3 ms·

Countries, $100k Savings: Where should I live?

3 points by Slaboli 2mo ago

Dear All, This may sound weird, and sorry for asking it. I have immense indecision due to childhood trauma and cannot decide on something. I'm 36, M, single, living with my parents in Turkey. I work 100% remotely with a shitty-paying, not-so-demanding job. I'm Turkish and also have Portuguese and Albanian residency. I have dependency issues with my parents which I need to eventually break, but a part of me doesn't want to. I'm emotionally immature due to severe childhood trauma, but I try to function at my best in life. So the dilemma is: where to live? All options work for me actually, so for me the decision ain't loud and clear. My choices are buying (or renting) an apartment for myself either in my home city or any other city (I already have an apartment in my home city that is rented out, paying me around 500 EUR). Or, moving to Portugal to keep my residency active and working the 1300 EUR-paying job from there, where I can either rent or buy property (if I sell my apartment in Turkey). Or, moving to Albania with this job, renting or buying an apartment there. I have about 100k USD in savings besides my salary and rent income. I hope to marry, have my own family, and become stable in all aspects (as much as possible). With all choices, I like a part of them, but none is dominant enough to become the clear choice. Which options would you consider, and why? Please help me choose and provide your reasoning. THANK YOU ALL!

Guestmodinfo 2mo ago
Portugal as a country may feel nice. Someone I know was in Portugal for sometime and then he got into their national water polo team so they are definitely a welcoming bunch. Also I met a couple from Portugal on train in India and they felt very sweet ppl to talk to. On a side note: all foreign nationals that I have talked to, all have been equally sweet to me. And there are like 25 nationalities that I have talked to. I don't recall anyone being not sweet.
- toomuchtodo 2mo ago
  Porto specifically imho, or within an hour of it by car. If setting down roots, keep fire and climate risk in mind, considering forward looking Europe warming patterns.
  - Slaboli 2mo ago
    Interesting advice, thanks! I have lived in Lisbon so far but have travelled to Porto. I'm assuming it's much more affordable in housing. There are lots of places a 1 hr drive to Porto, have you experience in any of them? So, you say its worth trying Portugal given these options?
    - toomuchtodo 2mo ago
      Porto housing is more affordable versus Lisbon objectively. From a climate risk perspective, my recommendation is the land area from Porto all the way east to Spain (roughly Parque Natural do Douro Internacional) and then north up to the border with Spain. How close you stay to the ocean is a function of personal preference. My mental model is "Where would I procure a residence with a low fire low climate risk for the next ~100 years?" in that area. Distance to grocery, coffee, airport, train station, and availability of fiber connectivity are also potential concerns. Population density is low in this area if that is relevant.
- Slaboli 2mo ago
  Yes, Portuguese people are warm and kind. While Albanian's and Turks are also like this. So for you, a life in Portugal in my situation is worth the relocation and not choosing Turkey(home country) or Albania for a life? Thanks!
  - Guestmodinfo 2mo ago
    Mother Teresa was from Albania and she left her country at 19 years of age to help Indians. So that also says a lot about Albanians. I cannot help you choose because even though I went to US briefly and found the folks very welcoming and warm but I like staying in India. I feel my country needs me and that I need my country. So your experiences and aspirations may be different
claaams 2mo ago
Portugal. I moved to LATAM but I wouldn't recommend it without knowing spanish or having a connection here first.
- beardyw 2mo ago
  Portuguese?
- Slaboli 2mo ago
  So your choice would be Portugal? and not Albania or Turkey? LATAM although heard it's nice there I've narrowed down my options to these 3 places. Thanks!
ksudb 2mo ago
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aclearnextstep 2mo ago
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artur_makly 2mo ago
Argentina 10000% use this calculator: https://www.expatistan.com/es/costo-de-vida https://www.expatistan.com/es/costo-de-vida