Experience in Porto, Portugal by Jude Thaddeus

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What is it like to live in Porto? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Porto is a great city. It is small enough to be extremely walkable. You can walk anywhere you'd like to go in 20 minutes. The city is beautiful, it has beaches and a wonderful coffee culture. The people are some of the friendliest I have met, always willing to help a foreigner and they do it with a smile.

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How much does it cost to live in Porto?

Food is extremely cheap. I would guess overall restaurants are about 30-40% less than major cities in the US. For instance, I can get a great steak sandwich, bread and a drink for about 11 USD or a wonderful gourmet burger, fried and drink for about 7 USD. Coffee and pastries are extremely cheap - less than 1 USD for coffee and about 1 USD for a pastry. Housing is about 30% less too with a studio apartment in a central location is about 500 USD. With a little effort, I believe you can find cheaper, especially if you are OK with sharing a kitchen and bathroom. I think you could live well on $1,000 - $1,500 USD a month.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Porto? Is there any advice you can give?

It is not difficult to find, but it it difficult to find cheap/reasonably priced accommodations. The internet is useful - uniplaces.com and airbnb. But these are more expensive. There is a facebook page with cheaper rentals. The best advice is to spend a few days walking around talking to people in guest houses and hostels about how to find apartments. Also, there are a few co-work spaces here. The people at these co-work spaces also have great advice on where to lead for reasonable apartments/rooms.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The coffee and pastries have been wonderful. The burgers are very good. I have not found much else I enjoy. The food culture seems focused on meat. I eat a lot of vegetables normally. Vegetables don't seem to play a big role in their food culture.

What places would you recommend visiting in Porto?

I have not been here long enough to have good recommendations.

Is it good to eat out in Porto? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Food is cheaper. My favorite place so far is Hamburgeria Edgema. I don't eat out much.

Is the nightlife good in Porto? Where is good to go?

I don't go out.

What advice would you give future students heading to Porto?

Do as much research as possible on line re apartments/rooms. If you can't find something, books something for 4-5 days on airbnb and then spend those 4-5 days walking around the city and talking to people. You will find what you need.

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