Great lifestyle
A city for all,
a place to enjoy life Porto is a city where you can live your best life, surrounded by inspiring places and a welcoming community ready to embrace new people and ideas.
a place to enjoy life Porto is a city where you can live your best life, surrounded by inspiring places and a welcoming community ready to embrace new people and ideas.
Welcoming, inclusive and safe
Porto cherishes its open atmosphere and the city’s growing international community. Known for its welcoming culture and inclusive policies towards newcomers, the city and its inhabitants reflect Portugal's recognition as the 3rd best in Europe in the EU's Migrant Integration Policy Index 2020. There were about 100,000 foreign residents living in the Porto Metro Area in 2023, around one-third of which lived in city of Porto.
Porto’s foreign population more than doubled in the last five years, with the city registering a 146% growth in the number of foreign inhabitants since 2019. This growth has contributed to the cultural diversity and vibrancy of the city, while also helping in rejuvenating its population.
Number of foreign residents in Porto
100,000 foreign
residents live in
the Porto Metro Area Source: INE (2023)
the Porto Metro Area Source: INE (2023)
146% growth
in the number of foreign inhabitants (last 5 years)
Source: INE (2023)
Porto's appeal extends to traveling remote workers, who are attracted to the city's fast internet, safe and tolerant society, and friendly and welcoming community. Nomad List ranks Porto as one of the top places for digital nomads to live in Europe. The city was visited by more than 33,000 digital nomads in 2023, with most of these nomads coming from Europe and North America.
Porto is also a great place for families, with high-quality healthcare and education facilities, including international schools offering programs in English, French, and German. A 2021 study by Norwegian consultancy Sumo Finans named Porto as one of the best cities in Europe for family living. Safety is another important factor that makes Porto an attractive place to live, with Portugal being ranked as the 7th safest country in the world according to the Global Peace Index 2024.
High-quality lifestyle
In 2022, Porto was named World's Leading City Destination by the World Travel Awards, and was considered the 8th best city in the world by Time Out in 2024. For expats specifically, Portugal was ranked the 7th country in the world for quality of life in the InterNations Quality of Life Index 2023.
In addition to its high quality of life, Porto is an affordable city with a lower cost of living compared to most Western European cities. House prices in Porto are, on average, 31% less expensive than in Lisbon, according to Cushman & Wakefield, and the overall cost of living for an expat is about 16% lower, according to Nomad List.
In 2022, Porto was named World's Leading City Destination by the World Travel Awards, and was considered the 8th best city in the world by Time Out in 2024. For expats specifically, Portugal was ranked the 7th country in the world for quality of life in the InterNations Quality of Life Index 2023.
In addition to its high quality of life, Porto is an affordable city with a lower cost of living compared to most Western European cities. House prices in Porto are, on average, 31% less expensive than in Lisbon, according to Cushman & Wakefield, and the overall cost of living for an expat is about 16% lower, according to Nomad List.
Quality vs. cost of life across European cities
Inspiring heritage and nature
Porto is a city with a unique historic landscape, being home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Porto Historic Centre and the Douro Wine Region. These sites, along with the city's excellent gastronomy, fine wines, and vibrant cultural life, make Porto one of Europe’s must-see destinations. In this regard, Euromonitor International ranks Porto as one of the top 75 city destinations in the world.
World's Leading
City Destination 2022
Source: World Travel Awards
Two UNESCO
World Heritage sites
Porto Historic Centre and
the Douro Wine Region
the Douro Wine Region
In addition to its cultural and social offerings, Porto boasts a mild climate with 220 sunny days per year, making it possible to enjoy outdoor sports and activities all year round. The city is situated on the coast, close to beautiful sandy beaches, most of which have been awarded the Blue Flag for their good environmental management and excelent water quality. The Douro Wine Region, located just an hour's drive from the city, offers stunning views of the Douro River and the surrounding countryside. The region is known for its production of Port wine, which can be sampled at one of the many wineries located in the city.
