As an Australian, someone who is so far from Europe, when I visit as a tourist, I too feel much of Europe can feel generic. Cobbled streets, churches, deciduous trees, old towns, street sellers and lots of smoking. But, that's just on the surface. I'd hope after a while as an expat, you would have a deeper experience. I'm planning to live in Europe in 2025 and beyond and that's my hope.

My father was Italian…we went to his parents and brothers and sisters 3-6 times per week. So…I lived in Italy as a boy ! At home..Irish … a different world. I was lucky to be an American! My wife is Polish…my children and grandchildren are descended from most of Europe. It is what it is.

Good analysis. One advantage you have is that you are renting and not an owner, so you have more flexibility. My impression of Portugal, having visited there, is that while it has its unique charm, there is a high cultural and social break even point, before which you would have to invest significant time and energy and no guarantee of success. I think it's too high of a bar to take on trying to break in to a new culture and be fully accepted socially. And then what? If it were me and costs were an issue, I would look at the Adriatic region, which has historical appeal and has a more strategic location. Albania is one country that seems interesting and the costs for housing are quite low. So what if you don't know the language. Italy is across the way, Greece nearby also. Get to know. the many other expats from wide variety of countries, and more centrally located Europe-base-wise.

Thank you Rafael for another balanced, nuanced, and realistic appraisal of life as an immigrant/expat in Portugal. I can understand why North American expats would want to flock to the major cities of Lisbon and Porto. There is comfort, familiarity, and a support system amongst a tribe. My next pilgrimage this November to Portugal, my ancestors’ home, will include not just up north but also Leiria and Coimbra. Just as you suggested, I will be keenly attuned to what local residents have to say about what it’s like to live in each of these municipalities🤞😊

Hey Rafi, just got back home from visiting Portugal. Stayed in Lisbon and Porto and both places were so crowded with tourists. Got to ride the teleferico that you were hesitant about and ate at the market in Vila Nova de Gaia. Also tried a bifana and the bacalhau. Even had the francesinha at a place called Cafe Santiago in Porto. No fries or egg, and I still couldn't finish it. Of course, many of my days I sat outdoors and had coffee with a pastel de nata. Even stayed in Madrid for one night which was hot during the day. Had to have those churros dipped in chocolate. Now I know where to go when I go back to Europe. Bom dia!

I was in Menton and if I wasn't set on moving to Trieste, Menton would be a place I would consider besides Barcelona.... want to visit Austria and Slovenia too. But I agree Romania, Albania seems cool too and places I want to check out one day! Or even maybe Sweden.

I like non-return policy, that can eliminate consumerism, which is a huge problem in America. People here dont value tome and money

I’m an expat living in Bulgaria. Take some time to research this amazing Country. Bulgaria has everything, wilderness, mountains, beaches. I truly believe it’s Europe’s best kept secret.

If Europeans start eating all the fast food that we have here in the States are eating, maybe soon you will see larger clothes sizes sooner rather than later. :)

Chania, Crete. You're welcome

Intelligente. Typo.

Sei un Italo Americano molto intellingente.

Very good podcast VERY good.

This year , I am celebrating 40 years as an expat . Lots of ups and lots of downs . Regrets ? None .

I had a connecting flight in Panama with a layover of 24hrs so I decided to explore the city unknowingly before I can leave in my flight since I left the airport I would need a yellow fever vaccine and not only that I would need a 10 day quarantine before flight. Long story short I stayed with my taxi driver a couple days got vaccinated forged the date on the record to reflect 10 days and took an international bus line to my final destination. But it was a doozy

Private health care is bad. Capitalism is very bad socialism is what is better the best is communism (not the countries but the ideology). That's why I want to live in Europe and not in America. I am willing to pay for health care for others.

Capitalism is very bad socialism is what is better the best is communism (not the countries but the ideology). That's why I want to live in Europe and not in America. I am willing to pay for health care for others.

Is it similar in the case of commercial space rentals?

I fear that at this point it's a sinking ship. Socialism is slowly ruining this country. You have to have certain high demand skills to keep up with the wealth tax

Any suggestions on specific programs/channels to learn the language?

I admire your views and work, Rafael, very grounded and very helpful. All true.

You lost me at Belgium. And I was born there 😂(and then lost my citizenship after naturalizing in the US😡) Great cliffhanger - looking forward to the France episode..🙃

Thank you so much for this video. Super helpful and well-presented. Your time and effort is most appreciated!

As someone who is mulling moving to France from USA, I'd be interested in hearing you expand upon your comments about France in a future video!

Thank you for you sharing your perspective of country , I lived many European o country I’m own my way to Spain, my big issue I don’t live col😢 I , live flowers 🌺 I I shy with sum socheers 😊

Which country would you recommend for expat IT professionals?

Why should the test results be in English? Do I get results in Italian in the US.? Results are ready on line the next day for you to forward by E mail or whatsup to your base doctor for his interpretation. and evaluation even though results will indicate a normal value range so that you can get some ideas of your state In any case the base doctor will require to keep the result on yourfile. In case you change the doctor for any reason the doctor will have to return your file to you. Your file is also kept in the central data base which can be seen by any hospital in the country in case you should be hospitalised for any emergency anywhere in Italy so that they will know your history and therapy you may be on. If prescribed by your base doctor tests are free F R E E If requested by you privately of course you pay the full price with some discount depending on the region.. No limit on the number of blood test. Normal tests Anything particularly complicated as certain markers may come with a small charge for you.

A España no vengan¡¡¡

I would love to live in spain but they have a wealth tax on your world wide assests in addition to income tax.

Very interesting. I think the initiative has certainty had some success if the crumbling houses have been renovated and saved. As an aspiring expat there are some beautiful if not out of the way places that appear great value in terms of $$$ and lifestyle. That said, residency is sometimes tricky too.

What are your thoughts on Montenegro? Beautiful country and fair low taxes, plus an easy residency.

thinking of loving in south italy starting next year on a part time basis - can not wait.

Haha, I liked the notes about NOT LIVING IN FRANCE no matter what. I'll do the same :-) Been there once and i'll never come back.

I am currently in Italy, evaluating a potential life here (I am a triple Italian / Austrian / US Citizen). I am in Rome but visiting Florence and Venice as well and maybe squeeze in Alto Adige. I will probably rent a car for a week to look around outside the city centers. I also plan to spend all of July in Austria and I rented an apartment in Vienna but plan to see Linz, Graz, Salzburg and a few other areas. Austria seems like a strange mystical place to me. There are plenty of youtube travel videos about the place but I find it hard to discover a lot about actually living there as an EU citizen, certainly nothing like the wonderful videos Rafi D used to put out about Italy. I would love to know how to get an Austrian Social Security Number, get a bank account, purchase property and set up utilities. But that stuff seems to be lacking from the internet (or at least I have failed to find it thus far). I also wonder about the cost of living vs. salaries and the best way to look for work (I am in the IT sector, but I would abandon that to learn how to drive high speed trains). It seems not that many people talk about Austria other than tourism. Anyway, happy belated birthday, Rafi!

I'm curious about your France experience and stereotype realized. We are moving there in 2026 and after researching Portugal <Spain, Germany, Belgium and France France came out well above the others for us. Big factors are the healthcare, cost of living and taxes for US retirees and social security. France doesn't tax US income or pensions including Soc Sec so we end up paying less tax than we do in Ohio. Health care after 90 days and good public and top up private plans. We have visited several times and again this year and find the costs similar or cheaper for most things than rural Ohio which is already quite good for the USA. Every visit has been nice, safe and friendly with clean and enjoyable interactions. French bureaucracy and language issues are a thing but so far not insurmountable or ruinous.

I'm thinking about Africa.

Wait till they all start drafting people..... ( US also )

How do you earn a living ? You’ve been on KZfaq for years with very low followers , certainly can’t be from this ? Spill the beans 😂

I lived in Italy and had to return to USA for family reasons. I thought I would return to Italy but now looking at Spain. I have researched Colombia years ago. I love Medellin and will visit soon to research more

I don’t do well on so much meat and it ages everyone around me so much so I’m concerned finding good meals in Portugal and Spain for me. While traveling at least. In the US the food is awful and I eat my high raw diet prepared at home so I suppose I would need to do that there as well. Italy might be an easier place for me to eat.

It's a really great video! I know it's a bit late, but to answer your question, I really like how you did the background in this video!

We didn’t “lose” culture. We HID culture. They persecuted us Italians in America. They lynched us. We were considered black not long ago. Allot of changed us our names to a Anglo Saxon spelling to avoid being called an Italian.

Caribbean the same❤

Hi. Where in Portugal do you live?