Mac's Poll - Let's Vote

pommers said:
Friday, August 30, 2019 @ 3:06 PM

Some things in supermarkets in the UK are now cheaper than here in Spain. BUT alcohol is a lot more expensive as are cigarettes.
Electrical goods are often cheaper in the UK - but how often do you need to buy a new fridge or washer?
Petrol & diesel are still cheaper in Spain - although no longer as cheap as they used to be.
But the big hitter for me is council tax.
Our IBI on a big 3-bedroom 1 floor village house with a good amount of outdoor space (big enough to take a 8x4m pool) and 3 times that space as well is €299.
Our council tax on a 3-bedroom bungalow in Staffordshire was £2400 when we left in 2006!
Spain all the way cheaper for me.

DJF42 said:
Friday, August 30, 2019 @ 4:03 PM

I have to agree with Pommers regarding his points, however, when talking Spain it should be remembered that there are increased costs for those of us living in the off-shore islands. Partly because of transport costs but also the autonomous governments impose their own import taxes as we are not totally within the EU and they can, so they do. It's all to do with the different rules that apply. Please do not ask me what they are, be assured they are complicated, as with all EU legislation. And do not mention the "B" word!

Rita Garrett said:
Saturday, August 31, 2019 @ 8:43 AM

Just been back to England and the Supermarkets are cheaper, but fags & drink are cheaper here but still prefer to live in Spain

Karamredd said:
Saturday, August 31, 2019 @ 9:24 AM

Spain all the way in all respects. Waking up to sunshine can’t be beaten!!

midasgold said:
Saturday, August 31, 2019 @ 10:03 AM

Shop like the Spanish,use their brands -only use Iceland for the FEW bits that you can t get in Mercadonia.Then you save 30% on Brit supermarkets.

Gipsy Rover said:
Saturday, August 31, 2019 @ 10:04 AM

Spain overall is a lot cheaper, saving on heating bills, property tax & alcohol, no real difference on food prices,but eating out is a lot cheaper

Lovely lifestyle to enjoy and in the bright sunshine too.

Ian Wilkinson said:
Saturday, August 31, 2019 @ 10:29 AM

On holiday in UK, can notice more offers on fruit & veg than previously - much produce from Spain of course. UK residents in Spain are noticing change in income from pensions paid direct from UK into euro accounts - that is influencing purchasing power for retired people - eg. 3 years ago purchasing 1400 euros worth of goods would have cost me £1000 - today the same purchase would cost me about £1320 - due to exchange rate. Big difference is still things like car tax, IBI, some insurance policies , enabling a considerable positive gap & advantage of living in Spain.

marelison said:
Saturday, August 31, 2019 @ 10:33 AM

This poll is meant to UK/English people to to give their answer. I am from Iceland, and many other readers are from different countries. - So my answer is YES...It is more than 50-60% cheaper than Iceland ti live in every way.

Mar Elison,
Iceland

Michael Grouve said:
Saturday, August 31, 2019 @ 10:39 AM

Spain is cheaper for Alcohol
Beer and wine are much cheaper
Meat is more expensive .Fruit and veg are about the same price.Council tax is much cheaper. Income tax Is Higher.and health insurance costs are more expensive.

markmyword said:
Saturday, August 31, 2019 @ 11:02 AM

If we're talking about one of the Spanish Costas, the overall cost of living is currently comparable to Great Britain.
This takes into account all aspects of life and includes costs for food /drink, occasional eating out, clothing, housing charges / maintenance, purchasing a car and running it, other forms of transport, and the utilities (water, electricity, gas). I have also taken into account the considerable change in the pound / euro exchange rate since we moved here in 2001.

Then Spain was approximately 20-25% cheaper using the above criteria, but the two are now very similar overall.

David said:
Saturday, August 31, 2019 @ 11:59 AM

Cheaper, and healthier. I miss the UK countryside but NOT the winter weather.

David Britten said:
Saturday, August 31, 2019 @ 12:16 PM

Day to day living in Spain is cheaper than in UK, but anything to do with Spanish bureaucracy is massively expensive and awkward. Much of what can be done online in Britain is not in Spain, and involves much travelling, visiting offices sometimes twice for a single process, and suffering the incompetence, ignorance, intransigence and rudeness or indifference of officials, especially if you're British.

rob_j1 said:
Saturday, August 31, 2019 @ 1:29 PM

I'd be curious to see some concrete examples from websites. Even in the UK, there's a big difference between, say, Waitrose, and Lidl. I've moved between the UK and Australia, and compared prices quite a bit. Aus was way more expensive. If you compare a similar Spanish supermarket with a UK one, it might be interesting to know what it costs for things.

And one other point; often, when I look at the cost comparison websites, I do wonder where they get their information from. Because what I pay for things bears no resemblance to what they report. And, just to muddy the waters further, you often get weekly specials that can skew things.

Overall though, I find London to be very expensive, and when I'm in Estepona / Benahavis, I find things to be quite a bit cheaper. Council tax is very high in London, which is something you cant do much about, and car costs can be reduced (electric = less reliance on fuel), especially if you get sun and have PV panels + a battery system.

Paul Simons said:
Sunday, September 1, 2019 @ 10:42 AM

Spain veg and fruit are sold by the kilo, UK by the each or bag. Check on oranges showed UK 5x more expensive.
Council tax beat Suma by 8x.
Road fuel is cheaper by nottalot in Spain but our logs in spain are half price and hardwood against softwoods here.
I would live there full time apart from the huge minus of inheritance tax. Both countries are 40% but UK allows £375k and Spain a bit over £100k before tax

Paul Simons said:
Sunday, September 1, 2019 @ 10:44 AM

Spain veg and fruit are sold by the kilo, UK by the each or bag. Check on oranges showed UK 5x more expensive.
Council tax beat Suma by 8x.
Road fuel is cheaper by nottalot in Spain but our logs in spain are half price and hardwood against softwoods here.
I would live there full time apart from the huge minus of inheritance tax. Both countries are 40% but UK allows £375k and Spain a bit over £100k before tax

windtalker said:
Tuesday, September 3, 2019 @ 8:26 PM

Talk is cheap in Spain so is alcohol and cigarettes ...food in supper markets is more expensive .

windtalker said:
Tuesday, September 3, 2019 @ 8:26 PM

Talk is cheap in Spain so is alcohol and cigarettes ...food in supper markets is more expensive .