Simple life, sun and a peaceful rhythm are characteristics of our country that attract more and more foreigners. Stories of those who left big cities to live in Portugal are multiplying, showing how the country has become the favorite refuge for those looking for time, peace and quality of life, as is the case with this American, who left her country, more specifically Los Angeles, to consolidate her life in a Portuguese city.
The American Kaitlin Wichmann is one of these examples. He left Los Angeles four years ago and guarantees that he has never been happier. At 31, she swapped endless traffic and marketing work for a lighter routine in Lisbon, where she works for herself as a digital consultant, according to the American newspaper New York Post.
“Every day it was the same thing: parking in the same place, sitting at the same desk, looking at the same wall,” he told the same source. “There came a point where I thought, ‘There has to be more to life than this.’”
Lisbon as a new starting point
The change happened in 2021, when he decided to risk everything and move to Portugal. The mild climate, healthy food and more relaxed atmosphere were reasons enough to leave the frenetic style of Los Angeles behind.
Today, Kaitlin works an average of 20 hours a week, helping American and Portuguese clients with online advertising. Professional freedom brought him something he says he never felt before: time to live. “Now my life revolves around life, with work scattered in between”, he explains, between laughs. “I feel happier and more at peace here.”
Living well with less
The cost of living in Lisbon continues to be one of the biggest attractions for those coming from abroad. In Kaitlin’s case, the accounts clearly show the difference. In June, he spent around $3,457: less than half of what he earns per month.
Rent and household expenses amounted to 1,296 dollars, and food was around 500. The rest went to what he values most: traveling, taking tennis lessons and making occasional purchases. “In Los Angeles, money disappeared with just the basics. Here I can enjoy life”, she says, quoted by the same source.
A country that attracts more and more foreigners
Since the pandemic, Portugal has become a sought-after destination for remote workers and foreign retirees. The climate, security and ease of visas, such as the D8, created in 2022 for digital nomads, helped to increase the flow of foreigners choosing the country.
But this success has two sides. The increase in demand has raised rents and prices, leaving many Portuguese concerned about the transformation of traditional neighborhoods. Still, stories like Kaitlin’s continue to inspire those who dream of a calmer life.
An unhurried future
Unlike many nomads who see Portugal as a temporary stopover, Kaitlin thinks long term, according to . “When I came to Lisbon, the idea was to stay for five years and then decide what to do. Now, I don’t see myself leaving, at least not outside of Portugal. I really like living here.”
Between the Tagus, breakfast on the terraces and the leisurely pace, this American found the balance she was looking for. And he guarantees that, for the first time, he feels like he really lives.
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