Looking for Portuguese Expats in New York?

Thinking about New York as a Portuguese expat? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2026 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year.

New York has a very small Portuguese sample, so the themes below lean on what Portuguese expats across the US wrote, alongside answers from expats of all nationalities in New York — treat it as a friendly snapshot rather than the last word. The percentages cover all expats living in New York City.

• Career growth is the main draw. Portuguese expats in the US write about moving up faster than they could at home, and 56% of expats in New York say the move improved their career prospects. Work drives the move for many: Portuguese expats worldwide are more likely than the global average to have found a job on their own (20% vs. 15%) or to have been recruited internationally (12% vs. 9%).

• Food and culture are hard to beat. New York scores 90% for culinary variety and dining options and 86% for culture and nightlife.

• Getting around doesn't need a car. Around four in five expats in New York (82%) rate the availability of public transportation positively — unusual for a US city, where the national figure is 40%.

• Newcomers feel welcome. About three in five (62%) say people there are generally friendly toward foreign residents, and 56% feel welcome.

• Most people are glad they came. Two-thirds (66%) of expats in New York are happy with their life abroad in general.

• New York is expensive, full stop. Only one in ten expats there rate housing affordability (10%) or the general cost of living (10%) positively, and just 36% say it's easy for expats to find housing.

• Healthcare costs come as a shock. Only about one in seven expats in New York (14%) rate healthcare affordability positively.

• The pace is relentless. Portuguese expats describe a fast city life that leaves little room for family, and 42% of expats in New York are happy with their work-life balance.

• Making close friends is slow going. Just over a third (36%) say making local friends is easy, and a common complaint is that relationships stay friendly but superficial.

• Politics and paperwork weigh on people. Only 14% rate the country's political stability positively, and about a quarter (26%) found it easy to get a visa in order to move there.

For Portuguese expats, New York is a career and culture city: the jobs, the food, and the sheer energy are what people come for, and most say they're happy they made the move. The price is a high cost of living, a fast pace, and a healthcare system that takes getting used to. It rewards a few big career years more than it rewards settling down with a family.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys among expats — asking them about various aspects of their life, from work to leisure. Learn what motivated our Portuguese members to move abroad, what keeps them there, and what they struggle with or miss about home.

InterNations is a place where Portuguese expats in New York exchange experiences and tips to support each other. "Big Apple", or the "City That Never Sleeps", can be a great place for expats - our community helps you make the most of your experience!

• Browse our Members Network to get to know New York’s Portuguese expats.
• Take part in our Expat Forums to obtain first hand tips from fellow Portuguese expats in New York.
• Use the Expat Guide for New York to find information on your host city.

Our community in New York is also very active offline. Our InterNations Ambassadors organize regular events and various expat activities, e.g. a dinner in New York’s hippest restaurant or an outing with other Portuguese expats to explore the pleasantly mild Pacific Northwest. These activities are a casual way to get to know expats from Portugal in your local community as well as Portuguese in the USA nationwide. Interested? Simply become a member and we’ll be happy to welcome you among our Portuguese living in New York!