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Do you find the general cost of living cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

Do you find the general cost of living cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

Old Aug 8th 2011, 5:17 pm
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Default Re: Do you find the general cost of living cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

Originally Posted by jackytoo
Not really an average example is it!
Who said anything about it being an average example? I can only give my experience in my area, up to others to post examples from their area not mine...
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Old Aug 8th 2011, 5:19 pm
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Default Re: Do you find the general cost of living cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

Originally Posted by John & Kath
We got a good deal with Iberabanda which I think is still running of €41pm for 1 meg (up and down, good for skype) landline telephone number and 300 mins to UK.
Yes heard of that, but supposedly not for existing customers (or is it)? Any calls to mobiles or within Spain are at additional cost to the 41€ pm....
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Old Aug 8th 2011, 6:00 pm
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Default Re: Do you find the general cost of living cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

Im always amazed when this kind of thread starts, because it shows often how different the costs of living are in different parts of the country.

As someone who goes back to the UK(Midlands) fairly regularly and owns a home there, I get a reasonable idea compared to the CB North.

I'd say its overall cheaper in Spain ... you have to take everything into consideration when you compare.

Fuel is cheaper
Obviously booze is cheaper
My "council tax" is £500 cheaper in Spain for a larger home
Car tax is €105, much much cheaper than the UK
Supermarket shopping is cheaper in Spain ... please dont tell me about the BOGOF deals ... it only works if you want what they are doing the deals on. Our last supermarket shop in the UK was £170, whereas here it's around €100 - €120 .. yes I know it's difficult to compare that one.

Even car insurance is cheaper here, I paid £500 + for third party in the UK, and was paying around €300 iirc here for the same car, same cover but with breakdown cover.

Eating out, three course menu with drink around €8

Costly things here for us are Internet at €65 a month inc free calls in Spain, Electricity can be €90 a month in the winter months, but drops to around €40 pm in summer, and car service can usually work out to €140 - €180
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Old Aug 8th 2011, 8:44 pm
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Default Re: Do you find the general cost of living cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

What about health care and insurance for house etc.

I personally think that they are both about equal all taken into account.
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Old Aug 8th 2011, 8:48 pm
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Default Re: Do you find the general cost of living cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

Originally Posted by adra04778
What about health care and insurance for house etc.

I personally think that they are both about equal all taken into account.
Riot insurance for homes just went up in the UK
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Old Aug 8th 2011, 9:18 pm
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Default Re: Do you find the general cost of living cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

Originally Posted by adra04778
What about health care and insurance for house etc.

I personally think that they are both about equal all taken into account.
Private Health care in Spain is much much less than in the UK
House Insurance seems to be about the same, but I'm not sure the cover is equal
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Old Aug 8th 2011, 9:42 pm
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Default Re: Do you find the general cost of living cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

From personal experience we saved £345 on 2 cars when we insured in the UK. House insurance is cheaper too. Supermarket spend about the same but I do think we get lots of nicer stuff in the UK. Problem is we waste a lot by overbuying. We pay less tax in the UK than as a spanish resident.

Bringing everything with you to Spain will save a lot, even garden tools and patio furniture. However, at some time they will all need to be replaced. It's impossible to judge most things as everyone is different. Our electric and gas bills have always been higher than most peoples in both countries.

Basic foodstuffs you can do a comparison online with shop in both countries.
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Old Aug 8th 2011, 11:09 pm
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Default Re: Do you find the general cost of living cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

If you drink like a fish, smoke like a chimney and drive the wheels of your car then Spain is the place to be, otherwise the UK wins hands down.
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Old Aug 9th 2011, 5:16 am
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Default Re: Do you find the general cost of living cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

As regards supermarket shopping there is no contest as far as I am concerned, the UK wins hands down, for price, variety and quality.
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Old Aug 9th 2011, 6:34 am
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Default Re: Do you find the general cost of living cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

Originally Posted by Dick Dasterdly
If you drink like a fish, smoke like a chimney and drive the wheels of your car then Spain is the place to be, otherwise the UK wins hands down.
Ah, so that's why my friend always says he'd trade his utility bills for mine sight unseen. He's being kind to me.
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Old Aug 9th 2011, 6:43 am
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Default Re: Do you find the general cost of living cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

I dont see there being too much of a change in costs for this couple, the hubby will carry on with the same income as the UK.

Some things will cost more and others will cost less, but it should even itself out pretty much.

The real problems start where kids are involed with the extra expense of school stuff etc.

Just a point that has been mentioned before, if people need to know the price of bread and butter items, if the margins are so tight, it is best to stay in the UK, because in those cases a reletively small change in exchange rates or the car conking out can cause serious problems.
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Old Aug 9th 2011, 7:22 am
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Default Re: Do you find the general cost of living cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

That's the problem with UK/Spain price comparisons, we're not in the Euro and a UK income is at the mercy of currency markets.

You have to factor in future currency movements, but how can you? The pound Sterling goes up and down, mostly the latter, like a yo-yo, and I can never work out the logic behind it.

Currently, with the Euro in trouble, you would expect the pound to rise, but it hasn't happened.

And, as JLFS pointed out, if a small rise in prices of staple products like bread, chicken and petrol throws out your financial predictions, you should consider your move abroad.
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Old Aug 9th 2011, 7:44 am
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Default Re: Do you find the general cost of living cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

Originally Posted by bil
Ah, so that's why my friend always says he'd trade his utility bills for mine sight unseen. He's being kind to me.
Err, why do you repeatedly attribute posts to myself and others that that have never ever been made.

Considering that you claim to be a guy who only believes in proven facts, I find this repeated behaviour somewhat confusing.

Are you really so desperate to prove your point or is it simply a case of old age catching up with you ?
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Old Aug 9th 2011, 7:51 am
  #29  
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Default Re: Do you find the general cost of living cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

Before we made the decision to move to Spain we had a list of all our normal expenses and what we thought that we would have to pay out because of the move. Food was on the list but only really as a reminder to us that it was something that had to be paid for whereever we lived. Moving to another country costs a fair amount, actual moving costs, matriculating the car etc, etc but unfortunately so many people do not investigate the full cost before committing themselves. The price of food always depends on what you normally eat. Anyone who relies on the supermarkets budget goods will find Spain very expensive. If you want to eat exactly the same brands as you have in the UK it will be expensive. However, if you eat the same as the locals and are not determined to have UK brands you can eat very well, very reasonably. I understand that years ago there was a huge difference in the cost of living between UK and Spain but that now it is much more even.

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Old Aug 9th 2011, 8:04 am
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Default Re: Do you find the general cost of living cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

Originally Posted by Dick Dasterdly
Err, why do you repeatedly attribute posts to myself and others that that have never ever been made.

Considering that you claim to be a guy who only believes in proven facts, I find this repeated behaviour somewhat confusing.

Are you really so desperate to prove your point or is it simply a case of old age catching up with you ?

But you said "the UK wins hands down" and tbh in my experience of living in Spain and spending time in the midlands UK, that is absolute nonsense. Yes, it is difficult to compare, but I don't have too much trouble in getting a fair comparison.

I'd agree with jacktoo about getting nicer stuff in the UK. Electrical stuff here is expensive, and I almost always buy online or from the UK.

As I've said before, it can only be that different areas of Spain / UK are very different in cost of living. Theres no doubt that it's more expensive for us than it was when we moved here, especially with the rate of exchange difference as our income is in £. However, it's still cheaper for us to liver here than Spain, and this "much of a muchness" thing just doesnt make sense to me in our areas
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