US retiree moved to Portugal: 'I finally feel at home'
A former corporate finance worker from the US moved to Portugal after her pension was no longer enough to maintain her previous lifestyle. She now says life in Porto is safer, cheaper and more fulfilling.
Five years ago, Paula Dreifusa, a mother of two from Texas, made a decision that surprised many of her acquaintances: she moved alone from the US to Portugal, even though she had never visited the country. Today she calls it one of the best decisions of her life.
A new life in Porto
Dreifusa now lives in Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city, known for its wine and impressive bridges. In an interview with CNN, she says her daily life has become much more fulfilling, with regular visits to museums, cinemas and the wineries of the Douro Valley. When her daughter once visited and asked what they did all day, a friend of Paula’s simply raised a glass of wine and replied: “Exactly that.”
Why she left the US
Previously, Paula lived in San Diego, California, where she became a teacher after a career in corporate finance. She expected her pension to provide a comfortable life, but rising costs made that impossible. Even eating out several times a week — now a routine part of life in Portugal — had become a luxury in California.
At first she considered moving to another US state, but found nowhere with low enough living costs. Because she had always dreamed of travelling more in Europe, she decided to look into moving there. After researching the requirements in different countries, she concluded she could qualify for Portugal’s D7 visa, which is meant for people with stable passive income.
The pandemic and politics accelerated the move
Paula had never been to Portugal, so she could not visit beforehand. She thought that if she did not like Portugal, she could move to Spain or France. The final decision was accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the political situation in the US.
In 2021, after receiving her visa, she sold her home in California, got rid of most of her belongings and headed to Portugal with her dog Charlie and just four suitcases. A few days in Lisbon made her feel the capital was too big and reminded her of the US, but Porto immediately felt like the right place.
Safety, healthcare and lower costs
Paula says the responsiveness of Porto’s residents was a key reason she stayed. Every time she thought about sitting down on the curb and crying, someone came over and asked if she needed help. She soon built a wide circle of friends she regularly meets for dinner, coffee or a glass of wine.
She considers safety one of the biggest gains. In Porto, she says, she can go for a walk alone at night without worry, while she did not feel as safe doing so in San Diego. She also praises Portugal’s healthcare, saying it is significantly cheaper than in the US and also better in quality.
Although the cost of living in Portugal has risen in recent years, Paula estimates her everyday expenses are still about 40–50% lower than in the US. During this time she has visited London, Paris, Seville, Vienna, Marseille and Toulouse, and in the future she wants to explore Italy and Europe’s Atlantic coast.
She has now started the process of obtaining Portuguese citizenship and cannot imagine returning to live permanently in the US. “I think I have finally come home,” she says. “When I return to Portugal, I always feel a huge relief. Then I understand that this is where I am supposed to be.”
