Might You Stay Right here? Evaluating Portugal, Spain, Costa Rica and Panama
After greater than 20 years of touring, there’s one query Charles and I appear to ask ourselves time and again.
Might we truly dwell right here?
It’s a surprisingly completely different query from whether or not we like visiting someplace. We’ve liked nations that will most likely drive us somewhat loopy if we tried to dwell there full time. Different locations have grown on us as soon as we stayed lengthy sufficient to grocery store, work out the buses, work from the kitchen desk and uncover all these little particulars of on a regular basis life.
Through the years, we’ve spent fairly a little bit of time in Spain, Portugal and Costa Rica. We’ve traveled via them as a pair and as a household, stayed for longer stretches, labored alongside the best way and skilled no less than a little bit of what strange life appears like as soon as the holiday glow wears off.
Panama is the odd one out right here as a result of we haven’t visited but. It has, nonetheless, been on our radar for years. It comes up repeatedly once we hear individuals speaking about retiring overseas, expat life and discovering a sensible dwelling base someplace hotter.
So, in case you’re dreaming about shifting overseas, how do Portugal, Spain, Costa Rica and Panama truly evaluate?
A fast notice about this text: This put up is sponsored by StartAbroad, a relocation service that helps individuals transfer to Portugal, Spain, Costa Rica and Panama.
They assist with lots of the elements of a world transfer that may get difficult quick, together with visas, housing, banking, taxes, delivery, faculties and pet relocation. In addition they provide a free planning software referred to as Navigator, which we’ll discuss somewhat later.
Able to see what your transfer might seem like? Start planning with StartAbroad and use code BAREFOOT to save lots of 5%. We might earn a fee in case you turn out to be a consumer, at no further value to you.
What Makes a Nation a Good Place to Transfer To?
Selecting someplace for a trip is comparatively simple. Discover a low-cost flight, ebook someplace to sleep and go.
Transferring to a different nation brings a for much longer listing of questions.
Are you able to legally dwell there long run? What is going to healthcare seem like? Are you able to afford housing within the space you truly need to dwell? Will you want a automobile? In the event you’re bringing children, what are the faculties like? In case your canine is coming too, what paperwork does that contain?
After which there are the smaller issues that solely turn out to be apparent when you’re dwelling someplace.
After we spent a couple of months touring via Spain and Portugal years in the past, I discovered myself fascinated by issues like tiny fridges, individuals purchasing on the small native market nearly on daily basis, late dinners and the truth that discovering one thing so simple as contact lens resolution might flip into an expedition. These little particulars instructed us extra about dwelling in Spain as visiting one other cathedral ever might.
For this comparability, we’re wanting on the greater sensible questions alongside the sort of day-to-day life you may even have when you get there.
Portugal: A Relaxed European Way of life With Loads of Selection
Portugal is a kind of nations we’ve returned to in our minds many occasions since visiting.
We’ve spent weeks driving round Portugal, exploring from the north proper down via the Algarve. We’ve wandered Lisbon, cruised the Douro from Porto, explored the dramatic shoreline round Sagres and eaten greater than our fair proportion of pastéis de nata.
We’ve discovered individuals pleasant nearly in every single place we’ve gone, and Portugal packs a powerful quantity of selection into a comparatively small nation.
Lisbon offers you big-city power and worldwide connections. Porto feels completely different once more with outdated world allure and unbelievable websites. Head south and the Algarve brings seashores, hotter climate and cities that may really feel worlds away from northern Portugal.
That selection is only one cause Portugal is smart on a relocation shortlist.
Who May Like Dwelling in Portugal?
Portugal might enchantment if you need:
- A European dwelling base
- Quick access to different elements of Europe
- Coastal dwelling
- A slower on a regular basis tempo
- Cities, smaller cities and rural choices inside comparatively quick distances
- A rustic that may work for retirees in addition to distant employees and households
For individuals contemplating a long-term transfer, Portugal at the moment has residence routes for retirees and other people dwelling on their very own revenue, together with a residence pathway for individuals working remotely for employers or shoppers exterior Portugal.
The precise route that is smart is determined by your citizenship, revenue supply, work state of affairs and household circumstances, which is the place the paperwork begins getting significantly much less enjoyable.
One factor value understanding if a European passport is a part of your long-term plan: Portugal modified its nationality regulation in Could 2026. The look ahead to citizenship via strange naturalization is now seven years for EU residents and residents of Portuguese-speaking nations, and ten years for many different nationalities. The earlier rule that counted ready time from the date you utilized for short-term residence was eliminated, so the clock now begins from the purpose your residence is authorised fairly than the day you utilized. Household reunification guidelines tightened in late 2025 too, so in case you’re picturing shifting first and bringing household over later, that’s value researching earlier than you apply as a substitute of after.
StartAbroad at the moment helps with Portugal visas, rental searches, banking, Portuguese tax numbers (NIF), and broader relocation help. Their Concierge service additionally features a devoted relocation specialist, airport pickup, medical planning and assist with issues like faculties and pet relocation.
Portugal could also be a great match for: retirees, distant employees, professionals and households who desire a European base with loads of completely different life-style choices.
Spain: A Nation We Might Really Image Dwelling In
Spain gave us certainly one of our higher glimpses into the distinction between visiting someplace and really dwelling there.
We stayed lengthy sufficient to settle into strange routines.
We walked, rather a lot. In Madrid we used the Metro, and even in smaller cities we regularly managed simply high-quality and not using a automobile. We bought used to purchasing continuously as a result of our rental fridges appeared ridiculously tiny in contrast with the enormous fridge we’d had again in Canada.
We additionally discovered that Spain operates by itself schedule.
Meals run late. Individuals linger over espresso. Outlets might shut for a number of hours within the afternoon. Our personal work and homeschool schedule meant that we have been typically able to run errands at precisely the identical time half the city appeared to be closing.
It was sometimes maddening.
And we liked numerous it.
I’m additionally nonetheless fairly keen on the truth that it took me nearly a month and possibly 20 cafés to lastly discover a dangerous cup of espresso. You’ll be able to learn extra of our love and occasional frustration with Spain in The Little Issues We Love About Spain.
Who May Like Dwelling in Spain?
Spain offers you an infinite quantity of selection.
Dwelling in Madrid is a totally completely different proposition from settling someplace alongside the Mediterranean coast. Northern Spain feels completely different once more.
Spain at the moment presents a non-lucrative residence visa for individuals who have ample monetary means and don’t plan to work, plus a separate telework route for qualifying individuals who work remotely. The non-lucrative visa prohibits work, together with distant work for a overseas employer, so if working on-line is a part of your plan, ensure you’re wanting on the proper route from the start. Beneath Spain’s present guidelines, foreigners who’re legally in Spain can apply from throughout the nation for a world telework residence authorization in the event that they qualify.
For households, there’s additionally the query of faculties and the place you need your children to suit into native life. For retirees, healthcare and proximity to providers might matter extra. And in case you’re planning to work on-line, dependable web and your time zone relative to shoppers or coworkers can abruptly matter simply as a lot as sunshine.
Spain could also be a great match for: individuals who need tradition, good transportation choices, loads of regional selection and a way of life the place day by day life occurs somewhat later than many North Individuals are used to.
Costa Rica: Nature, Heat Climate and Pura Vida
Costa Rica will most likely all the time have a particular place in our hearts.
A few of our reminiscences there are enormous, like watching a large leatherback turtle lay eggs on a moonlit seashore at Playa Grande.
Others are significantly much less profound. From howler monkeys screaming off our balcony to iguanas the scale of small canines, the wildlife in Costa Rica is superb.
We developed a barely ridiculous affection for Trits ice cream sandwiches and acquired them typically sufficient that they grew to become a part of our Costa Rica routine.
We additionally spent numerous time round Tamarindo and Guanacaste with the youngsters. Tamarindo was a kind of locations we liked and located irritating on the similar time. The seashore was unbelievable, the ambiance laid again and there was all the time one thing to do.
It was additionally unbelievably scorching throughout our keep, touristy in locations and, no less than once we have been there, a few of the native infrastructure was tough across the edges.
That blended expertise is precisely why we’d by no means inform somebody to maneuver to Costa Rica just because they’d a unbelievable trip there.
Dwelling someplace means seeing the entire bundle.
Who May Like Dwelling in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica has lengthy attracted retirees and worldwide residents, and it additionally has a proper digital nomad program for qualifying distant employees.
The present program permits eligible distant employees to remain for one 12 months with the opportunity of renewing for one more 12 months, topic to this system necessities. Costa Rica additionally has longer-term residency classes, together with pensioner and short-term resident choices.
The place you select to dwell issues enormously.
Life within the Central Valley round San José is kind of completely different from dwelling close to the Pacific seashores of Guanacaste. Local weather, healthcare entry, transportation and even how a lot English you hear on daily basis can change considerably relying on the place you agree.
StartAbroad at the moment helps Costa Rica strikes involving Pensionado, Rentista and Inversionista residency in addition to digital nomad stays, plus providers together with housing and relocation help.
Costa Rica could also be a great match for: retirees, distant employees and households who put heat climate, nature and outside dwelling excessive on their want listing.
Panama: An Attention-grabbing Choice for Retirees and Expats
Panama is the one nation on this listing we haven’t personally visited, so we are able to’t inform you which café has the very best espresso or what little day by day behavior would finally drive us loopy.
But.
What we are able to say is that Panama has been popping up in our orbit for years at any time when the dialog turns to retiring or shifting overseas.
And there are sensible causes for that.
Panama’s immigration system consists of a number of everlasting and short-term residence classes. The principle routes individuals have a tendency to take a look at are the Pensionado for retirees, the Pleasant Nations Visa for working-age individuals who can present financial ties, and the Certified Investor Visa for these placing cash into property or different qualifying property
That makes it notably attention-grabbing for retirees who’re evaluating worldwide choices.
One sensible wrinkle to learn about earlier than you begin: Panama legally requires purposes for short-term and everlasting residency permits to be filed via a authorized consultant. In different phrases, it is a nation the place hiring a Panamanian immigration lawyer is a part of the method fairly than an optionally available further.
There’s additionally an enormous distinction between contemplating Panama Metropolis and smaller communities elsewhere within the nation. Town and the lowlands are scorching and humid, whereas highland cities like Boquete, within the cooler Chiriquí area, have lengthy drawn retirees for the spring-like local weather. That is one other vacation spot the place I’d spend time exploring earlier than deciding the place to settle.
StartAbroad presents relocation providers in Panama that may embody immigration connections, airport pickup, medical planning, pet relocation and housing help.
Panama could also be a great match for: retirees and different long-term expats who need to discover a longtime worldwide relocation vacation spot in Central America.
Portugal vs Spain vs Costa Rica vs Panama at a Look
| Nation | Could Be Finest For | Way of life | One Large Attraction | One thing to Assume About |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | Retirees, households, distant employees | Relaxed European | European entry and regional selection | Choosing the proper residency route |
| Spain | Households, retirees, distant professionals | Social, walkable in lots of areas, later day by day rhythm | Big number of cities and areas | Forms and matching your visa as to if you’ll work |
| Costa Rica | Nature lovers, retirees, distant employees | Tropical and outdoor-focused | Seashores, wildlife and outside dwelling | Infrastructure and local weather fluctuate significantly by location |
| Panama | Retirees and long-term expats | Varies from big-city to relaxed smaller communities | Established residency choices, together with a pensioner class | Residency purposes require authorized illustration |
So Which Nation Is Finest for You?
If we needed to slender it down by life-style fairly than making an attempt to crown one nation the winner, that is how we’d begin fascinated by it.
Take into account Portugal If…
You want the concept of dwelling in Europe and wish loads of selections between cities, smaller cities and coastal areas.
Portugal is especially attention-grabbing in case you’re retiring, working remotely or in search of a European base that feels manageable in measurement.
Take into account Spain If…
You need regional selection and luxuriate in a social tradition the place consuming, strolling, espresso and time spent exterior are woven into on a regular basis life.
Of the 4, Spain might be the nation the place we’ve had the strongest style of strange day-to-day dwelling, and we might actually image ourselves spending for much longer there.
Take into account Costa Rica If…
Your dream life entails heat climate, seashores, wildlife and spending numerous time outside.
Spend a while within the particular area you’re contemplating first. Costa Rica can really feel remarkably completely different from one a part of the nation to a different.
Take into account Panama If…
Retirement is a significant a part of your plan and also you’re interested by a rustic with established residence classes for pensioners and different long-term residents.
We’d put Panama firmly within the research-and-go-visit class for ourselves as a result of we haven’t skilled it firsthand but.
Choosing a Nation Is Solely the Starting
That is the half that may sneak up on you.
You spend months dreaming a couple of tiled condominium in Portugal or a home close to the seashore in Costa Rica, lastly determine the place you need to go after which notice there are roughly 9 thousand sensible issues between you and really dwelling there.
Okay, 9 thousand is likely to be a slight exaggeration.
However worldwide strikes include paperwork.
Relying in your state of affairs, it’s possible you’ll must take care of:
- Visas and residency
- Taxes
- Native banking
- Healthcare and insurance coverage
- Discovering a long-term dwelling
- Transferring your belongings
- Bringing pets
- Colleges
- Utilities and telephones
- Transportation
- The logistics of really arriving and getting settled
We’ve been touring internationally since 2003, and even in any case these years, new nations nonetheless repeatedly discover methods to shock us with a course of or piece of paperwork we didn’t know existed.
That’s the facet of shifting overseas that StartAbroad is designed to assist with.
How StartAbroad Helps With an Worldwide Transfer
StartAbroad is a done-for-you relocation firm centered on strikes to Portugal, Spain, Costa Rica and Panama.
Their providers fluctuate considerably by vacation spot and the sort of help you select, however can embody assist with visas, banking, housing, delivery, faculties, pet relocation and arrival logistics.
One a part of their strategy that caught our consideration is that shoppers work with one devoted relocation specialist from begin to end. StartAbroad describes this as a single one who is aware of your state of affairs and stays with you all through the transfer fairly than repeatedly handing you off to somebody new.
They work with:
- Retirees planning a world transfer
- Households shifting with children or pets
- Digital nomads
- Professionals shifting overseas long run
StartAbroad says it has now helped relocate greater than 1,000 shoppers and stories a 100% success price for qualifying shoppers. Purchasers additionally get entry to a portal displaying what has been accomplished, what comes subsequent and what StartAbroad wants from them.
That final half appeals to me as a result of worldwide paperwork has a outstanding capability to show right into a pile of emails, paperwork and sticky notes surprisingly quick.
Begin Planning for Free With StartAbroad Navigator
In the event you’re nonetheless within the someday-I-might-do-this stage, you don’t essentially want to leap straight right into a full relocation service.
StartAbroad has additionally launched Navigator, a free software designed that will help you arrange your transfer step-by-step.
The present Navigator consists of planning instruments similar to visa checklists, pre-arrival checklists and relocation assets, with particular person providers out there in case you want extra assist later.
You’ll be able to check out StartAbroad Navigator here.
It’s a helpful start line in case you’re making an attempt to show a imprecise thought of shifting overseas into an precise listing of issues that you must work out.
Speak to a Relocation Specialist for Free
In the event you’re additional alongside and have already got questions on your transfer, StartAbroad additionally presents a free 15-minute session with a world relocation specialist.
Start planning your move with StartAbroad
Use coupon code BAREFOOT to save lots of 5%.
The place Might You See Your self Dwelling?
After greater than 20 years of journey, we’ve discovered that visiting someplace and picturing an precise Tuesday afternoon there are two fully various things.
Might you grocery store there? Get round comfortably? Discover healthcare if you want it? Make pals? Take care of the climate for months as a substitute of per week?
And, simply as necessary, does the rhythm of the place really feel proper?
Portugal, Spain and Costa Rica have all given us moments the place we might image what life there may seem like and we’ve significantly regarded into shifting to 2 of them. Panama continues to be ready for us to return examine it correctly.
In the event you’re contemplating a transfer your self, spend a while pondering past the postcard model of the nation. Analysis the sensible items, go to the world you’re fascinated by beforehand and attempt to keep someplace extra native than a resort or perhaps a lodge.
Take note of the little issues when you’re there. Go to the native grocery retailer, take a look at a houseware part and picture what sorts of belongings you would want to do on a daily go to. You probably have children, take a look at the place they’d go to high school and discover out what choices they’ve for actions.
In the event you’re a retiree, look into what providers can be found and what actions you could possibly turn out to be part of. If planning to work remotely, discover out what web is like and whether or not there’s any native locations to fulfill up with different distant working expats as they’ll have a greater thought of the realities of dwelling there on daily basis.
And when sometime begins turning into an precise plan, take a look at StartAbroad, they will help you’re employed via the sensible facet of shifting overseas, from visas and housing to banking, delivery and getting settled.
Use coupon code BAREFOOT to save lots of 5%.