Is it cheaper to live in Spain?

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17 Dec 2008 6:42 PM by suemac Star rating in Jumilla, Murcia. 1001 posts Send private message

Hola

I'm not 100% sure, but as Linda is entitled to free healthcare as a UK state pensioner, it might be possible to add Jack as a dependent.   Alternatively, Jack may be entitled to free healthcare for up to 2 years in his own right, assuming that he has been making full NI contributions.  It certainly is something that you should be looking into before you make the move, as Roberto says.

Sue



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 Sue Walker

Author of "Retiring the Ole Way", now available on Amazon

See my blog about our life in Spain: www.spainuncovered.com




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17 Dec 2008 7:37 PM by jackwest5340 Star rating in Enfield, London and .... 10 posts Send private message

Thanks Roberto and Suemac for the quick answers they are very helpful.

The info was very useful and the costings did cheer us up as it seems that we should be able to have a reasonable life style. We are intending to learn Spanish as we don't want to just be in an English conclave and only talk louder and wave our arms to get the Spanish to understand us. We believe we should make the effort to learn Spanish and we love Spanish food.

As for our location we have a 2/2 apartment in Sitio De Calahonda (near the top of the hill) on the Costa Del Sol about 6 minute by car from the beach (not a good beach tho).We have already furnished the place and only require some minor items.

A couple of points, what are Consum and  Dia cards and where can we get them?

We don't smoke and only drink a little but if wine is that good and cheap I suppose we could force ourselves.
We want to join a few clubs (bowls-tennis-card games-keep fit- learning Spanish) so if any-one has some info re these in our area please let us know.
If there is anything else we should know please tell us.
 

Jack & Linda
 



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Jack & Linda Look on the bright side of life because you can see be...



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17 Dec 2008 8:06 PM by suemac Star rating in Jumilla, Murcia. 1001 posts Send private message

Consum and Dia are two Spanish supermarkets, and if there is one near you all you have to do is pick up a form in the store, complete it and you will get your cards through the post (for Consum) and on the spot, in the case of Dia.

We stayed at Cancelado recently , which is south of Calahonda, and really liked the local village, which is very Spanish and.the cafes there have reasonably priced menu del dia (between 7.50 and 8 euros).  There is a Dia supermarket near the bus station in Marbella, so there is bound to be one near you.  We can't remember whether Calahonda is nearer Marbella or Fuengirola, but certainly we have found many reasonably priced Spanish restaurants in Fuengirola.

When you arrive, check whether your local Ayuntamiento provides free Spanish lessons.  We go to "español para extranjeros" classes twice a week here in Jumilla, and they are free.

Enjoy your new life in Spain.  The people here in Jumilla are very friendly, and  also very patient when we try to speak Spanish.  Last night we were invited to attend a local fiesta by the Association of "Amigos de Jumilla", where we listened to a talk on Hollywood films (very difficult to follow as it was in Spanish, and it went on for far too long!), but we then shared lots of food and wine with the locals.  They are having another event tomorrow night, which they have invited us to, which apparently will be music followed by food and drink.  So get to know the Spanish people in your area, and you will definitely enjoy yourselves.

Sue



_______________________

 Sue Walker

Author of "Retiring the Ole Way", now available on Amazon

See my blog about our life in Spain: www.spainuncovered.com




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18 Jan 2009 6:59 PM by bobaol Star rating. 2253 posts Send private message

bobaol´s avatar

It's a while since this has been updated and, what with the old pound crashing again, I thought I would give a comparison.

Went shopping today at Tesco in UK and I just wondered what the difference (if any, nowadays) there would be between here and Spain.  Mercadona on line has an excellent shopping bit and gives all the prices.  Obviously, it would be silly of me to compare exact things (for example, if I bought San Miguel in UK it would be 3 times the cost in Spain, likewise if I bought Boddingtons in Spain it would be 3 times the cost in UK) so I compared like for like.  The Tesco prices includes special offers (for example, 9 toilet rolls get 3 free counts as 12) whereas the Mercadona ones don't have any on the website.

This was our shopping list at Tesco:

1.5kg whole chicken.   4 pork fillet chops.  1Kg fresh tomatoes (came from Majorca, would you believe),  1Kg Long grain rice.  500g dried spaghetti.  12 toilet rolls (Tesco own brand).  250g ground coffee.  1L sem-skimmed milk.  2 x 70cl White wine (Spanish).   6 x 440ml cans Boddingtons.  1Kg Cox apples.  1.5K oranges.  200g bacon.  6 large eggs.  loaf fresh bread (400g),  259g Flora olive margarine.  1 Kg frozen peas.  110g peeled shrimps.  6 slices ham.  225g Cheddar cheese.

On the Mercadona site, it was virtually the same (even the tomatoes were Majorcan).  The toilet rolls were a dozen double ply Hacendado, the apples were Braeburn and the beer was 2L Mahou. 

The cost at Tescos was £60.19 or €66 (Tescos were doing 1.10 to the pound in their exchange shop).

The cost at Mercadona on line was €38.08.

I think the only things cheaper at Tescos was the bacon (but not much difference) and Flora margarine which was about half the price of Spain. 

The whole chicken was not the cheapo offer at £4.96 but even the Tesco cheap ones are now £4 each (or 3 for £10),  We also bought minced beef but couldn't find that on the Mercadona site so left it off the Tesco total.

So, this wasn't a made up list to show it's cheaper in Spain, this is actually what we went out and bought.  I'm sure people will come up and say "but what about the baked beans (64p a tin for Heinz) and this and that.  I'm sure I could pick some things cheaper in Spain as well (Serrano ham, 1 euro for 10 slices in Mercadona, £2.99 for 6 slices in Tesco etc.)

The wine, obviously, was a big difference but they will form part of my shopping basket in both countries.

I know other things are more expensive in Spain (anyone who has tried to buy a decent frying pan or a coffe maker will attest to that) but the normal day to day shopping?  Think the above says it all.

((To compare your own prices go to Mercadona online (google mercadona espana) and select the English version.  For UK prices, go to mysupermarket.com and you can compare prices in the big supermarkets.))

 

 





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18 Jan 2009 7:58 PM by ayrez Star rating in La Marina Oasis. 379 posts Send private message

Hello

We budget 1000 euros per month and always have something left at the month end. We eat out about once a week plus coffees and snacks etc. We also run two cars.

Re health care- if  linda is a UK pensioner she is entitled to free healthcare and her husband will be classed as her dependant . Linda will need to ring Newcastle and ask for form 121 for herself and another for her husband as her dependant. All prescriptions will also be free.  My husbands prescriptions are valued at over 100 euros per month and are all free. I know the cost because when he came out of hospital with a list of drugs we had to get them from the chemist the same day but could not get a doctors appt until the following day. The chemist listed all his drugs gave them to us for free and said " We will sort it out when you get the scrips tomorrow" Imagine that happening in UK

Jean





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19 Jan 2009 12:25 AM by jackwest5340 Star rating in Enfield, London and .... 10 posts Send private message

Bobaol & Ayrez,

 Thanks for this info, it's very useful. I didn't think there would be any more responses.

Bobaol, it was good of you to spare the time to list all that. I will go to the Mercadona site and put in our usual shopping list where possible.

Ayrez, the info that you get by on about 1000 euro PM is good news for us. If we can get by around that on the Costa Del Sol then we will be laughing. Also thanks for the health info.

With the pound picking up slightly that improves the situation further.

Just a quick question!

We are reading all the time in the English papers about big problems for the pensioners that have retired to Spain, is it that bad or just the usual thing of the papers making it out to be worse that it is?

Regards

 Jack & Linda



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Jack & Linda Look on the bright side of life because you can see be...



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19 Jan 2009 8:59 AM by suemac Star rating in Jumilla, Murcia. 1001 posts Send private message

Does the 1,000 euros per month include a mortgage at all?  At the moment we are renting (400 euros a month) and spending less than that including bills.  We are pensioners, and our bills here so far have been a lot less than if we had been living in the UK.  Bobaol has given a good example of the difference in price, and he was looking at Mercadona, which isn't the cheapest supermarket here. 

As always, what you read in the papers has been exaggerated!  We are still able to fly back to the UK from time to time (though I'm not looking forward to booking flights in the summer, once my daughter has fixed her wedding date, as I suspect they will cost us a fortune!), we go out for meals with friends here occasionally and can afford to treat ourselves to menu del dia from time to time.  We don't run a car, but use public transport.  I suspect that some pensioners have bought a large property on the coast, with a mortgage, and are now finding the exchange rate is lowering their spending power.

Sue



_______________________

 Sue Walker

Author of "Retiring the Ole Way", now available on Amazon

See my blog about our life in Spain: www.spainuncovered.com




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19 Jan 2009 10:28 AM by ayrez Star rating in La Marina Oasis. 379 posts Send private message

Suemac

No we do not have a mortgage. We bought our first property in Spain in 1997 and where we live now,near Fuente Alamo, is our third house. As I said we live very comfortably in this area BUT a neighbour of ours ,who has lived in Spain 20+ years moved to Murcia fron the CDS as she could no longer afford to live there. Once she moved to Murcia was able to live comfortably. I am not trying to worry you but prices do vary by area.

We picked Murcia because it is quieter and more spanish feeling than the CDS but it is a matter of choice.

We could also live on less if we wanted to and we always have cash left at the month end.  We can replace items that have broken in the house without having to worry and usually eat out once or twice a week.

All this stuff in the papers is blown out of all proportion in my opinion. OK people moan about the exchange rate but most people we have spoken to  are of the opinion that they would be even worse off  in UK.. I still think the Spanish supermarkets are cheaper overall if you are buying Sapnish foods and the markets are cheap. The only thing with markets is that only food in season will be available.

Yesterday bought :  4 kgs of manadarins for 1 euro,.  Cauli for 90 cents,. Mushrooms 2.80 per kilo,. Potatroes and onions 30 cents per kilo, Apples and pears 1 euro per kilo,4 lettuce for 1 euro ( can steal them from the field down the camino but not worth it. Once the field is picked anyone can help themselves to what is left and they leave behind perfectly good lettuce. Can´t wait for the red lettuce to be picked) Not bad and this is not a cheap market as it is in Puerto de Mazarron.

All followed by a stroll on the paseo followed by 3 course menu del dia plus bread ,salad and wine for 8.5 euros each. Them coffee and brandy for another 2 euros. Sun shining, sea view what more could anyone ask for?

Jean

PS Well done Bobaol you have more patience than I have to do all the comparison.

Jean

 





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19 Jan 2009 11:01 AM by Roberto Star rating in Torremolinos. 4552 posts Send private message

Roberto´s avatar

Out of curiosity, and because someone here in Torremolinos told us about it (we didn't even know it existed before) we went to Iceland in Mijas on Saturday. Very interesting. It's a full size supermarket and carries every imagineable line, all shipped in from the UK and with the price in £ on the packages. This of course means you know exactly how much more you're paying than you would be if you were actually shopping in the UK (which you have to pinch yourself to remember you're not, since apart from the discreet euro price tags you can easily forget).

Whilst I appreciate that there is a cost involved in bringing all this stuff over, I just cannot fathom out why it was packed to the hilt with British shoppers. Bobs very useful comparison below shows how much cheaper your regular shopping is likely to be in a Spanish supermarket. Why then would anyone in their right mind come all the way to Spain to shop in an English supermarket, where the prices appear to be on average 1.5 times more than you would pay for the exact same product in the UK? Beats me. Are so many Brits really so insular, that they cannot set foot in a Spanish supermarket and buy a Spanish brand of the same thing? Or , if you genuinely can't find an equivalent, adapt to use what is available in your new home country? I felt rather embarrassed by the whole thing. We walked around without a basket like a couple of tourists from outer space - we haven't been in the UK for a while, so much of it was new to us. (Frozen mashed potato? What?!!) Afterwards we went to Eroski to do our shopping.

On a positive note, and to be fair, Utterly Butterly is cheaper there, and available in larger packs! (And there's no Spanish alternative that I know of) Hardly worth driving to Mijas for, though.

But apart from that..............



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Mark Twain

 

 

 




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19 Jan 2009 11:36 AM by ayrez Star rating in La Marina Oasis. 379 posts Send private message

Roberto

know just what you mean about iceland. Visited the one in Torrevieja and could not believe the stuff people were buying. Car park was absolutely jammed. Nescafe coffe was almost 2 euros more expensive than in any Spanish supermarket!

Have to confess that my OH begged for two tins of mushy peas though. Yuk!

Jean





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27 Jan 2009 9:29 AM by Rob in Madrid Star rating in Madrid. 274 posts Send private message

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Do restaurants open earlier along the coast?

I have to confess that I only eat at VIPs because it's the only place in Madrid where you can be served before 10pm. I've talked to alot of Americans who talk about having to make reservations for 9pm and finding the restaraunt empty. Even crazier are the parents who sit down at 10pm on a school night with kids for dinner!!!! I remember when we first arrived getting an email for a meetup and it started at 10pm I wrote back and asked if it was a typo.

As well maybe it's different on the coast but the produce is crap around Madrid. The only good tomatoes are from the market and those are imported from Holland.

 



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Decided after all I don't like Spanish TV, that is having compared both.




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27 Jan 2009 6:59 PM by Roberto Star rating in Torremolinos. 4552 posts Send private message

Roberto´s avatar

The Spanish do tend to eat much later than us "northerners", but it's perfectly possible to eat before 9.00pm at most establishments down here on CDS.

We did, however, go to our favourite local restaurant rather early one time - 7.00pm - on account of the fact we had a flight to catch and had to leave for the airport before 8.00pm. We were the only people sitting at a table (on the terrace) while the waiter busied himself setting tables. He was aware of us, but after 15 minutes I had to call him and ask if we could order now, to which he looked very surprised, and explained they didn't open until 8.00pm - he thought we'd just come in to sit for a while and it didn't even occur to him that we might like to eat at that hour!



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"Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please"

Mark Twain

 

 

 




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27 Jan 2009 8:59 PM by Rob in Madrid Star rating in Madrid. 274 posts Send private message

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Thanks, was reading an article in the FT about someone who lived in Spain (moved 20+ years ago) and how the Spanish would party all night long hoping bar to bar and by 6am they were still roaring to go and she was ready to give up, me I'm too old to stay up much past midnight!



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Decided after all I don't like Spanish TV, that is having compared both.




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10 Feb 2009 5:46 PM by Glennl Star rating. 3 posts Send private message

Good afternoon. I'm new here and have been following this exchange. Our situation is this: Retired ( Me, forcibly due to recession!), in our 60s. We figure we may as well sell up here and go to Spain. Asset comfortable, cash poor! So we would be living on limited income of about £1000 per month pretax. Ideally we would be looking for a 3 bed 2 bath villa with own filtered but not heated pool. Probaby rent to start with. As we will probably be inland a bit ( maybe 20km from coast ) we will need heating, which could be Oil CH or electric aircon/heaters.

I am trying to get a handle on what the overhead costs such as utilities etc would be on such a place. I am comfortable with the cost of food and consumables and know that we can manage that OK, but as we have always stayed in a villa over there, we don't know what the add-ons like electrid etc would be.

Can we have a decent lifestyle without dipping (too much) into our savings, which we would like to maintain as a base to generate interest to give us a bit of luxury?

Or am I in cloud cuckoo land?





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10 Feb 2009 6:24 PM by Rickiebear Star rating in Bristol UK/Tenerife. 40 posts Send private message

Hi Glennl, we have an appartment in Tenerife. At the moment we use it for holidays, but the idea is that when we retire we will live in it during the winter, spending the summer in the UK. No heating costs, the main reason why we chose Tenerife. Water about 5€ every 2 months. Electricity about 35€ aevery 2 months.  Community Charge 62€ a month this includes pool, gardens, lifts, satelite TV cleaning etc. Rates 280€ a year. Building and Contents Insurance 167€ a year. Have I missed anything?

Some thoughts, we did not want to sever all links with the UK, so will keep a small flat in the UK. We will than have access to NHS etc, and somewhere to stay. Also when one of you die or become ill it is easy to come home.

Do plenty of research, you are not going to be on holiday, this is a home. Will you always have a car, where is the local bus stop. Can you walk to a local shop or supermarket. What if one of you has mobility problems. Buying and selling a property in Spain is expensive, pick a home now to stay in. Complete a Spanish Will.

Read plenty of post on this forum. Also check out Spanish banks many heve UK links, see latest post on Halifax Bank, their application pack is a great resourse pack.

Last and not least, ask plenty of questions. We are here to help.





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10 Feb 2009 6:33 PM by Patty_1 Star rating in Hertfordshire. UK. .... 1062 posts Send private message

 Hi Glennl,

Welcome to the forum you will find loads of information posted here, just as has been said so do your reasearch, yes renting is a good idea to start with.

Do you know what area you would like to go to because community taxes seem to vary in different area's? 

For instance  Costa del Sol, seems more expensive to Costa Blanca.

Good Luck Pat



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10 Feb 2009 7:07 PM by Roberto Star rating in Torremolinos. 4552 posts Send private message

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£1000 to include rent seems a bit tight to me. Even inland, Costa Blanca, I would think at least half of that would go on rent, which won't leave too much spare for living expenses.

Hoping your savings will generate some income to afford you a bit of luxury? Err...one slight problem! Unless you've got several million in the bank, at current interest rates, you'll struggle to buy a loaf of bread (or maybe you were one of the lucky / clever ones who locked into 7% for 5 years before the proverbial hit the fan?)

 



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"Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please"

Mark Twain

 

 

 




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11 Feb 2009 9:03 AM by Glennl Star rating. 3 posts Send private message

Thanks people. This is good stuff, and just what I had hoped for. To flesh it our a bit - like Rickiebear - we don't want to burn all bridges so we would like to leave our capital intact while we rent. The interest on the capital will pay the rent, so Roberto, the £1000 pm will be net, to cover all utility bills, housekeeping, local taxes etc plus hopefully a bit left for the odd vino or 2. Would that amount cover it without breaking too much into the capital sum? When we eventually buy a place of course, a large chunk of the capital will disappear, but so does the rent.

Pat, as far as location is concerned, ideally inland from Malaga way, possiblyas far as Vinuela, but we are familiar with all the coast and even up to Valencia way would be a possibility.

Take your point about research and although I have done plenty dating back several years in preparation for this time, I know that nothing will truly prepare us, which is why I see the value of this exchange.

Thanks, all

 





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11 Feb 2009 11:01 AM by Acky Star rating. 58 posts Send private message

All the postings are good advice.  But, we all live differntly, and therefore only you know of the costs of the way you will decide to live in Spain.

But be very, very careful with your money...it will soon go..if you spend it 'willy nilly; as I have witnessed at first hand experience with people who have no money left having come to Spain (they usually run out after 2/3 years)

So, do your homework. And don't get carried away.

There is 'doom and gloom' in Spain - but point me in a direction in the world where there isn't?

Spain is a great place to be...but take it easy..enjoy the ride.

Costs in Spain, compared to Britain, can be on a par..can be cheaper..and can be dearer.  Depends where you go to eat..and shop.

I am on the costa blanca south, and the yearly community fees (pool/jardin) are only 140euros annually.

The market(s) are a good place to buy your fruit and veg..shoes..clothes..and won't break the bank.

Again, if you drive a car..have a mortgage..etc., costs are going to be more, than that of a mortgage free couple/non-drivers. Hence, everyone has a different lifestyle.

I agree, with posting..£1000 appears high to rent for a month.  You can get much cheaper than this.   

People who use their properties for holidays will only have small bills.  water 20euros/elec 30euros etc - but these will rise when you are a permanent resident.  Cater for this.

I have lived in Spain for 5 years..and am 'street wise'.  I have dined at restaurants where the La Quenta has been a few hundred euros (4 people)...and dined at restaurants where the bill has been 10euros (2 people).

So, your life in Spain is your personal choice.  Make sure it's 'Happy Days'....and not happy 'daze' in the years that lie ahead.  Good luck.





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11 Feb 2009 12:02 PM by jackwest5340 Star rating in Enfield, London and .... 10 posts Send private message

Glenni

You say you will have about £1000 pretax for living expenses. Have you taken into account the exchange rate, also that taxes are higher in Spain than England. The tax free amount in Spain is 5151 euros after that you are taxed on the remainder.  At the moment you get about 1.11 euros to the £. This will gve you 1100 euros pm less tax.

Thanks to all those that responded to my question on the cost of living in Spain. I have read them all and the info was very useful. My wife and I have decided that we will be able to live reasonably in Spain and will hopefully be moving their in May or June.

 

 



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Jack & Linda Look on the bright side of life because you can see be...



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