Germany vs Portugal — scored comparison
An indicative score against the site criteria, drawing on the Germany and Portugal profiles. Scores run 1 to 5, where 5 is better for us; weights reflect how much each criterion matters to us. Treat this as a thinking tool, not a verdict. The result shifts with the weights, and the real decider will be funding plus an actual parcel.
| Criterion | Weight | Germany | Portugal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability (land cost) | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Restoration potential | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Water security | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Hazard exposure (5 = safer) | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Legal & admin ease | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Funding landscape | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Operational fit (life, language) | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Availability of right land (area + outlook) | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Weighted total (max 95) | 65 | 63 |
Reading it
They come out almost level, which fits reality. There is no clearly correct answer here, only a trade-off.
Germany wins on water, fire safety, funding, and being home, with no move and no language barrier. It loses on cost and on how much land, and what kind of view, we can realistically get.
Portugal wins clearly on affordability and on getting real area with a view, and it fits "live the rest of life in nature" better. It loses on water, fire risk, and the upheaval of moving into another language.
What would tip it
- Toward Portugal: a tight budget that still wants three to five hectares and a view, a firm willingness to relocate, and comfort designing for fire and drought.
- Toward Germany: wanting to start without uprooting, valuing water security and easy administration, and accepting one to two hectares at a higher price.
Open data to firm this up
- Real parcel listings and prices in both countries, a job for the future Land radar.
- An honest read on how willing we are to relocate.
- The funding outcome, which sets how much capital we actually have.