Lisbon, like many areas of Portugal, is ethnically diverse. The influx of people from various countries, including the United Kingdom,Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde, and Mozambique, adds to its cosmopolitan appeal. Although Portuguese people have a reputation of being laid back and welcoming, as a military veteran, Proctor wanted to make sure to do her part to build bridges and give back.
Shortly after arriving in Lisbon, Proctor began hosting events for Black and brown people at local establishments to make authentic connections between local Portuguese, those who relocated to the country, and those who were passing through. She along with Kam Clemons, a fellow American expat, co-foundedBlack in Portugal,which hosts monthly events and meetups geared towards building community between expats and the local Black population in Lisbon. In just over a year,Black in Portugal’s goal of creating a thriving global community, is paying off.
Vinson and Crawley retired to Lisbon in October 2022, and the move was “a soft landing,” Vinson says, “because of the Black in Portugal community.” They now help other aspiring retirees realize their own retirement dreams through their platform,Our Black Utopia. On why they chose Lisbon, Vinson says, “we are city folks at heart and want to be where there are plenty of museums, theater, and community events.”
The Douro river slices through Porto, Portugal.
How much money do you need to retire in Portugal?
Depending on location and lifestyle, the cost of living in Lisbon can range from $2,000–$3,500 per month. Outside of the bigger cities, you can expect to spend less. Wester lives comfortably on less than $2000 per month and chronicles her mid-life adventures on her blog,The Hot Goddess.
“My dream has always been to live on the ocean, but ocean-front property in the U.S. is very expensive,” Wester says. “Leaving the United States in retirement was a way to lower my expenses and live in an affordable, safe oceanfront property.” Wester left Cleveland, Ohio, in October 2022, and now calls Atalaia-Lourinha—a small village town along Portugal’s Silver Coast where farm meets sea—home.
