With rugged hill towns, dramatic coastlines, picturesque fishing harbors, and cobblestone streets, Europe’s islands offer a diverse range of climates and natural beauty, along with a laidback, surprisingly affordable, and distinctly European island lifestyle. A new report from the editors at InternationalLiving.com explore four of these islands, which are still relatively unknown to North Americans. Source: InternationalLiving.com
Madeira: Portugal’s Garden Island
Visually, Madeira is spectacular. What it lacks in sandy beaches (the coastline is mostly rocky or pebbled), it makes up for with dramatic cliffs and mountainsides that look almost Tahitian.
Combine that with a typically Portuguese atmosphere of white villages clinging to hillsides, terracotta-roofed townhouses, terraced vineyards, and flower-strewn walking trails that follow ancient stone waterways through dappled forests… and it’s easy to understand why the island is rapidly becoming one of Portugal’s most popular locations with expats.
Brittan Graves moved to this autonomous region of Portugal almost two years ago from Boise, Idaho. He and his wife, Terri, bought a three-bedroom, two-bathroom penthouse condo ($380,000) in the island’s capital city, Funchal.
For a long time, the couple had toyed with moving to Spain or Portugal for retirement, but when Terri saw a TV show about Madeira, they knew they had to see it. And when they did, they were smitten.
“We sold our house and car in Idaho, bought a one-way ticket, and here we are,” says Brittan.
Brittan and Terri find Madeira much more affordable than the U.S. “We love wine and food, and here we eat out much more. The quality of the food and ingredients here is high.
The cost of living on the island, while slightly higher than mainland Portugal, is significantly lower than in most North American destinations. (Most expats in Portugal live well on $2,500 to $3,000 a month.) In Portuguese terms, that works out to paying, say, $1 rather than 70 cents for a shot of espresso at a charming sidewalk café. It’s a small price to pay for a better life on Portugal’s garden island.
Cyprus: The Sunshine Island
Expats are drawn to Cyprus for its castles, churches, food, and wine. Richard Powell, a 73-year-old Canadian expat, retired with his wife, Tina, to Cyprus in 2017. “My first trip was a bit of serendipity,” he says. “I was looking for a country that offered medical tourism to correct an eye problem. Tina suggested Cyprus, and it only took a few days for us to fall in love with the island and its way of life. Seven months later, we moved here and have never regretted it.”
Richard and Tina rent a two-bedroom townhouse in a large complex of family homes and condos. Many of the residences are summer retreats for owners from all over Europe, so for most of the year, the development is comfortably quiet.
“We can sit out on our patio overlooking gardens and a large pool, enjoy a barbecue and talk to the neighbors,” Richard says. “Being high up on the side of a hill, we have a great view of the sea. Our rent is €530 ($576) a month plus utilities. Things go upwards from there, depending on what you’re looking for. My friend rents a large, private, three-bedroom villa with a pool for €1,500 ($1,630).”
Cyprus is a small island, with just over a million people, so anything imported is generally more expensive. But the cost of living in Cyprus is, by Richard’s calculations, about 20% to 30% lower than in Canada. It’s possible to live well here on around $2,400 a month for a couple.
The complete International Living story on Europe’s unsung tropical islands can be found here: Live on Europe’s Unsung Tropical Islands for Under $36,000 a Year
