Living in Braga: A Guide for Foreigners

The stunning city of Braga, in northern Portugal, is often overlooked as a destination for expats, in favor of better-known cities such as Lisbon and Porto. However, Braga, with its rich culture, history, and relaxed atmosphere, is a charming city and a vibrant and excellent place for expats from all walks of life. In this article, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know about living in Braga.  

Where is Braga?

Located to the northeast of Porto, you’ll find Braga, an ancient city, which is often regarded as the historical and religious center of the country, with many architectural masterpieces to explore and a colorful culture to experience. In close proximity to the Spanish border, Braga is a convenient springboard for a weekend visit to Spain, letting you enjoy the best of two excellent European countries.

Top Reasons for Living in Braga

Portuguese cities are known for their vibrant culture, exquisite cuisine, and friendly locals. Braga is no exception, and in the following section, you’ll find out more about business, safety, and tax benefits, as well as its convenient location close to some stunning beaches. 

Outstanding business location

Although Braga is well-known for being a historical gem, it’s fast becoming a desirable business hub and destination for investors to set up enterprises in various industries. In addition, many companies are looking for foreign language speakers, making Braga a favorable location for expats with language skills. 

Safe and tolerant

Portugal as a country is well-known for its friendly citizens and welcoming locals. It’s also listed as number seven in the Global Peace Index 2023, making it one of the safest places to live in the world. In comparison, the UK clocked in at number 34, and the USA ranked in 129th position on the list.

Crime in Braga, Portugal, is low, although, as with every European city, common sense for personal safety is always recommended. You’ll find the city as welcoming and tolerant as Portugal’s other cities, which are far less dangerous than other European cities.

Other beaches close by are:

• Praia Fluvial de Cavez
• Praia de Cepães, which is only a half-hour drive from Braga center

Don’t forget the proximity to Spain. Only over an hour away is Samil Beach, a 1.7 km long beach with great public transport connections, as well as disabled access during the summer months.  

Tax benefits

Living in Portugal has many benefits, and one of them is the country’s reasonable cost of living. On top of that, expats can also enjoy great tax benefits and tax breaks, depending on their eligibility. Portugal’s Non-Habitual Tax scheme (NHR scheme) gives certain professions tax exceptions, and, in addition, if you earn money outside of Portugal, you don’t have to pay tax on that either.  

For further information on the Portugal NHR tax regime, including Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs), consult our comprehensive article about the Portugal NHR Program.

Maximinos, Sé e Cividade

A relatively young neighborhood, born in 2013 through the merging of the two quarters, Maximinos and Sé e Cividade, this area of Braga is home to many historical buildings and houses. Many of them have been renovated, making this neighborhood a perfect location to set up a new home.

Briteiros, Vila Verde em Espinho

Located outside Braga’s city center, Briteiros, Vila Verde em Espinho provides everything its residents need, meaning its ideal for families and those who don’t want to be in the middle of a busy city. However, good public transport links, one of Portugal’s strengths, ensure you can reach Braga’s center in no time.

Buying or Renting a House in Braga as a Foreigner

Whether you’re after a rental in Braga or are looking for houses for sale, you’ll have plenty of options available for any budget. 

Buying a home in Braga

Depending on your preferences and budget, you can buy reasonably priced real estate in Braga, be it an apartment, townhouse, or a bigger family home. Luxury property and villas are also available, and you can read more in our article Braga Portugal Real Estate.

Buying property in Braga follows the same rules for foreigners as in the rest of Portugal, and you can find a detailed guide to everything you need to know in our Three Key Essentials To Buying Property in Portugal guide. 

Renting a house in Braga

For a less permanent living solution, there are plenty of places to rent in Braga and its beautiful neighborhoods. Check out Airbnb to find a place if you’re staying short-term and want to get used to Braga. Rentola and Idealista are great starting points once you’re ready to look for long-term rentals, but don’t forget to check local Facebook groups, which can also be helpful.

How to Live in Braga as a Foreign Citizen: Residence Permits and Visas

Living in Braga as an expat is the reality for many foreigners from all walks of life and nationalities. Depending on your country of origin, you will need different documents and routes to residency or citizenship, and you may need assistance from external agencies before relocating.

Living in Braga as an EU citizen

As a European citizen, the freedom to travel, live, and work within the member states is yours. Moving to another member state of the European Union (EU) is relatively straightforward, and you won’t need a visa to remain in the country.

After three months (before which you are technically a tourist), you must apply for residency to stay longer in the country. You can get a residency card from any local town hall, given that you have your national ID card or a passport for identification. You also have to get your national tax identification number (NIF) for financial and tax purposes.

While the process for EU citizens is easier, you will still have to prove that you are financially independent and have valid health insurance to show that you’re not reliant on the Portuguese welfare system to survive.

Living in Braga as a non-EU citizen

As a non-EU citizen, you are subjected to a bit more bureaucracy and some administrative steps before a Portuguese residency card can be yours. This will take a little longer and may seem complicated, but there is plenty of expert advice available to make the application  smoother.

Our residency and citizenship division, Global Citizen Solutions, has experts who can help you realize your dream of living in Portugal and answer all your questions before you start the relocation process.

Living in Braga with the Portugal Golden Visa

Portugal has one of the most attractive Golden Visa programs with exceptional opportunities for eligible candidates, with its residency-by-investment scheme being one of the most popular investment programs in the international market. The following investment options are available for eligible expats:

• Investment funds (from €500,000)
• An investment of €250,000 in support of the arts or reconstruction of national heritage
• A contribution to scientific research (from €500,000)

For a full list and more details of Golden Visa options, you can consult our Portugal Golden Visa: Your Ultimate Guide 2023.

Living in Braga with the D7 Visa

Making a substantial investment may not be a viable option for some, so Portugal’s D7 Visa is a great alternative for non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss citizens. Through this visa, you will gain access to residency in Portugal as long as you have enough income to live independently.

You will need to prove that you earn at least €820 per month, although this income doesn’t need to come from employment in Portugal. In fact, this monthly amount can be from remote work or a retirement fund.
Our comprehensive article and guide on Portugal’s D7 Visa will give you more details about this option, including the inclusion of dependents and attractive tax benefits.

Braga, Portugal Cost of Living

Generally, the expenses and outgoings in Portugal are lower than in most other European countries. It’s important to note that the south of Portugal, being a popular tourist destination, is more expensive than the north of the country. This means that the cost of living in Braga, situated north of Porto, is considerably lower than that in southern cities, such as Faro, Lagos, or Albufeira.   

Accommodation

Braga’s accommodation prices are reasonable and cheaper than in Portugal’s major cities. The rental of a one-bedroom apartment is around between €604 per month in the center of Braga and €487 per month outside the center. In 2024, prices per square meter for buying real estate in Braga average at €2,800 in the center and €1,750 outside Braga’s city center.

Above costs are from Numbeo.

Food

In Portugal, the cost of groceries is cheaper than in many other European countries. Of course, it depends on an individual’s or family’s lifestyle and requirements.

The table below gives an overview of prices of basic food items:

Above costs are estimated and from Numbeo as of January 2023.

Schools

Expats looking to relocate with children will be pleased to know that Portugal’s education system is excellent and that there are both public and international schools available to choose from. 

In Braga’s district Gualtar, you can find schools and a university, and one international school, the Braga International School. The latter follows an English curriculum and caters to children between three and eighteen years of age. To find out more about Braga’s schools, you can read our article on Braga’s international schools here.

Braga is not only the perfect city for families, it’s also a great place for young people. Braga is a popular university town and therefore has a great international scene. Everyday life is exciting in northern Portugal, with affordable and good transport links and Porto airport close by, making Portugal’s oldest city a desirable place for many young people.

Language

English is widely spoken in Portugal, although not as an official language. As Braga is a university city with around 20,000 students, you’ll find it easy to communicate, as the younger generations speak excellent English.

Of course, nothing beats speaking the Portuguese language to impress the locals and to allow for a more authentic experience as an expat.

Living in Braga: Pros and Cons

As with every place, there are plus points and some drawbacks. In this short overview, we look at Braga’s pros and cons.

Advantages

Braga is an exciting and vibrant city with plenty to offer for people from all walks of life. Some of its biggest advantages are:

• High standard of living at an affordable cost in Portugal’s oldest city
• A variety of business opportunities, also for foreign language speakers
• Plenty of job opportunities 
• A versatile place with historical monuments and modern properties alike
• A safe and friendly city
• Less busy than big cities such as Lisbon and Porto
• A good climate with warm summers and cooler winter months
• A broad variety of cultural events and festivals
• An authentic hub of Portuguese culture

Resident access to the national health service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde) or affordable private healthcare

Drawbacks

No place is perfect, and there are some realistic but manageable cons to living in Braga:

• Bureaucracy can be time-consuming
• Less choice than in bigger cities
• Winter months can be cold and wet
• Some rental properties and real estate don’t have central heating for those colder months