Ericeira: Known as the surfing capital of Europe due to its incredible coastline, waves, and beaches, the thriving town of Ericeira is also a spectacular place to live and work. Only 40 minutes (by train or car) from Lisbon, it offers a way to soak up the country’s spectacular coastline while giving easy access to the business opportunities and international travel convenience of the capital. It is also home to numerous coworking spaces along with a variety of laptop-friendly cafés. Rental can be a little pricy in the center of Ericeira by Portuguese standards. Three- or four-bedroom houses can rent for €1,000 ($1,185) per month for a one-year lease. However, if you choose to live in nearby Lagoa, just 10 minutes by car, you can cut these costs significantly while still having easy access to this spectacular coastal community.
Porto: Portugal’s second-largest city, Porto offers much of what you’ll find in Lisbon, while being more laidback. This beautiful cobblestoned city has an established digital nomad community, with regular meetups and coworking events happening throughout the year. The cost of living in Porto is lower than in Lisbon and southern Portugal, which is one of the many reasons remote workers continue to flock to it year after year. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city runs only about $700. All in, you can live well on $1,550 a month. Moreover, with the efficient local airport and fantastic rail links, Porto offers easy access to the rest of Portugal and Europe.
Lagos: If year-round sunshine is your thing, then Lagos in Portugal’s famed Algarve region is the spot for you. Although a popular tourist draw, it offers an authentic small-town Portuguese living environment. This community of 22,000 is also blessed with a year-round moderate climate, with average temperatures ranging from 52 F in winter to 75 F in the summer.There are a whole host of digital nomad friendly café spots that offer extremely affordable coffees and refreshments along with reliable internet connections. Need a screen break? The beach is a two-minute walk from the center of town. Rentals in Lagos are affordable for the Algarve, about $900 for a two-bedroom apartment. The southern coast of the Algarve also hosts a large community of expats from the U.S. and Europe.
