What Do We Need to Survive??

[fraserjames1]

Hi

This is my first post and I was hoping to get some guidance please. I am in the process of negotiating a job with a UK company based in Portugal. It has always been our dream to live there, so we are all pretty excited!

However, whilst I know that the cost of living is lower than in the UK, I am still not sure what level of income we would need to be comfortable. If I tell you a little about us, could anyone hazard a rough guess what we might need to ask for as a salary? The clues are:

- we won't need to pay rent or mortgage
- we have two children (6 and 7) who would, ideally, go to an International school
- we will need to run two cars
- we like eating out, maybe once or twice a week
- we have two small dogs
- we will need to pay service costs on a 3/4 bedroom house (electricity, water, etc)
- we will need broadband access at home

I realise that this is all a bit vague but if anyone could give me a ballpark target, that would really help us!!

Thanks and kind regards

Dave

[MichelleAlison]

Hi Dave and welcome to the forum.

I am sure there is somebody out there who can offer you some advice.

Good luck

Michelle

[ketan]

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the forum. I have been living in Portugal for 8 years now, and I´ll be pleased to help answer some of your questions. However to start off need to know where abouts in Portugal you are moving to, and weather you and your wife will both be working or only you.
This info will make all the difference in the world!!!!

Waiting to hear from you.
Regards.
Ketan

[solarq]

Just might give you a hint on some of your questions.

Yesterday I paid € 1,43 for one liter of patrol (95 octan).
I went out for dinner with some friends of a Forum and paid € 12,-.
Our 2 medium sized dogs cost us about € 100,- as they are on a special diet.
You might get broadband access starting from something like € 20,- depending on the traffic.

[fraserjames1]

Thanks Ketan and Solarq
We will be living somewhere near Luz/Lagos and, whilst my wife in multi-lingual (so may well get a job), I would prefer to budget on the basis that only I will be working.
I was really just wondering at what level of salary you think we would be comfortable?? Kind regards Dave

[omostra06]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

[solarq]

Although it is cheap to have a beer or a coffee some place, living in Portugal is not very easy. Living comfortably for a family, sending kids to a private school, I guess you would need at least about €3000.

[Gillyann]

In our experience we did find the cost of food at local markets very cheap and also fresh if that is any help.