Live and Invest Overseas
FREE REPORT: PORTUGAL WORLD'S #1 RETIREMENT HAVEN
We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
  • Home
  • Countries

    Top Destinations:

    Whether you’re looking for fun and sun, a peaceful retirement, or the chance to earn some extra income, you’ve got a real world of opportunity open to you… In short, we’ve done our best to narrow down your best options, but only you can decide the right country for you.

    • Spain
    • Portugal
    • Panama
    • Belize
    • Colombia
    • Cyprus
    • Mexico
    • France
    • Montenegro
    • Browse All Countries

    Best For:

    • The Best Places To Retire
    • Health Care Abroad
    • Cost Of Living
    • Investing in Real Estate
    • Establishing Residency
    • Gun Laws In The World
    • English-Speaking Countries
    • Safest Places For Retirement
    • Best Places In Latin America
  • Budgets

    How Much Will It Cost You To Live Overseas?

    The only honest answer is, we have no idea. And neither does anyone else. The only one who can answer that question is you. Here’s the most important thing to understand about budgeting your new life overseas…

    Super Cheap

    • Chitré, Panama
    • Santa Marta, Colombia
    • Phuket, Thailand
    • Dumaguete, The Philippines

    Cheap

    • Medellin, Colombia
    • Boquete, Panama
    • Kyrenia, Cyprus
    • Hua Hin, Thailand
    • The Algarve, Portugal

    Affordable

    • Valencia, Spain
    • Cascais, Portugal
    • Las Terrenas, The DR
    • Pisa, Italy
    • La Rochelle, France
    • Mazatlán, Mexico

    Luxury

    • Ambergris Caye, Belize
    • Kotor, Montenegro
    • The Panama City Beaches
    • Paris, France
  • Resources

    Global Living

    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore & Diversification

    Making Money

    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing

    Follow Us:

    • Meet Our Experts
  • Real Estate

    Buying Real Estate For Cashflow

    • Discover tips and strategies used by global property investing veterans

    Explore Our Latest Posts

    • Learn how to invest and purchase property abroad…

    Go To The Overseas Property Alert Site

    • How To Become Independently Wealthy And Fund The Lifestyle Of Your Dreams
  • Conferences

    Upcoming Events

    • Explore Our Events Site

    Live and Invest In Spain Conference

    Offshore Wealth Summit

    Greece Workshop

    VALENCIA, SPAIN

    Sep. 17-19, 2025

    PANAMA CITY, PANAMA

    Oct. 15-17, 2025

    VIRTUAL

    Nov. 13, 2025

    LEARN MORE
    DISCOUNT
    LEARN MORE
    PRE-REGISTER
    LEARN MORE
    PRE-REGISTER
    • MORE EVENTS

    Contact Our Events Team

    Toll-Free U.S. and Canada:
    1 (888) 627 8834
    From Outside North America:
    1 (443) 599 1221
    Working Hours
    Monday – Friday 08:00 am – 17:00 pm EST.

    Reach us with your questions by email at: events@liveandinvestoverseas.com

  • Store

    Unlock The World

    • Access Your Library

    Overseas Havens Reports

    • Expats' comprehensive destination guides

    Conference Kits

    • Hours of coverage  from our latests conferences

    Lahardan Books

    • Titles on living and investing around the world
    • Explore Our Store
    Your passport to a life well-lived abroad

    Services

    overseas living letter offers affordable retirement guidance
    The Simon Letter Wealth Protection Insights
    Global Property Advisor Global Investment Opportunities

    Our Customer Service team is here to assist with any questions or concerns CustomerService@LiveandInvestOverseas.com

  • My Library
Live and Invest Overseas
  • Home
  • Countries

    Top Destinations:

    Whether you’re looking for fun and sun, a peaceful retirement, or the chance to earn some extra income, you’ve got a real world of opportunity open to you… In short, we’ve done our best to narrow down your best options, but only you can decide the right country for you.

    • Spain
    • Portugal
    • Panama
    • Belize
    • Colombia
    • Cyprus
    • Mexico
    • France
    • Montenegro
    • Browse All Countries

    Best For:

    • The Best Places To Retire
    • Health Care Abroad
    • Cost Of Living
    • Investing in Real Estate
    • Establishing Residency
    • Gun Laws In The World
    • English-Speaking Countries
    • Safest Places For Retirement
    • Best Places In Latin America
  • Budgets

    How Much Will It Cost You To Live Overseas?

    The only honest answer is, we have no idea. And neither does anyone else. The only one who can answer that question is you. Here’s the most important thing to understand about budgeting your new life overseas…

    Super Cheap

    • Chitré, Panama
    • Santa Marta, Colombia
    • Phuket, Thailand
    • Dumaguete, The Philippines

    Cheap

    • Medellin, Colombia
    • Boquete, Panama
    • Kyrenia, Cyprus
    • Hua Hin, Thailand
    • The Algarve, Portugal

    Affordable

    • Valencia, Spain
    • Cascais, Portugal
    • Las Terrenas, The DR
    • Pisa, Italy
    • La Rochelle, France
    • Mazatlán, Mexico

    Luxury

    • Ambergris Caye, Belize
    • Kotor, Montenegro
    • The Panama City Beaches
    • Paris, France
  • Resources

    Global Living

    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore & Diversification

    Making Money

    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing

    Follow Us:

    • Meet Our Experts
  • Real Estate

    Buying Real Estate For Cashflow

    • Discover tips and strategies used by global property investing veterans

    Explore Our Latest Posts

    • Learn how to invest and purchase property abroad…

    Go To The Overseas Property Alert Site

    • How To Become Independently Wealthy And Fund The Lifestyle Of Your Dreams
  • Conferences

    Upcoming Events

    • Explore Our Events Site

    Live and Invest In Spain Conference

    Offshore Wealth Summit

    Greece Workshop

    VALENCIA, SPAIN

    Sep. 17-19, 2025

    PANAMA CITY, PANAMA

    Oct. 15-17, 2025

    VIRTUAL

    Nov. 13, 2025

    LEARN MORE
    DISCOUNT
    LEARN MORE
    PRE-REGISTER
    LEARN MORE
    PRE-REGISTER
    • MORE EVENTS

    Contact Our Events Team

    Toll-Free U.S. and Canada:
    1 (888) 627 8834
    From Outside North America:
    1 (443) 599 1221
    Working Hours
    Monday – Friday 08:00 am – 17:00 pm EST.

    Reach us with your questions by email at: events@liveandinvestoverseas.com

  • Store

    Unlock The World

    • Access Your Library

    Overseas Havens Reports

    • Expats' comprehensive destination guides

    Conference Kits

    • Hours of coverage  from our latests conferences

    Lahardan Books

    • Titles on living and investing around the world
    • Explore Our Store
    Your passport to a life well-lived abroad

    Services

    overseas living letter offers affordable retirement guidance
    The Simon Letter Wealth Protection Insights
    Global Property Advisor Global Investment Opportunities

    Our Customer Service team is here to assist with any questions or concerns CustomerService@LiveandInvestOverseas.com

  • My Library
Live and Invest Overseas
 Free Portugal Guide
LIVE AND INVEST IN PORTUGAL
View of a bridge in Portugal
WORLD’S #1 RETIREMENT HAVEN
Simply sign up to receive the FREE daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter plus our In Focus: Europe newsletter and we’ll immediately email you our editors’ latest research report… absolutely FREE

We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.

Home Countries Portugal

Madeira, Portugal The Hawaii Of Europe

In Photos: The Hawaii Of Europe

by Sophia Titley
Jul 12, 2023
in Portugal
0 0
Seixal, Madeira, Portugal

iStock/Aleh Varanishcha

It’s Europe… but tropical.

That was my first impression when I touched down in Madeira, Portugal, in April for one of my first scouting trips as Overseas Property Alert Editor.

Madeira, PortugalI was struck by the scenery right away.

Madeira is an archipelago that floats 1,000 kms southwest of mainland Europe in the North Atlantic Ocean. It’s geographically closer to Africa (the coast of Morocco is only 520 kms away) and on the same parallel as Bermuda.

Extreme geography in Madeira, Portugal
Madeira is home to extreme geography

A giant chunk of seafloor wrenched above the surface, Madeira’s landscape is dramatic, featuring sharp peaks and wind-sculpted cliffs. Sweeping sea views are available from most vantage points.

Lush vegetation grows across this landscape, including wild pineapple, banana, and passionfruit. Again, not what you expect from Europe… In fact, Hawaii was the first place that came to mind upon first glance.

Funchal Old Town in Madeira, Portugal
A view of Funchal Old Town

It’s only when you get to Old Town of capital Funchal and see the narrow cobblestone streets, historical buildings, and thriving café culture that you’re reminded that you are indeed in Europe.

Culturally and politically, Madeira is very much part of Portugal, but to me, it stands out from the mainland (in more ways than just its geography). I toured the island less than three months ago, interviewing local real estate specialists and viewing property developments.

Get Your Free Portugal Report Today!
Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you our FREE REPORT — Portugal: The World’s #1 Retirement Haven.
We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
Here’s why I think Madeira should be on your radar…

Why Madeira?

Madeira makes sense for a handful of reasons—some straight-up investment-focused; others more to do with its lifestyle appeal…

  • Strong tourism year-round. Madeira was the fourth-most visited region of Portugal in 2022, when it received about two million visitors. About a quarter of that number is domestic tourism from the mainland.
  • It’s “Europe-plus.” Madeira is in a unique climate zone. It’s called the island of eternal spring because of its pleasant year-round weather, which includes warm ocean waters. Its tourism industry is year-round, unaffected by the seasons.
  • Less bureaucracy. Officially the Autonomous Region of Madeira, it has its own government and administrative power. My contacts say that you can get things done (applications, filing paperwork, etc.) faster in Madeira than on the mainland.
  • Independence. Again, Madeira has more discretionary power than the mainland, and it’s not afraid to stand apart. During the pandemic, Madeira reopened to tourists well before the mainland. It was among the first places in the world to do away with quarantines, testing, and vaccination requirements. The president of its regional government recently took a strong stance against the closure of Portugal’s Golden Visa program, saying Madeira would “refuse to comply” with the measures of the closure.
  • Innovative and forward-thinking. Recognizing that it’s a tiny, relatively faraway island with a small economy, Madeira worked quickly to create another pull factor to attract visitors during the pandemic. Portugal launched its digital nomad visa in October 2022. Madeira took this a step further by creating a digital nomad village, a community set up with the infrastructure to support remote workers. Since its inception, over 16,000 digital nomads from around the world have registered to become part of it.
  • Investor-friendly. It’s home to the Madeira International Business Centre (MIBC), a free-trade zone with investor incentives that include a reduced corporate income tax rate of 5%, certain exemptions on withholding tax and capital gains for MIBC entities, and more.
  • Diverse property market. A variety of home types are available on this small island, including houses, land parcels, apartments, and condos; there’s everything from fixer-uppers with historical value to bespoke, luxury villas… A variety of price points reflects the diversity of options in the property market.
  • Natural beauty. Madeira’s motto is “Of all islands, the most beautiful and free.” It’s also known as “Garden Island” for its abundance of verdant vegetation and exotic plants that contrast against the blue Atlantic it’s surrounded by.

A beach in Madeira, Portugal

  • Unique attractions. Madeira has been voted the best island in the world several times. Its beaches are award-winning, too. All around Madeira are natural pools that fill and empty with the changing tides. The island is laced by ancient irrigation lines called levadas, which are today popular hiking routes. It has unique geographic features like capes, canyons, and caves. Golf, surfing, big game fishing, birdwatching, kayaking, sailing, scuba diving, and whale-watching are a few of the things you can do here. There’s also an active culture and gastronomy scene that includes seafood and its eponymous libation, Madeira wine.
  • Safe as can be. Portugal is the sixth-safest country in the world, according to the Global Peace Index, and Madeira has lower crime rates than the mainland. My personal experience is that I’ve never felt safer traveling somewhere on my own.
  • Solid expat community. For all the reasons already listed, plus good health care and education, Madeira is popular with expats from Germany, France, Austria, and the U.K., plus a growing number of North Americans.

Get Your Free Portugal Report Today!
Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you our FREE REPORT — Portugal: The World’s #1 Retirement Haven.
We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
All of this adds up to a strong quality of life, which is always a good basis for a successful property investment. One of the golden rules of overseas property investment is to buy property in places where you also enjoy spending time.

Madeira Market Overview

Madeira is only 800 square kms, but despite being so small, there are big discrepancies between the north and south of the island, which influence property prices.

The south is the main population zone. It’s home to Funchal, the political and economic center of the archipelago.

Funchal and the surrounding areas along the south coast are well-developed in terms of infrastructure. This is where you find the airport as well as shopping centers, hospitals, administrative buildings, restaurants and bars, and other amenities.

In the south of Madeira, it’s always summer, with warm to hot temperatures and perpetually sunny days.

Arco de Sao Jorge in northern Madeira
Arco de Sao Jorge in northern Madeira

The northern part of the island is at a higher elevation and has its own bioclimate. It’s prone to cooler temperatures and rainier weather than the south. It’s less accessible to tourists and not as attractive to sun-seekers, so it’s much quieter and less developed than the south.

Ponta do Sol in southern Madeira
Ponta do Sol in southern Madeira, home to its Digital Nomad Village

For a yield-focused investment, a property purchase in Funchal or another town along the south coast (Calheta, Ponta do Sol, Camara de Lobos, Garajau) is the best option because these areas have the highest occupancy rates. There’s also good potential for capital appreciation in these areas.

A property purchase in northern Madeira can also be a great choice, depending on your objectives, but it’s less likely to generate as consistent yields as the south.

Get Your Free Portugal Report Today!
Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you our FREE REPORT — Portugal: The World’s #1 Retirement Haven.
We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.

Property Prices

Madeira has the fourth most expensive property in Portugal after Lisbon (where property costs 3,460 euros per square meter), the Algarve (3,100 euros per square meter), and Porto (2,970 euros per square meter).

That said, there’s enough price diversity to suit a variety of budgets in Madeira.

The average price per square meter for property across the island is 2,560 euros. If you’re looking at Funchal, it’s slightly higher at 2,700 euros per square meter.

The next most expensive areas after Funchal are Calheta, where it costs 2,500 euros per square meter, and Camara de Lobos, where it costs 1,950 euros per square meter.

Santana in Madeira, Portugal
Charming Santana has some of the island’s most inexpensive property

The three least expensive municipalities are Sao Vicente (1,270 euros per square meter), Santana (1,330 euros per square meter), and Machico (1,430 euros per square meter), all on the northern side of the island.

Prices in the rental market mirror the south-to-north discrepancy as well. In Funchal, a one-bedroom rental in a desirable area costs between 700 and 1,300 euros per month. In northern Machico, a rental of about the same size costs 450 euros per month.
Like the rest of the country, prices in Madeira have jumped over the past few years, increasing by more than 25% from January 2022 to January 2023 alone.

This is a market where you’ll want to have between 300,000 and 500,000 euros available to buy something nice, particularly in Funchal and along the southern coast.

These may be steep prices for many property investors, however, they’re a bargain compared to Hawaii, where the average cost of property is about US$834,500.

Madeira offers much of the same appeal as Hawaii: life close to the sea with stunning ocean vistas… dramatic green landscapes sheathed in flowers, where tropical fruits grow naturally… perpetual spring-like weather… and strong tourism, with the potential for year-round rental income and steady appreciation in property values.

Sincerely,

Sophia Titley signature

Sophia Titley

Editor, Overseas Property Alert

Tags: life in Portugallive in Portugalmadeirareal estate in portugal
Share84Tweet52
Sophia Titley

Sophia Titley

For Sophia Titley, home is a subjective concept. She was born in Singapore but grew up in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia… and has since lived in Canada, Spain, Colombia, and, most recently, Panama. She studied political science and Spanish at the University of British Columbia, and in her free time enjoys trying new recipes, playing soccer, and salsa dancing.

Get Your Free Portugal Report Today!
Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you our FREE REPORT — Portugal: The World’s #1 Retirement Haven.

We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
Our Expertise Unlocks The World

quick links

  • Best Places To Live
  • Best Places To Retire
  • Finding A Job Overseas
  • Real Estate

LIOS Resources

  • New To LIOS
  • Ask An Expert
  • Media Center
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs
the 10 best places to retire in 2025
Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and get your FREE REPORT: The 10 Best Places To Retire Overseas In 2025

We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.

As seen in

US Media Logos

© 2008 – Live and Invest Overseas™ – All Rights Reserved.

About Us / Contact Us / Privacy Policy / Terms / Unsubscribe
Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube Linkedin-in Instagram

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
HOME

Top Countries

  • Spain
  • Portugal
  • Panama
  • Belize
  • Colombia
  • Cyprus
  • Mexico
  • France
  • Montenegro

Best For:

  • Health Care Abroad
  • Retirement Living
  • Cost Of Living
  • Investing in Real Estate
  • Establishing Residency
  • Gun Ownership
  • English Speakers
  • Safety
BROWSE ALL COUNTRIES

Budgets

How Much Will It Cost
To Live Overseas?

Super Cheap

  • Chitré, Panama
  • Santa Marta, Colombia
  • Phuket, Thailand
  • Dumaguete, The Philippines

Cheap

  • Medellin, Colombia
  • Boquete, Panama
  • Kyrenia, Cyprus
  • Hua Hin, Thailand
  • The Algarve, Portugal

Affordable

  • Valencia, Spain
  • Cascais, Portugal
  • Las Terrenas, The DR
  • Pisa, Italy
  • La Rochelle, France
  • Mazatlán, Mexico

Luxury

  • Ambergris Caye, Belize
  • Kotor, Montenegro
  • The Panama City Beaches
  • Paris, France

Resources

Global Living

  • Living & Retiring Overseas
  • Raising A Family Abroad
  • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
  • Offshore & Diversification

Making Money

  • International Real Estate
  • Banking
  • Employment
  • Investing
Meet Our Experts

Real Estate

Overseas Property Alert 

 

How To Become Independently Wealthy And Fund The Lifestyle Of Your Dreams

VISIT SITE

Buying Real Estate For Cashflow

 

Discover tips and strategies used by global property investing veterans

READ MORE

Explore Our Latest Posts

 

Learn how to invest and purchase property abroad…

EXPLORE

Conferences

Live and Invest In Spain Conference

VALENCIA, SPAIN Sep. 17-19, 2025
LEARN MORE
DISCOUNT

Offshore Wealth Summit

PANAMA CITY, PANAMA Oct. 15-17, 2025
LEARN MORE
PRE-REGISTER

GREECE WORKSHOP

VIRTUAL Nov. 13, 2025
LEARN MORE
PRE-REGISTER
MORE EVENTS

Contact Our Events Team:

Toll-Free U.S. and Canada:
1 (888) 627 8834

From Outside North America:
1 (443) 599 1221

Working Hours
Monday – Friday 08:00 am – 17:00 pm EST.

Reach us with your questions by email at: events@liveandinvestoverseas.com

Store

Overseas Havens Reports

  • Expats' comprehensive destination guides

Conference Kits

  • Hours of coverage  from our latests conferences

Lahardan Books

  • Titles on living and investing around the world

Services

  • Overseas Living Letter: Affordable Retirement Guidance
  • The Simon Letter: Wealth Protection Insights
  • Global Property Advisor: Global Investment Opportunitites
VISIT OUR STORE

Free Report

THE 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE IN 2025

FREE REPORT: The 10 Best Places To retire in 2025

Sign up to receive the FREE daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter and we’ll immediately email you our editors’ latest research report…

We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.

LIBRARY

Follow Us:

© 2008 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

RETIRE OVERSEAS AND LIVE LIKE ROYALTY

Sign up for FREE to learn how. Plus, check out our FREE report on THE 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE


We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.

RETIRE OVERSEAS AND LIVE LIKE ROYALTY

Sign up for FREE and learn how to live the good life on a modest budget, find bargain property, and more. Plus, check out our free report on the 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE.

We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.