Family shares cost of living after moving from Canada to Portugal

After relocating from Canada to Portugal, Andrew Murray and Marie Torres have discovered an idyllic and slower-paced life with their family in a small village.

Life certainly looks different these days after the family moved across the Atlantic from Nova Scotia in 2021 to a small town called Sintra, just outside Lisbon.

“I wake up naturally without an alarm,” said Andrew. “And I do a little stretching routine. Most days, I walk to a local padaria (bakery) and get some freshly baked bread. The store has no sign on the door.”

Andrew, 48, and Marie, 48, are parents to Jack, 16, and Henry, nine. The couple, who manage an online marketing company, are no strangers to relocating.

Before settling down in Nova Scotia, the pair lived in Toronto and rural parts of Ontario. Once they had children, they also travelled a lot, exploring Europe, Central America, and Southeast Asia. But it was a trip to France that changed Andrew’s perspective.

“I could see life was different in Paris, the way the people stopped at a cafe, impromptu, and had a cafe or a glass of wine, and it wasn’t a big deal like in Canada, where you have to make plans, get in the car, and drive to a restaurant,” he said. “It felt more like a natural part of the movement of life. We got used to getting fresh bread in the morning and doing all of our grocery shopping within walking distance.”

Making the move

Like many people, the COVID-19 pandemic changed many aspects of the family’s life.

“I think COVID-19 made it clear that the rules we lived by for our whole lives did not necessarily carry forward in the same way,” explained Andrew.

He also feels that with high taxes and expensive rent, it’s tough being a small business owner in Canada. As soon as borders opened up, he said they realized it was “now or never.” Belgium, Ireland, and Denmark were on the table, but as soon as Andrew suggested Portugal, the entire family agreed.

“Thinking back, we could have landed anywhere. We were ready for a major change,” said Andrew.

Their eldest son, Jack, recalls the weeks leading up to their move, describing it as “surreal.”

“We were so busy. We had this big whiteboard where we wrote down all of our tasks and the things we needed to do before we left,” he shared. “At one point, I wasn’t sure if we’d get it all done!”

“We left for Portugal with four suitcases, but we didn’t sell our house in Nova Scotia, so we didn’t have to dispose of everything we owned,” explained Marie. “In fact, we still have our house, but you realize how much you can live without and what is essential.”

Andrew agreed, stating, “Sometimes you end up packing things you don’t really use — like an apron, for example. I still have not used it once.”

Luckily, immigration wasn’t an issue. Because of his Irish grandfather, Andrew is an EU citizen, as are his sons. Marie applied for her residency as soon as she arrived. However, the family had to register themselves upon arrival in Portugal, a process involving a lot of paperwork that she describes as “quite the ordeal.”

Adjusting to life abroad

Marie had long dreamed of living abroad, but reality proved to be much more challenging. While Andrew and his sons quickly adjusted to their new surroundings, it was different for Marie.

“I cried every morning for a few months because I was missing my mom, Canada, and everything familiar. Mind you, I really liked Portugal, but I was homesick,” she said, adding that her youngest son, Henry, also missed their home, his room, and his toys.

But eventually, what was once new became familiar.

“Suddenly, I knew where I was going and could navigate without maps. I started to recognize things, and I started to embrace my surroundings,” she said.

They swapped the Airbnbs for a two-bedroom rental house in the Sintra area where they’ve been living for the past three years. Eventually, the family developed a routine.

Andrew said he gets work done in the morning “before the house gets louder.” After breakfast or lunch together, he said he usually naps and sometimes walks around town in the afternoon.

“Our children are in a self-directed international school,” he explained. “So there are often multiple Zoom meetings going on at the same time. The internet is critical to our lives.”

After dinner, it’s time for the kids’ activities: both of their sons play football. Jack plays football at an elite level, while Henry is a hip-hop dancer.

Jack said that moving has been a “blessing” and helped their family live “a simpler, more intentional life.” He’s also observed how the move has affected his parents.

“I think my parents really enjoy the ease of going out to the local cafe and getting coffee, or walking to the bakery in the morning to get fresh sourdough bread,” he shared. “I think it’s really helped them unwind and live more in the present.”

Once they got their bearings, the family started documenting their life abroad on their YouTube and TikTok channel, “Slow Living Portugal.”

“Now that we have settled and life is calmer, we love looking back at all the old videos and realizing how far we’ve come and how happy we are living here,” said Marie.

So, how much does it cost to live in Portugal? Below, Andrew and Marie share some of their family’s regular monthly expenses in Canadian dollars:

• Rent: $1,731 (includes electricity/utilities, and internet)
• Groceries: $1,416
• Dining out: $393
• Transportation: $865 (car lease, insurance, maintenance, and repairs)
• Phone: $28 for two phones
• Health insurance: $31 (for the entire family)
• Medications: $15 every couple of months
• Kids’ activities: $157

The pros and cons

As much as Marie and Andrew love their life in Portugal, they admit that there have been some bumps along the way.

“Even if you are excited to go, there are a number of challenges: dropping yourself into a completely different culture, not knowing the language, and feeling isolated. Bewildered, really,” Marie explained. “Being away from everything familiar, missing family and friends. Being away from my elderly mother has been hard.”

Although he’s studying Portuguese, Andrew admits that communicating with locals can be hard. He added that it’s also a little difficult to get some specialty items in Portugal and that he misses Costco. He also acknowledges that housing in the country is an issue and that the salary can’t keep up with the cost of living.

But for the couple, the pros outweigh the cons.

Warm weather year-round certainly doesn’t hurt either — in nearby Lisbon, the coldest it gets in winter is 14°C, according to the U.K.’s Met Office. Andrew said that they also have access to amazing food and incredible seafood. But most of all, he’s grateful that his children get to experience a different culture.

“In Canada, everyone is always rushing everywhere and driving on long, straight highways. And if you’re in a city, you’re spending too much time in the left-turn lane,” he explained. “Portugal is completely different. Even the large cities, like Lisbon, feel smaller, more secure, more vibrant, and more historic.”

Marie said that although she misses the coziness of Christmas holidays in Canada, she’s not sure if her family will return to Canada, having grown accustomed to the pace of life in Portugal.

“Andrew is definitely not interested in going back, so the question is now whether we will keep our home there,” she said.

Although the move certainly hasn’t been easy, Marie said that Portugal has opened their eyes to a new way of life. For those interested in moving abroad, she advises giving yourself time to adjust.

“Also, remember, you can always pivot. If you don’t like something, you are never stuck anywhere,” she said.

Andrew added, “It’s always hard to leave what you know, but it can be equally, if not more, rewarding.”

Are you a Canadian living abroad? Or are you considering moving abroad? We’d love to hear from you for a future story. Email us at trending@dailyhive.com

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