Spain vs Portugal - Best Country to Live and Work? (Cost of Living, Residence Permit, Taxes)

Portugal vs Spain: in this video we will compare Spain versus Portugal to determine what is the best place to travel, live and retire.

00:00 Intro

-Iberian Peninsula
-Spain much larger in territory and pop
-Spain wealthier
-Both rely heavily in the tourism industry

01:49 Job Market

-Salaries are higher in Spain
-Unemployment is higher in Spain
-Probably easier to get a job in Portugal as a foreigner (services)
-Madrid and Barcelona have more international companies

02:51 Cost of Living

-Varies greatly depending on the city
-Groceries cost pretty much the same
-Services are somewhat more expensive in Spain
-Lisbon is more expensive in terms of affordability
-Smaller cities and towns are considerably cheaper

03:49 Real Estate

-Lisbon just slightly cheaper than Barcelona and Madrid (how much?)
-Lisbon significantly more expensive than smaller cities in Spain
-Porto is comparable to mid size cities in Spain
-Rental yields are about 4-6%
-Cheaper in the countryside, Spain has more interesting options on the coast.

04:42 Visa and Residence Permits

-Portugal has a significant advantage
-Retirees can move to both countries, Spain requirements are more strict (funds)
-Good option for freelancers and remote works (non lucrative visa in Spain)
-If you find a job in Portugal you can easily update your status, in Spain more complicated

06:05 Taxes

-Both countries are comparable, personal progressive tax rates
-Corporate taxes are also quite similar
-High as in most Western European countries
-Portugal has the Non Habitual Resident program, which can be a great option to pay less taxes, but the advantages are decreasing over the years and not all types of income are exempt from taxes.

06:33 Weather and Climate

Just mainland considered in this comparison.
Spain has a varied climate. Oceanic in the North, continental, Arid, Mediterranean
Portugal broadly Mediterranean climate
Decent hours of sunlight
Mild winters

07:33 Infrastructure

It is difficult to compare these 2 countries in terms of infrastructure, since Spain is several times bigger
-both countries high speed trains and direct flights
-some regions are under served

08:19 Entertainment

-Both countries are a great option in terms of entertainment
-Beaches, nightlife and eating out are highlights
-Entertainment in Spain is significantly more expensive in Spain, especially dining out

08:55 Language and final considerations

-Spanish has a simpler grammar and pronunciation than Portuguese
-Both are romance language and highly similar

[jimji]

Appreciating all the opinions from people with experience of the areas ! Great discussion.

[josesanches]

Portugal and Spain are brothers and we are shoulders to shoulders One to other the blood is the same Ibérian blood no borders barriers God blessings the two countries

[stevenhyike]

I love Portugal, because I am a Portuguese.

[MMartec]

I really think that after years if not centuries of Spanish and Portuguese decline... These are in 2021 possibly the 2 best countries to live in the world! It's fun, Its beautiful, it's safe, it's full of culture, amazing monuments, Palaces and Castles, music, dance, awaken and at the front in renewable energies, health, common sense, social policies, pension schemes, digital innovation, pollution reduction, nature protection, freedom, all gender rights and liberties, as well as anti-discrimination laws, drugs decriminalization laws, safety, security etc etc..
Plus... These are beautiful summer countries!...
Caipirinha, sun and beach places! With an amazing night life!

[madisonrose]

I'm Thai people 40year i love Portugal and i want to move to Portugal.

[RonTon]

I live in the US, and I would like to retire to Valencia using a non-lucrative visa. Since I can’t work due to the visa, I would be living off my dividends from my stock market investments, 401k, SS, and my Roth IRA. For the life of me, I can’t find anything clear on what my taxes would be like! (Ie. income tax, local tax..etc) I plan on renting, and not buying. Making a video about this would be VERYYY helpful I’m sure to a lot of people!

[brewgirlchina]

Thank you for the video, really informative! Question: Can you travel to other European countries with the non-lucrative visa from Portugal?

[j.m.leonardo]

Portugal tem coisas bonitas mas há que reconhecer os factos, a Espanha é um pais mais moderno e desenvolvido.

[sajjadsiddiq]

How long does it now take for the tourists in Portugal to become temporary residents after getting a company contract?

[sugarlizzy]

Pls am a Nigeria and am looking for where to travel too inside Portugal and Spain

[bestzohan]

Another major difference is that is harder to find people speaking English in Spain.

[Pitbullx]

on important things, portugal has 14 months salary!

[RobertRod]

I haven't been to Portugal or Spain yet, but Spain sounds way nicer and original.

[joyjitg]

Which location/beach is at 0:05 - 0:10?

[aviationfansalbania]

Spain is the best but also Portugal is amazing

[mohammadfeizmahdavi]

One thing I think you I need to talk about is the tax regime of Spain. If you stay in Spain longer than 183 days a year, then you are a Spanish tax resident and therefore eligible to pay it even though your income is from outside of Spanish territories.

[Nicosshalagalanis]

Its not fair to even compare Spain against Portugal..
Spain are on a another level on all sides..

[moeswe]

Imagine you buying a house in Spain and you live in different country. Then someone occupy your house and you can’t throw them out. How is it possible to have such a law?

[andreikiselyov]

NHR is not covered well! It’s only 10% on some incomes outside of Portugal for 10 years! At the same time the minimal tax rate in Spain with residence permit is 24.5%! Huge difference! The author didn’t tell anything about okupas in Spain! Huge minus for Spain!

[mahed]

My friends said he would pick who ever has less Africans and Muslims 😅.it's his choice it's his freedom he said