We Chose Portugal over Spain, France, and Italy. 2 Years Later, Do We REGRET It?

The Unretirees • January 25, 2026
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The Unretirees

@theunretirees

About

Welcome to The Unretirees – Redefining Life & Work After 50! Traditional retirement isn’t for everyone. We chose a different path—one that gives us location, time, financial, and purpose freedom after 50. Welcome to The Unretirees, where we share how to create a flexible income, live abroad, and design a life that truly works for you. Our journey started with moving to Portugal, and while we still share insights on life here, our focus has expanded. We help empty-nesters and those aged 50-65 earn remotely, travel more, and create a fulfilling lifestyle. If you’re ready to break free from traditional retirement and build income on your terms, join us and start your Unretiree journey! For Business inquiries, please use the contact information đź“© Email: [email protected] đź”” Ditch the traditional retirement plan! Hit subscribe and discover how to create flexible income, live abroad, and design a life of freedom after 50! https://www.youtube.com/@TheUnretirees/?sub_confirmation=1

Video Description

📨 SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER → https://www.theunretirees.com/subscribe Two and a half years ago, we made the decision to move to Portugal instead of moving to Spain, moving to France, or moving to Italy. Like many people researching life abroad, we were comparing safety, healthcare, cost of living, climate, and long-term residency options across Southern and Western Europe. At the time, Portugal seemed like the best country to move to in Europe. The healthcare system was strong, the country felt exceptionally safe, the cost of living was lower than much of the U.S., and Portugal offered a relatively clear path to residency and citizenship. A lot has changed since then. Portugal’s NHR tax program for expats has ended for new applicants, housing prices in Portugal have increased, and the pathway to Portuguese citizenship may change. These shifts raise an important question for anyone considering a move abroad today: knowing what we know now, would we still choose Portugal over Spain, France, or Italy? In this video, we compare Portugal vs Spain vs France vs Italy based on our real-world experience living in Europe for more than two years. We also share how our priorities have changed since moving abroad, and how those changes would affect our decision if we were starting over today. We cover: - What mattered most to us when choosing a country to move abroad - Living in Portugal as expats after 50 - Portugal cost of living, safety, and healthcare compared to Spain, France, and Italy - Why we ruled out Spain, France, and Italy at the time - How residency, citizenship timelines, and tax policy affect long-term planning - The one European country we would seriously consider today that wasn’t on our radar before This video is especially relevant if you’re: - Researching moving to Portugal from the U.S. - Comparing Portugal vs Spain for expats - Considering living in Italy or France after retirement - Looking for the best European country to move to after 50 - Planning a move to Europe that balances lifestyle, healthcare, and long-term stability Hi, we’re Matt and Dawn. In 2023, we decided not to retire, but to move to Europe instead. Today, we live, work, and travel from Portugal’s Silver Coast, and we share what we’ve learned about expat life, healthcare, visas, and building flexible income abroad. 🎥 WATCH NEXT: Living on Portugal’s Silver Coast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg-SzZV_Fl8&list=PLlTY5kSoruZDQ6TuhQi2RZODwYswnHSQN Netherlands DAFT Visa Explained: https://youtu.be/5HHbTu-Of2A?si=8pshc8hdRNViij_i 💬 Join the Conversation If you’re considering moving to Portugal, Spain, France, or Italy, or you’ve already made the move, tell us in the comments which country you would choose today and why.

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