The affordable European country that’s taken on Spain as a top expat destination for Brits
BRITS wanting sun, sea, sand have been swapping the UK for Spain for years – but its neighbour is fast gaining in popularity.
Portugal is increasingly becoming a more popular place for Brits to relocate to, thanks to its lower cost of living, great weather and beautiful beaches.
Portugal is a more popular place to move to than Spain according International moving company, 1st Move International.
It analysed UK Google search data to reveal which countries are seeing the biggest increases and declines in emigration-related interest – and Portugal is number six.
Historically, Spain has been one of the most popular destinations for Brits looking to relocate abroad – but Portugal has nabbed its spot.
Mike Harvey, managing director at 1st Move International said: “Mass tourism and the decision to impose taxes on foreign property buyers have affected affordability, making it more complex for retirees and long-term residents to move to Spain.
“Spain’s interest among Brits has begun to dip, and neighbour Portugal may take Spain’s crown in the coming years.
“Portugal’s already firmly among Brits’ top 10 expat hotspots, and it’s creeping up the ladder with emigration searches increasing by 18.90 per cent year on year.”
This has been backed up by data from the National Institute of Statistics (NIE) which revealed that UK expats living in Spain fell by 2.2 per cent in 2024, as reported by Spanish media The Olive Press.
UK resident numbers came to 266,462, down from 272,402 a year earlier.
It continued to reveal that ‘British expats now account for 3.9 per cent of all foreign residents, compared to 4.2 per cent in 2023’.
When it comes to competition between the two, there are lots of similarities – mostly their glorious weather which is much better than the UK throughout the year.
According to some weather sites Portugal is actually sunnier than Spain – but both have around 300 days of sun every year.
Portugal is slightly more mild in places like Lisbon along the western coast thanks to its cool Atlantic breeze.
Just like Spain, Portugal is pleasant during the winter months sitting at around 10C.
Of course most Brits move abroad to spend time nearer the coast and Spain has always been popular thanks to having over 3,000 beaches across 4970 miles of coastline.
As of 2025, 638 of these have Blue Flag status.
Portugal has less beaches as the length of the coastline is much shorter – around 1,115 miles – however it still has around 404 Blue Flag beaches as of last year.
After moving abroad, you’ll probably want a quieter place to relax – but of course both countries remain popular especially the summer holidays.
Portugal gets fewer tourists than Spain – although it did reach record highs in 2024 with around 31.6million visitors.
Meanwhile, Spain saw 94 million international visitors in 2023.
Both are likely to remain busy in the summer months – unless you head to less touristy areas.
Portugal tends to be cheaper when it comes to cost of living (and holidaying) too.
In Portugal you can get a meal for two at a mid-range restaurant €40 (£34.63) and a local beer can cost as little as €2 (£1.73).
The average price of a cappuccino is as little as €1.81 (£1.57).
When it comes to getting around, a one-way ticket on local transport is around €2 (£1.73).
Renting an apartment in one of the country’s city centres is around €943 (£816.34) per month.
Meanwhile in Spain, a meal for two at a mid-range restaurant is on average €50 (£43.29) and a local beer costs around €3 (£2.60), according to Wise.
The average price of a cappuccino is a bit more expensive too at €1.90 (£1.65).
Getting about in Spain is generally cheaper with a one-way ticket on local transport priced at €1.50 (£1.30).
Renting an apartment in one of Spain’s city centres is priced at an average of €950 (£822.40) per month.
In terms of logistics, Portugal is generally considered easier for British citizens to move to thanks to its D7 passive income visa for those who want to move there.
In Spain, expats will need a Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV), which requires more proof of income, and it has stricter residency rules.
One writer reveals why she ditched the UK for Lisbon…
Writer Lauren Clark moved from London to Lisbon in 2020 – and here’s everything about it she prefers…
“Socialising in Lisbon needn’t cost a fortune – in fact you can catch up with a friend over a glass of wine for the price of a coffee back home.
“A fruity ‘vinho verde’ from a quiosque or restaurant terrace, enjoyed in the sunshine, might set you back just a few euros.
“One of the reasons why the top-notch wine is so affordable – with a bottle of my favourite white costing around three euros in the supermarket – is because Portugal is covered in swathes of vineyards.
“Most of Lisbon is very walkable – at least, if you don’t mind a steep incline – and most places I need to get to are well within a 30-minute stroll.
“Throughout the month of June, the city erupts into a series of big, lively street parties at night to celebrate the Festas dos Santos Populares – with the 13th the most important date.
“Lisbon isn’t a beach-side city in the same way as Barcelona, however just a short train ride or drive away are some incredible coastal spots.
“This means that, if you finish work at 5pm, you could be taking a dip in the ocean by half past – although, be warned, it will be refreshing.”
For more on moving to Portugal, here’s how one woman did it and ditched the UK for sunny evenings and warm winters.
And one woman who was on A Place In The Sun bought my dream Spanish home for £45k.
