Job Discussion Forums

Leon30 · Joined: 18 Sep 2006 Posts: 60 Location: South Korea

Hi. I will be relocating to Lisbon, Portugal in late 2007. I will not work full time as I have other objectives. I will live on my own savings and try to obtain a few part time hours a week or private lessons to cover rent or towards living costs.

My questions to anyone with the knowledge are -

1. What is the average rent for a one person, average (not shoebox) size apartment in Lisbon and what would one expect to pay in monthly utility bills...? Also what type of deposits / rent in advance are expected...?

2. How easy or difficult would it be to secure enough part time work or private work teaching English to merely pay rent each month....? I am a native English speaking UK citizen so have no problem with visas etc... I have three years experience in Korea, am presentable and proffessional when it comes to teaching and may well have a CELTA also. I would use my savings for all other living costs, which I'd assume are about the same or possibly less than in Korea, based on a visit to Lisbon last year.

Any info will be greatly appreciated... Smile

Thanx

L

CriminallyInane · Joined: 18 Sep 2006 Posts: 3

Hi there,

I can def help you with 1, but maybe not 2.

I came back from Lisbon in July after a year. I was in a one-bed flat very near the centre of town (Rato) for �400 a month which was pretty reasonable. A lot of the places I viewed were smaller (ie bedroom in living room, or worse, toilet in bedroom!!) for a lot more. That said, I still haven't received my deposit back. A lot of the deals are done on a handshake basis rather than a written contract unless you go through an agent, so beware. My deposit was a month's rent, with each month payable in advance (cash) within the first seven days of the preceding month.

As for 2, I think part-time work is def possibly, try especially Oxford and Cambridge schools. Private work I can't advise as I didn't try for but I'm sure you could find something given what the language schools charge students.

CI

Leon30 · Joined: 18 Sep 2006 Posts: 60 Location: South Korea

Posted this one a while back.

Still considering Lisbon as my next port of call...

Anyone able to add anyhting to the one reply I (gratefuly) recieved...?

Thanks in advance...

Cool

MissCreoula · Joined: 30 Sep 2005 Posts: 9

I left Lisbon in December & its difficult to find a steady job in Portugal. In order to make ends meet you have to work at various teaching jobs. However, there are the few jobs that you can find that include: job + board. That being said they are in remote areas & the pay is not the greatest. You can make more than the minimum Portuguese salary which was about 400-500 euros a month. The hourly wage for TESL teachers was 13,50-15,00 euros an hour which is good but the problem is that you only work about 5-10 hours a week.
Also, if you don't get a contract you will have to work with "Recibos Verdes" which is a pain in the a_ _!
I am a Canadian with dual citizenship to Portugal & I worked under someone else's "green receipts" because I didn't want to change all my documentation to permanent status. Mainly because I didn't want to stay in Portugal more than a year & do all the paper work.
Goodluck!