Want or expect to earn a living in Southern Portugal as a resident "expat"? Sold on the idea of the Algarve because of low prices / cost of living? You might change your mind if you check the Algarve Portugal expat forums or if and when you come to buy a car in Portugal (as it has one of the highest domestic car sales tax systems in the EU). Many potential expats still believe and are counting on tax dodges that previously helped to make Portugal artificially cheaper than it should be is not going to last much longer (see my crime page for why).
Work / Making a living on the Algarve / Portugal
With a very low minimum wage, very few foreign owned businesses offering full time or even official (legal) employment, an abundance of Brazilian and other former colony workers, practically no commerce outside tourism, the Algarve is not a place for someone to come job seeking! Sure, many expatriates make a living on the Algarve, running their own business. But the only work opportunities for less inclined expats is pretty much unofficial part-time cleaning work (around 3.5 Euros per hour) for the more wealthy villa owners of The Algarve.
Hospitals & Healthcare
You will need health insurance unless you are an EU citizen and have registered for residency in Portugal, in which case you can use the public health care system which is not a great idea if you have high expectations. If you have a flexible health cover policy and live close to the Spanish border, it is almost certainly better to get your health care there. Although doctors and nurses in the Portuguese public health care system are to be admired and congratulated, long queues, beds in corridors, overworked staff and limited facilities are a fact of life for Portugal. Even the public Portuguese Ambulance service is basically run by firemen (bombeiros) who will get someone to hospital as soon as they can but with very little medical training or equipment on board. If you want paramedic emergency ambulance cover and / or well staffed and equipped private hospitals, you will have to do your homework.
Preschools
The Portuguese preschool system is one of the best in the world, especially for the price you pay. State run preschools are seen as essential to allow parents the chance to go back to work after having a child and take infants from just 3 months old. If you are a foreign full time resident in Portugal, you qualify for these preschools; if not, not. The problem past qualification is getting your child a place and preschools in the Algarve are reported to have the longest waiting lists for Portugal. Of course there are plenty of much more expensive privately operated preschools available but if these employ foreign staff you may want to check that they run thorough personnel checks (see my crime page for why).
Cost of Living
Yes, Portugal has a very low cost of living, but only if you have the money in the first place. Of course many of the bars and restaurants of the Algarve are priced according to their clientele, thus eroding some considerable advantage; other areas of Portugal are far cheaper. Things like electricity, water and rates are much less expensive than other EU states but you should check my climate and real estate dodges pages for some caveats there!
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