hi, just wondering if anyone knows what a Spanish person living on a basic state pension would be getting every month? Thanks.

I believe it ranges from 600€ to 2,500€ depending on number and level of SS contributions made but I'm sure someone will come along with more exact information.

Thanks MHF, we were just wondering how it stacked up against my husbands RAF pension as we are thinking of moving over there and figure if the Spanish can live on x amount of money, we could until,our OAP's kick in.

It would still be difficult to judge due to the fact that a lot of Spanish pensioners may not have a mortgage or pay rent and most have family living with them.

When we were researching my husband found out the prices of a huge amount of things and worked out how this compared with what we paid in the UK. He budgeted for every conceivable thing, everything that could go wrong and even allowed for very unlikely things too.

The problem is that the answer to a lot of questions is "how long is a piece of string" because none of us fit "norm", different areas equals different costs, housing is a perfect example of this. I read on here of rents as low as 250 euros but was talking to a university student today who was thrilled that he had found a small flat for 500 euros. Unfortunately although many of us can give you an idea of costs/expenditure as always "it depends" is at the beginning of most sentences.

Rosemary

Know what you are saying Rosemary. We are in Mollina at the moment where you can rent a decent property for €250-300 a month and everything we have came across so far is very cheap compared to where we live in UK. We have spoken to some expats as well, but obviously don't want to discuss our finances in too much detail with strangers, so was just wondering on what the average wage/pension is for locals as would not expect them to have high wages here. Thanks for info though xx

Interesting concept to compare what Spanish pensioners live on to your husbands pension. Everyone spends their money in different ways so it is impossible to generalise. Many people in Spain live in a thousand euros a month on average but they have family, maybe property, contacts, free health care and a support network. It is definitely cheaper to live here compared to the UK but just depends what you want out of life. Sun, sea and good company is all free.

I agree, expats shouldn't compare their financial requirements to a Spanish pensioner.

There's the variable exchange rate, health cover, dental fees, flights to/fro UK (presumably) and different refuelling habits to consider.

As a yardstick, suggest a bare monthly minimum budget of; €400 food & drink, €400 Rent/Bills, €150 Basic Health cover, €400 transport/internet/hosting/social/misc.

Reckon a couple could 'exist' reasonably comfortably on about €1400 per month, circa £12000 per annum at today's rate.

The average wage in Spain is EUR24,000 per year. In the South it will be less, maybe EUR20,000 per year

The average household income in Spain is about EU30-35,000 per year

Obviously a lot of people earn less than that, around EUR1,000 per month after tax, but you must be aware that the lower third of earners in Spain are some of the poorest in Western Europe. Do you want to live like them?

I believe that a family can live a life of luxury in Spain on EUR100k in the big cities, and maybe EUR50k in the smaller cities

But much less isnt much fun

I can't see how you will gain any sensible advice given that everyone has a different lifestyle. Even if people eat out the same number of days/nights Per week some will class a couple of tapas as a meal some will eat steak.Rents may rise if the economy improves some aren't bothered about that as they own their property certainly locals. Utilities some use air con some don't etc. It is impossible to access surely best way as you say you are renting here is access it over say 6 months against your own lifestyle and needs if it doesn't work out or does you have your answer. personaly I think I would be living a much higher lifestyle than I ever have even when working on 50k but then I have never lived in a city.

Depends how you define 'fun'.

As mentioned by Chris Jolly earlier, the best things about Spain; the climate, pace of life, scenery, people and culture, are all free.

Absolutely

But transport, fuel, accomodation and good food certainly isnt free

And many times good education and health isnt either

By the way, no idea what you mean by pace of life. Yes it is very slow in a slow pueblo where there are no jobs and nothing to do, but certainly not in the cities

I thought Iano posted sound advice in both posts. They accounted for all you mention except education but other than learning Spanish where is that relevant to a retired couple?

The OP mentions an RAF pension which means they could still be in their 40s

And just to say that 400 euros for rent and bills is incredibly low

Yes there is accommodation like this but I can't bare to think what it would be like. Terrible in the middle of nowhere I would think

Much safer to budget 600 euros at the bottom end in a more interesting area.

Based on the OP's comment "We are in Mollina at the moment where you can rent a decent property for €250-300 a month"

A slower 'pace of life' is exactly what I meant, that will more likely appeal the older the couple are, granted.

I'm assuming that's the kind of lifestyle the OP is looking for, as they're currently looking at Mollina some way north of the coast in the sticks and a distance from either Malaga or Sevilla.