Moving to Portugal from the US
Everything an American needs to plan a move to Portugal in 2026: which city actually fits your budget and lifestyle, what it really costs, and the visa path to get there.
Visa paths for Americans
The main routes into Portugal for US citizens are the D7 (passive income) and the D8 (digital nomad). We walk both through end to end in the Portugal D7 vs D8: which visa is right for you, or see how they stack up against other countries in our visa comparisons.
Choose your city in Portugal
Lisbon
Hills, tile, light, and the most expensive housing in Portugal by a wide margin.
Porto
Smaller, grittier, cheaper, and arguably more characterful than Lisbon.
Faro
Algarve hub.
Cascais
Coastal town 30 min by train from Lisbon.
Cost of living by city (2026)
| City | 1BR rent | 2BR rent | Groceries (solo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | 1,000–1,500 EUR | 1,400–2,000 EUR | 250–350 EUR |
| Porto | 700–1,100 EUR | 950–1,400 EUR | 230–320 EUR |
| Faro | 650–900 EUR | 850–1,200 EUR | 230–320 EUR |
| Cascais | 1,100–1,500 EUR | 1,400–1,900 EUR | 270–370 EUR |
Moving with specific needs? The free Safe Harbor Index has a Portugal profile with legal and safety context for LGBTQ+, trans, disabled, senior, pregnant, single-parent and veteran movers.
Plan your Portugal move end to end
GoThere has the visa checklist, cost calculator, and document tracker for Portugal, ready to use today.