The 20 Best Places in Europe for Americans to Invest, Live, and Work
Based on the most varied criteria, including the presence of an international school, quality of life, health system, Internet connection, proximity to airports with international flights, cost of living, active expat community, and low crime rate, the organisation Best European Destinations (EBD) revealed its rankings for the best European places for American expatriates to live, invest, retire, and create new projects.
The 20 finalists, of which 3 are Portuguese cities, were chosen from a first selection of 120 destinations, the first being Braga.
The Portuguese are explorers, and it is to them that we owe many discoveries. Facing the ocean, Portugal is open to the world. Openness and entrepreneurship are two important qualities that we find in Braga.
Braga is the third city in Portugal, and it is considered to be the happiest city in the country. It is also on the podium of European cities with the best quality of life.
For many years, Braga hosted start-ups and international events. Famous for its history and gastronomy, this ‘Portuguese Rome’ attracts not only businesspeople and families (for its quality of life, green spaces, and international schools), but also those who wish to invest in tourism. The city has one of the highest growth rates in Europe in the sector.
Recently, Braga was recognised for its speed and effectiveness in the battle against Covid-19, demonstrating its capacity for innovation and dynamism.
As the capital of the region of Minho, international companies such as Philips, Bosch, and Continental have a very important presence, as well as start-ups and high-tech companies.
There are regular flights from Oporto to US airports.
The second highly praised place is the region of Algarve, which, with just under 500 000 inhabitants, has one of the lowest population densities in Europe, some of the most beautiful beaches, and more than 330 days of sunshine per year.
With its enviable quality of life, the region attracts not only English, French, German, and Italian pensioners, but also young workers.
The Algarve is just 30 minutes by plane from Lisbon, which has a direct connection to the main US airports.
There are also several international schools in the area, the Algarve being recommended for both digital nomads and families.
Finally, the archipelago of the Azores: Historically speaking, a large segment of the Portuguese who settled in the USA came from the Azores, especially those who settled in Massachusetts for the extinct whale trade.
The Azores, discovered by the Portuguese centuries ago, is an archipelago of nine incredible islands.
Many incentives have been put in place by the regional government to attract companies and start-ups. With reduced VAT (5%, 10%, 18%) the Azores is among the European destinations with the best quality of life, and the best quality-price ratio in the real estate market. The average price per square metre in the Azores is almost three times lower than the average price in the USA.
Unlike Paris, Barcelona, and Berlin, the regional government of the Azores favours the installation of tourist trips, and offers low tax rates.
The nine islands of the Azores are easily accessible by plane and boat, with direct flights to the mainland and also to the USA.
