TOURIST IN PORTUGAL CAN GIVE BACK TO THE LOCALS
- mcoelho813
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 28
How can you give back when traveling in Portugal?
How can travelers leave a positive impact on the places they visit?
Buy pet food and drop it off at a Dog shelter. Some grocery stores have a cart near the exit to donate pet food.
Buy school supplies and drop items off at a local school
Tip for services such as servers in restaurants, nail salon, drivers
Donate to local Churches
Volunteer at a Lar, an adult daycare center
Spend a few hours cleaning up a local beach
Buy goods made in Portugal - avoid purchasing cork products from outdoor vendors. It's usually fake
Hire local tour guides- not 3rd party apps
Hire a car transport/ driver
Eat out - eat organic- eat local
Volunteer for a cause you care about
Donate your unused food to a shelter
Perform random acts of kindness
Support small businesses
Leave No Trace - don't carve your name in wood or benches, don't put stickers on public places, don't take things from a public place like a branch or seeds
Follow local recycling guidelines in public spaces, bring a reusable water bottle, and wear a backpack to store items or food. Don't leave trash behind.
Stay with a host family
Regenerative travel is a concept that encourages travelers to help restore and rejuvenate the environment and local communities they visit. (Volunteer to help a family pick grapes and make wine in September)
Donate at your local food store. They are always collecting food for local animal shelters
Think about the locals. Research the area you are visiting. How can you make your trip positive for you and them?
Relocating in Portugal- Becoming an Expat
Do Expats and non-EU citizens have tax freedom in Portugal?
If you are a non-EU resident planning a trip to Portugal, you might not realise that you are eligible for tax-free shopping. Even if shopping is not your “thing”, you may want to purchase some Portuguese wines, produce, jewellery, clothing or crafts to take home.
What is the average monthly salary for a Portuguese citizen versus an American citizen?
According to Expatica.com, "Minimum wage in Portugal
As of 2025, Portugal's minimum wage is €870 per month, ranking 11th in the European Union. Portugal’s minimum wage is higher than Cyprus’s and slightly lower than Lithuania’s.
Portuguese minimum salaries are based on 14 payments of €870 per year, excluding allowances and tips – workers in Portugal tend to receive a monthly wage plus two extra payments in summer and around Christmas." The islands of Madeira are €915 per month, while the Azores are €913.50.
Note that the minimum wage in Portugal is lower than the average monthly salary. The average monthly salary in 2024 was 1200/ month. (Immigrant Invest)
What is the average monthly income for a retired couple from America?
It varies depending on age and pension amount. A retired teacher from New Jersey could collect a monthly pension of $4500.00.
Watch American TV while in Portugal. Buy a Fire Stick.
We use it all the time and canceled our cable.
Is it possible to live on minimum wage in Portugal?
What is the cost of living in Portugal?
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How do Portugal's monthly wages compare to other EU countries?
Lisbon vs. Washington, D.C.
Lisbon prices are approximately 38 % lower than in Washington, D.C.
Rent in Lisbon is 47 % less than in Washington, D.C.
Groceries in Lisbon are 45% lower.
Rent in Lisbon is approximately E 1,500 / month (euros) for a one-bedroom apartment.
As of 2025, the minimum wage in Portugal is €870 per month, ranking 11th in the European Union. Portugal’s minimum wage is higher than Cyprus’s and slightly lower than Lithuania’s.
Portuguese minimum salaries are based on 14 payments of €870 per year, excluding allowances and tips. Most workers in Portugal receive a monthly pay plus two extra payments in summer and around Christmas.
This is a total of 14 pays.
What are the consequences of Nomads and Expats relocating to Portugal?
The economy in Portugal has had its ups and downs. Since many Nomads and Expats have relocated to Portugal for work or retirement in the past 3 years, the locals find it difficult to afford housing and essentials. When financially stable people relocate to Portugal with investments and money in the bank, it creates a challenge for the local Portuguese people to compete with the same level of finances. Opinions differ, but some people believe that foreigners renting long-term units are creating unaffordable rentals for the locals.
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