Hi Folks,
My partner and I are thinking of escaping the rat race and this is the 1st step to see if it's feasible for us....All advice greatly appreciated!
We're a mid 40s couple who are looking at relocating to the Torrevieja/ La Marina/ Gaurdamar areas. Looking to spend Approx £50k on a small 2 bed bungalow/house. We would be mortgage free and allowing for ex. rate fluctuations we would have approx. 800-1000 euro per month income for living. We're in good health, enjoy the outdoor life and are fairly low maintenance but like going out for an occasional drink or the odd meal and wanting to embrace the local and expat community.


At this point, can anyone guide me as to what regular outgoings would be, such as : heating in winter, air con in summer, internet connections and anything else I've forgot to mention.
Look forward to your replies, Thanks!

Firstly, you don't escape the rat race- you just get a different breed of rat!
Your outgoings depend on your lifestyle, how you heat your home,where you live, if you have a pool , so many things
Certainly you can live comfortably on your budget,. 50k sounds a bit unrealistic for a house , though ther are bargains to be had. Try Camposol, Murcia.
Research health care, taxes, requirements for residency.
Am I right in assuming you will not be working out here?

There are bargains to be had in many places....why do you always refer to campasol....campasol is a good place ( for some)as long as you buy in the right area where the ground is stable.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLOU5Vdg2wY

CAMPOSOL
I can recommend it- I have lived there for many years
Only a minority of properties have problems
Don't believe allyou read

Maybe.....but people have to be aware of what is good, and what could end up as a huge headache,,,,,,caveat emptor.

A lot will depend on the sort of house you buy, Spanish houses are not built for cold, and it can get cold in Winter. Heating costs will depend on the type of heating, very few places have central heating. If you buy a 'quad' house, that is one of four built in a square, then you only have two outside walls to let in the cold, if an apartment, then you may only have one outsdie wall, these things do cut down on heating costs, especially if the other places are occupied. Internet connection is expensive for what you get, forget the UK type speeds, and hope that you can get 1-2 mbps for the same cost as a UK 50mbps connection. Electricity is more expensive, but you do not have council tax, and the taxes on your property will be something like a tenth of the UK, however if you buy on an urbanisation you have to think of the urbanisation fees, these will depend on the level of service provided and can be as low as €400 a year to €1500 per year and higher.
Health care will be private cover until you reach UK state pension age. There are additional thinggs like water rates, but water is metered so will depend on your usage.

If you run a car, then car tax is much lower than the UK in general, and fuel prices a little lower.

We lived in Playa Flamenca so my comments are based on costs there.

£50K two bed house, Camposol is your place. or Cabo Roig if you like the expat scene its just that bit classier........ but hurry because £50K will probably mean you are 20 minute drive inland from the sea.

You do not have to have private health cover until pension age, as after 1 year you can pay 60 euros per month each into the Convenio Especial.
Then you will receive the same care as any Spanish resident.

Places in Camposol are cheap because of the problems that some of the properties have had, and the bad publicity over those problems.

Thanks guys for the input. We've been looking on various UK and Spanish websites and we've an idea of an apartment type (lower/Upper) with sun terrace or balcony we're looking for. We're not planning on working so was looking for "ball park" figures for general monthly outgoings to see if it's do-able. ie. what would be "average" How much per month is a household internet connection? How much is heating for a small 2 bed apartment?

I appreciate this is a " How long is a bit of string" but just trying to put numbers together?

Not so. Prices on Camposol have always been good.
The bad publicity didn't help, but the Round Town News had to publish a grovelling apology recently, for not checking their facts and not researching thoroughly.

For telephone and unlimited internet we paid 36 euros per month.
This included 1000 free minutes telephone calls to Europe and some other countries.
Electricity can be expensive for heating
For a small 2 bed apartment, I would probably use a mobile heater with gas bottles which are very economical( if it doesn't have central heating)

okay Andrew, this is for a two bed two bathroom house upper and lower terrace communal pool. figures in Euros per year..... internet 96.00 when not there 118.00 when there. maintenance 300 Rates 125 water 268 Electricity hot or cold 292. 1103 a year or £800 so cheap its amazing.

We have two properties and a car, 1000 € monthly, covers our expenses. Booze, nights out, holidays are not included.

However we live in the Canary Islands where purchase tax is only 7%, which makes purchases far cheaper than Europe and the U.K., plus with the temperate climate cooling and heating bills are unknown.

Years ago because my Father lived near Moraira, I also considered that area, very pretty, but having arrived in the Canary Islands from Trinidad in 1962, I was drawn here.

Thanks again for all the replies. This is what I'm looking for peoples real examples of outgoings. Using Wilsman77 calculations, could we say 200e per month should cover all household outgoings on a small apartment.

Will be back with some more questions!, Cheers!