Portuguese residents voice anger as housing crisis drives cross-border migration

An increasing number of Portuguese have had to leave Luxembourg in search of affordable accommodation. In 2024, 2,847 Portuguese left Luxembourg (even more if dual nationalities are counted). Many crossed the border to settle in a neighbouring region in France or Belgium, the best way to reduce their housing budget while continuing to work in nearby Luxembourg.

Our colleagues from RTL Infos launched a survey aimed at Portuguese cross-border workers, where readers shared their experience. The results tell of an exodus that is rarely embraced with positivity.

Sofia: 'I miss living in Luxembourg'

Sofia wrote: "I have always lived in Luxembourg, but with two children rent prices were no longer possible. My last years in Luxembourg, I paid €1,350 rent + common charges for a 60 m2 apartment with 2 bedrooms, no lift, no balcony, no garage. Two years ago we were looking for a 3-bedroom apartment in Luxembourg, but with charges it came to €1,650/€1,700. Now in France, we have a spacious house with 3 bedrooms, garden, terrace, and garage. It is in a quiet neighbourhood and we pay €1,450 in mortgage + charges."

But she points out: "Unfortunately, in terms of administration and security, Luxembourg is much better! In Luxembourg, we had support thanks to the housing subsidy, and in terms of schooling the canteen and day-care became free during school hours. In France we have no financial aid because we work in Luxembourg. So we pay full price for canteen and after-school care as well. So it’s complicated. I still miss living in Luxembourg," she concludes.

Moving to the border: 'A matter of survival'

Rua: "It’s not just Portuguese! Go and take a look at the border municipalities and you’ll see Italians, people from Eastern Europe and also Luxembourgers who are leaving the country more and more."

Alves: "I live in Villerupt and my neighbours are Luxembourgers. So even they are not able to stay [in their country] because life has become too expensive, and housing aid is not [available] for everyone."

Guida: "I like [living on the border] but I would have preferred to stay in Luxembourg because I lived 10 minutes on foot from work."

XangoCheater: "Yes, I am Portuguese, and in my opinion cross-border workers do not realise it, but prices at the border have become catastrophic, €500 for a 20 m2 studio!"

Phil: "It is mainly that it is simply becoming difficult to find housing for anyone, family... prices are going crazy, so unfortunately it is normal for financial and/or survival reasons to move into more accessible border areas."

Angelo: "Luxembourg a magnificent country but unfortunately house and rent prices are not affordable for the working class of which I am part, so I am leaving and the only reason for me is rent prices that are too high compared to my salary... I LOVE LUXEMBOURG despite everything!!!!"

Charlotte : "Personally my husband would not return to Luxembourg... here it is calm... he is building his life on [house] ownership and not successive loans."

Lucie: "Living conditions, especially in Luxembourg, pushed us to cross the border. Being Luxembourger I also had to do so with regret."

Sylvie: "There are many who also regret leaving Luxembourg, because in other countries taxes are outrageous."
 
Rui: "And then they keep an address in Luxembourg to take advantage of Luxembourgish benefits."

Raoul: "There are even some who simply returned to Portugal."

Luxembourg criticised: 'Luxembourg pushes people to leave this country'

José: "Ask the politicians what good they did to drive people out of the country, not the Portuguese. We helped build this country and then at some point we are thrown out."

Juthi: "Luxembourg pushes people to leave this country. I have been living here for 43 years. In 5 years I hope to be able to leave this country for good."

France is by far the biggest supplier of cross-border workers to Luxembourg, a growing number of whom previously lived in the Grand Duchy. / © DR

Laurent: "In the Thionville area it is a bit the same phenomenon that can be observed, more and more Luxembourgers, former residents of the Grand Duchy come to live there, as the cost of living and housing is much more affordable for them. The downside is that mechanically real estate prices rise, cross-border workers, but especially locals can no longer find housing at an affordable price. Luxembourg should massively build housing (and infrastructure) at 'controlled' prices to prevent this population flight to the borders."

Vasco: "Yes, I am Portuguese and a cross-border worker. But prices in Luxembourg are unacceptable. Paying almost €1,500 for a studio? €1,000 for a room? It’s unacceptable!"

Integration: 'not easy to live together'

Kivin: "I confirm there are many in the municipality, the problem is education and respect, not easy to live together..."

Manuela:  "The older generation integrated well, those who have been arriving for one or two decades not at all, just look at companies, cafés, restaurants, radio, TV, parties even some national announcements in Portuguese so they no longer make an effort, and yes they also impose our culture."

Strong opposition

Amaro: "Never in my life would I leave Luxembourg to go live on the borders! I would rather live in Bangladesh than live in France."

Fernand: "If I read the comments, I really have to laugh. We, being Luxembourgers, bought our house when it was the right time. But we didn’t go on holidays, we didn’t have a Mercedes and especially not already a second home in Portugal, like many of my Portuguese friends. You have to know how to make these choices and not cry when real estate shoots up like an arrow."

Rosi: "Me neither, the French villages around the Luxembourg border are horrible... it doesn’t make you want to."

Anna: Living on the border? "Already done, never again! To make it short, I bought an apartment, very problematic co-ownership, renovation works far too expensive, co-owners who don’t pay, the entire residence was classified as irreparably unsanitary, we were not expropriated, but we cannot live in this property, nor rent nor resell... Result, a few years later I am still paying and still looking for a solution because nobody ever helped us... that’s France, so for me never again."