Coimbra, Portugal

Compared to Lisbon and Porto, Coimbra offers cheaper property, but some require serious renovation.

Walking around the city streets, you can easily notice a mix of styles, a natural consequence of the expansion of the city. For example, a two-story building from the late 19th century next to a four-story one from the 1950s.

Although some neighborhoods tend to be more expensive than others, the price range isn’t much different. The downtown and historical center are the most expensive and sought-after areas.

As a guide, you can rent a two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment starting from 500 euros a month but, when looking for properties, remember the university and its students…

The academic year ends around May, which makes June and July an appropriate time to start a lease. Around late summer and early autumn, you can expect prices to go up (especially for rentals) because students will be looking for accommodation for the next year.

To rent a property, you need to sign a tenancy agreement (contrato de arrendamento). For that, you need to have a Portuguese fiscal number (Número de Identificação Fiscal, often abbreviated as NIF).

The contract must include specific elements like how much the rent is, the length of the lease, how much notice you must give before moving out, details about the property, and which conditions apply for breaking the rental contract.

The duration and expiry dates of a fixed-term contract must also be clearly stated in the document. In most cases, landlords do not ask for references.

Health Care Information

When it comes to health care needs, the city is home to the Coimbra University Hospital, one of the biggest in the country. As is the case with any other city in Portugal, you also have private clinics.

You’ll need a Número de Utente to access the National Health Service or Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS). This is a reference number that corresponds to your registration in the SNS.

Depending on what level of care is needed, you may have to pay a fee called a taxa moderadora or nothing at all.

An appointment with a family doctor or general practitioner, for example, will cost you 4.50 euros.

In Coimbra, the price for a dental cleaning is about 50 euros (at Clínica Delille), and for a visit to the general practitioner, it will be 81 euros (at Hospital CUF Coimbra), in both cases without insurance.

Most importantly, it pays to do some research before choosing health insurance because there are so many different options.

If you love the idea of living in a city that’s not too big and not too small, not too busy and not too sleepy, then Coimbra may be the balance you’re looking for.