from these two, Southern Sweden anytime.
- Portugal/Spain for holidays perhaps, but I wouldn’t want to live there whole year, or long term - as personally I don’t like that type of climate.
I think your income level contains the bigger part of the answer. You will not live well in Portugal with a local salary, that needs no debate.
Both countries are getting worse, and no longer are what they used to be just a few years ago.
I wouldn’t live in any if I could help it, but if I must choose, I still prefer Portugal by a small margin.
Totally different places and depends entirely on what you want…
If you’re ethnic European and have a remote job? Portugal. If not ethnic European and no remote job, then Sweden.
Wages in Portugal are dogshit and taxes are insanely high and they just cut their tax schemes that made it easier for expats. And they’re a very homogenous country so not very welcoming towards non-Europeans. Although to be fair, Americans also aren’t very popular there right now. A lot of people blame them for the massive increase in housing/rental costs.
I’m going to guess that you’ve been in both countries as either tourist or expat. Do you feel that Portugal has a bigger anti foreigner feel than Sweden? Or compared to other places you might’ve visited? I have never been to Sweden and have travelled very little, I have no frame of reference honestly :).
I wouldn’t say that Portugal is anti-foreigner. They just aren’t at all used to it. It’s one of the most homogenous countries and they’ve been largely protected from mass immigration due to being a poor country, for better and worse. If you’re not ethnic European, you might get strange looks and be treated weird. Sometimes openly racist. Less so in the larger cities like Lisbon or Porto. Either way, it’s very different from a lot of the northern European countries, I think.
Sweden is completely different. They are (or were) welcoming to a fault. And that’s also caused the troubles they are currently facing. I havn’t been there as much but they are very friendly and overly welcoming to foreigners. It’s really no surprise that they appear to be having the worst time integrating foreigners. I still have some friends there and things have gone downhill very fast. Still plenty of nice rural areas though. And good wages.
If you have kids, definitely Sweden
Portugal
Portugal is much more inclusive
Portugal. Weather.
Sweden
I´m from Portugal and currently working in Norway. While Norway is not Sweden, I´d keep it like this:
- Sweden if you´re planning to work there. Quality of life is much better (GDP per capita, cost of living compared to wages, maternity leave if you plan on having kids, etc).
- Portugal if you want to spend some vacations/retire. I was working in Tech in Portugal (significantly higher salaries than the average wage from Portugal) and I could barely rent a T1 without help from family as rent and bills would eat 50-60% of the salary.
- Ideal condition: Living in Portugal with a Swedish salary.
Only thing with Sweden right now is the massive issue with shootings (Not because the Swedes like guns, but because Sweden accepted everyone and everything without much control).
In my opinion, the food and weather of Portugal does not compensate the low salaries it provides compared to the high cost of living if you plan on going to a major city (unless you manage to get a good salary in Portugal).
While I do miss Portugal, I don’t plan on going back anytime soon. For me to go back would have to be on very very specific conditions (salary being the main one)
Yikes. What do you recommend as a min salary these days.
For a single person living in Lisbon/Porto looking to rent a T1 in the proximity of the city (not center), around 2500-3000 eur gross (1850-2100 eur net income).
I was making 2100 eur gross salary (nearly double of what the average gross salary is in Portugal) and couldn’t comfortably rent a T1 using a simple finance rule such as 50/30/20 (50 % of net salary for rent, bills and groceries, 30% for wants and 20% for savings). I would’ve to ask for help from family to help with expenses (and all this is without factoring in a car as well).
More often than not, you’ll be paying a minimum of 500-700 eur and you’ll be sharing apartment with 1-4 other people in the main cities
Sweden 12 years ago, Portugal now.
Sweden. Portugal is to hot in the summer. Sweden is cold in winter, but wear proper clothing and your fine.
Sweden is the rape capital of Europe.
Portugal no brainer. Sweden has been taken over by Muslims.
Doesn’t Portugal have tons of African migrants though?
Look all of Europe is ruined - only the East is free from non European immigration sadly
I couldnt live with the sun setting down at 2h30PM in winter. Winter depression is very real.