal, in communities where expats reside,
07:23the cost of living is generally much higher than in other regions.
07:27Expats from the USA or richer European countries have better pay than local Portuguese residents,
07:33which means better purchasing power. This is why the local markets also adapt to the average
07:38spending capacity of the residents, effectively increasing the cost of living. Regions like
07:44Algarve or Lisbon are good examples of a higher cost of living as these places attract expats.
07:50So, if you want to live an inexpensive life, you need to move to towns and cities that are
07:55mostly local, such as Caldas da Rainha or Castelo Branco.
08:00Quality of Life Quality of life is an important
08:04factor to consider when you're looking for a place to call home.
08:07Your education, safety, and well-being are also important.
08:12Portugal and California are both good places to live when you look at the quality of life.
08:17Both places have good healthcare systems, good education, recreational facilities,
08:22and a temperate climate. However, Portugal is much better when it comes to safety.
08:28Portugal was ranked the fourth safest country in the world according to the 2021 Global Peace Index
08:34and the third safest in the previous years. Another factor to consider is fluency in English.
08:40Portugal is the seventh best at speaking English in the world,
08:43with English being the second language in the country.
08:47The taxes in Portugal are not the lowest, but they are much lower than in the USA.
08:52The rents are low and the food is cheaper.
08:55Broadband, too, is inexpensive and kind of omnipresent.
08:59It's also a tax haven for cryptocurrency investors.
09:03The Portuguese time zone is an hour closer to California and New York than the rest of Europe.
09:09Portugal has been ranked 17th on the 2021 FreeOp World Index of Healthcare Innovation.
09:15It's also become a very tech-savvy country and is the host of the Web Summit,
09:19the largest annual technology conference since 2016.
09:23Portugal has attracted tech enthusiasts, creative entrepreneurs, and digital nomads.
09:29Since COVID-19 brought about the trend of remote working,
09:32the Portuguese island of Madeira took it a step further by creating a digital nomad village
09:38project. Nicknamed Pearl of the Atlantic, the volcanic island has been awarded Europe's
09:43leading island destination at the World Travel Awards. The archipelago is exotic,
09:48colorful, and filled with sunshine throughout the year.
09:52Portugal also offers co-working spaces for digital nomads all over the world.
09:57There are flexible spaces in Lisbon for group work and collaborative workshops.
10:01Designers can find companies in creative neighborhoods that help them exchange ideas.
10:06Todos is a large-scale creative facility in Lisbon with over 62 independent creatives under
10:12one roof, office services, galleries and event areas, and large spaces for filming.
10:18These spaces are available for daily rent. Porto is amazing for designers and artists,
10:24a hip city that blends the modern and the traditional.
10:28With the incredible architecture and the scenic views of the River Douro,
10:32the place will undoubtedly inspire you and make you feel like anything is possible.
10:37Porto is also known for the arts and crafts movements and its manufacturing,
10:41textile, and fashion industry. Portuguese linens are famous all over the world.
10:47Perhaps the most important thing is the work-life balance that Portuguese provides
10:52which is deeply lacking in the USA. In Portugal, family comes first.
10:57Portugal has a slow pace of life, which may be exactly what the people in the US need,
11:03a breather. We get so caught up in our work that we forget to enjoy life. Portugal offers that.
11:11Moving from California to Portugal
11:14All non-EU members would be required to get a visa, while EU residents might not.
11:20There are several types of visas you can avail of, such as study visas,
11:24tourist visas, work visas, or even for permanent relocation.
11:28There is also a golden visa program that you can look at that will help you get
11:32permanent residency in Portugal. What is Portugal known for?
11:37Beaches
11:39Portugal is a coastal country and thus known for its gorgeous beaches,
11:43which are quite different from one another. The Algarve coast has the warmest waters,
11:48around 20 degrees Celsius. It has a temperate climate of the Mediterranean along with scenic
11:53landscapes. Costa Vicentina is a windy stretch where you can smell the ocean and the mountains.
12:00Nazaré is well known for its winter surf competitions.
12:04Local Food
12:06Portugal is a gastronomical haven. The Portuguese love good food, and their dishes emphasize the
12:13local produce. Fish, meat, olive oil, bread, tomato, herbs, and spices. The food is simple
12:21but goes through detailed preparations. Pastel de Nada or Pastel de Belém is
12:26one of the most famous Portuguese desserts. Some of the other popular dishes are Caldo Verde,
12:32Francesinha Sandwich, Peri-Peri Chicken, Porco Preto, Bifanas, and much, much more.
12:39The Portuguese Codfish is one of the favorite fish for the people of this coastal country.
12:44The Portuguese have more than 365 ways of preparing the codfish,
12:49one for each day of the year. That's how much they love their fish.
12:54Soccer
12:55Portugal is very, very, very well known for soccer. And the country comes to a standstill
13:01when there is a football match. Every town has its own home team,
13:05and the rivalries among them are so fun to watch. However, when the national team plays,
13:15all the differences are put aside and everybody comes together to watch the matches.
13:20Portugal has produced football legends like Eusebio,
13:23Luis Figo, and of course, Cristiano Ronaldo. Wine
13:29Portugal has around 14 wine regions, offering a wide variety of wines. There is probably a
13:36wine for each palate and occasion in Portugal. Portugal was just behind Italy as one of the
13:42best countries to visit for wine lovers. The most famous wine in Portugal has to be the port wine.
13:49Even paradise has its problems, it seems.
13:52Over Tourism
13:54Portugal has become one of the hottest tourist destinations in the last few years,
13:59attracting millions of tourists from all over the world. Lisbon and Porto are among the most
14:04visited cities, which are unfortunately too small to handle the volume of visitors.
14:10The historical attractions are always filled with people, making them difficult to visit.
14:15The tourism industry has also put a strain on local housing and public transport.
14:20The country is also too focused on increasing tourism,
14:24so it doesn't look like this problem is going to go away anytime soon.
14:29The Slow Pace of Life
14:31While the slow pace of life is what brings the overworked foreigners here,
14:35it can become a problem all too soon. The people who come to reside here are used to a much faster
14:41pace of life, where things get done quickly. But that is not the case in Portugal. Online
14:47shopping can be a hassle as deliveries take a lot of time because most online shopping is
14:52done with companies that are outside of Portugal. Your deliveries from customs too can take up to
14:58months to get to you. The paperwork can be messy and frustrating and can take a lot of time to get
15:04approved. Even simple tasks like going to the supermarket can take forever as you stand in
15:09queues for a seemingly long time. Customer service is also not the best in Portugal,
15:15as solving a problem can take up to hours of your time.
15:19Expense
15:21Portugal may seem like a relatively cheaper country, but there are a few places where
15:25expenses can run high. The cost of living in Portugal is slowly rising, especially in real
15:32estate. And this becomes a huge problem for the Portuguese in the country who have a lower
15:37purchasing power than the expats who still feel like the prices are lower than what they're used
15:42to. This has caused a lot of resentment towards the foreigners. The taxes in Portugal aren't the
15:48highest, but they're also not the lowest. Combined with social security, the Portuguese taxes are
15:54higher than in many other countries. The Portuguese customs charge exorbitantly high import fees on
16:00products. The fees are sometimes equal to the price of the product and sometimes even more.
16:07Portugal is ranked 32nd among 198 countries for corruption according to Transparency
16:13International's 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index. Corruption is just a way of life in the country,
16:19and you'll have to pay to get your work done. While food and wine are cheap in Portugal,
16:25not everything else is. Electricity and petrol are two things that are very expensive in this
16:30country. Even cars, furniture, electronics, books, cosmetics, imported food, and toiletries
16:38are more expensive than in other countries. Why Portuguese Resent the Californians
16:45As Californians are immigrating to Portugal in hordes, it seems that Portuguese residents
16:50aren't too happy. Indeed, this relocation of expats is creating problems for the natives.
16:57Even as the number of foreigners have grown by 40% in Portugal in the last decade,
17:02the overall population in the country has declined. Portuguese activists have protested
17:08against evictions and rents that have shot up ever since foreigners have started residing here
17:13with bank balances in dollars and pounds. They resent the foreigners, who often have to face
17:18questions over gentrification and immigration. Even the term expat has a negative connotation.
17:25While it is true that the foreign investment was good for Portugal's economy,
17:29it has become an issue for natives who cannot afford to live in their own communities anymore.
17:34This problem was expressed by Isabel da Bandeira in an interview for the LA Times.
17:40There's no doubt that the foreign investment has greatly helped Portugal's economy and made
17:44the cities more beautiful, said Isabel, an activist who co-founded the Lisbon housing
17:48rights group Acre Moragente. But this process has also hurt the long-term residents who don't
17:54recognize parts of their communities anymore or who can't afford to live in them.
17:59The Californians are also doing their best to make Portugal feel like home by introducing new
18:04eateries, making subtle changes, and forming groups that don't really include the Portuguese people.
18:10According to Luis Mendes, a geographer at the University of Lisbon,
18:14you cannot deny that places like Lisbon have become much more appealing for young,
18:18creative people with money to spend. The effect on the economy and the way the buildings look,
18:24no longer empty, is astronomical, said Mendes. But the average Portuguese person can no longer
18:30afford to live in the center of Lisbon. Rents have gone up five times over a few years. Even
18:36the basic things, such as buying groceries, take longer trips outside the city center than they
18:41used to. The government, in a bid to solve this crisis, is no longer taking applications for the
18:47biggest cities in the Golden Visa program like Lisbon and the Algarve. Evictions have increased
18:53by a large margin in a few years in Lisbon. The city's former mayor, Fernando Medina,
18:58tried to launch an initiative to rent out Airbnbs as housing for locals, but it didn't work out as
19:04owners made more money by renting in a private market. It's natural to see why the natives would
19:10feel that way. Not the best feeling to have your home being transformed by your visitors into a
19:15space that suits their palate to something that you don't recognize and cannot afford anymore.
19:21As the people of California continue to migrate to Portugal to escape the existential crisis that
19:26their country is facing, it remains to be seen what Portugal will do to stay true to its roots
19:31without changing itself completely to just another California. What do you think? Do you feel that
19:38Portugal could be the new California? Do you agree with the natives? Would you like to visit Portugal?
19:44Let us know all your thoughts in the comment section below. Also, if you enjoyed this video,
19:49like and share. And don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more such content. See you in the next one.