retiring to spain. house under offer so should be next year. my friends tell me spain cost of living is very high, surely not as much as UK. Anyone advise me on this say, things like food ., petrol etc. just me and the wife with occassional visits , i hope , by son and partner. we have avarage monthly cost of around 600 GBP per month, not including mortgage and council tax. thanks

Like everwhere it depends on how you live, what house you own, what car you drive and what your social life is like..

Our rates, water and rubbish bill is less than a hundred pounds a year for a start but it all depends on where you live for that. We spend far less in Spain than in the UK and find nearly everything cheaper.
In my experience having lived here for a long time the cost of living is higher than it used to be but still substantially lower than the UK.

You say you are retiring, is this an early retirement or are either of you UK pension age. This may mean quite a lot as, if you are of UK retirement age then you will qualify for free health care, apart from drugs which you will still have to pay for, if neither of you meet these criteria, then you can get a form from the DWP in the UK which will entitle you to 2 years free healthcare, but once that is up, and if neither one of you qualifies for UK pension then you will have to take out private healthcare.
Cost of living has certainly increased over the last few years, food coast have gone up as have taxes. Probably still cheaper but remember that electricity is more expensive as is phone and internet. You will not, legally, be able to get UK TV programmes either, however there are ways round that depending where you live. If you are considering buying, and I wouldn't recommend that for a while so you can move round to find the right place for yourselves, then use an independent solicitor, not one recommended by the estate agent.

It seems fairly simple Wilf from past posts. If you go towards the CDS it is a lot more expensive and it seems about the same as the UK.

If you move North even to the Costa Blanca North then it is still cheaper. Ive been living there for 6 years. I travel back to the UK often, and at least compared to the Midlands you will find it cheaper. Ive been in the UK recently and I can tell you I'm spending money like water. Last night £60 for a two course meal in a run of the mill restaurant, whereas I would have spent €20 for two for a three course meal and wine in CB. I dont think my basic costs in Spain excl council tax etc get over £600 pm

Think I know where this thread is going, we've been here before a few times.

Nearer the 1000 euro mark for us.

ours is about the same.
the more you go out the more you will spend, but then thats the same as in the UK.
Currently petrol is abt €1.35/litre, so I think that is much less than the UK, food is cheaper if you are cooking for yourselves and in many instances the quality is better.
Electricity can be expensive but then the UK is going through the throws of price increases as well.

If you feel happy about it, come and join us, you will find that it can be a good life so long as you don't expect to be mollycoddled in the Cradle to Grave Benefits of the UK, things are a bit more basic out here.

rgds

1.35 for petrol ours is nearer 1.40.

It is, as others have said, very difficult for Wilf to get reliable comparators from people on the forum because there are so many variables depending on where you live, what kind of property you live in, what type of heating you use, what kind of food you like to buy, and so on.

All I would say is that where you choose to live can have quite a big effect on what kind of heating/cooling bills you would be likely to have, and also how much you would have to spend on petrol. Areas that are on or near the coast will be warmer in winter and cooler in summer than those further inland, especially inland areas that are also at high altitude. And if you choose to live in the countryside or a small village, you will have to do a lot more driving about for any shopping you need, attending medical appointments, etc.

If you buy all or most of your food from Spanish independent shops, supermarkets or your local indoor/outdoor market, than your food bills will be a lot lower than if you prefer to stick with the British brands you know, which are a lot more expensive than they would be in the UK - obviously, as they have to be imported.

I guess its going down the route of helping the OP with his question

yeah I did lie - my local Repsol on the Cordoba road is charging €1.34.9, but surely you arent going to hang me for it ??


but what I do see is regular changing - up as well as down - in pump prices, unlike our old UK friends who set a price for several months.

have to agree Lynn - its very much like someone wanting comparators for the UK and getting responses from Scotland, Devon, Surrey etc. All are different.
One thing some people do not seem to understand is that many places in Spain are not like the UK and at sea level. Not that I am complaining being 1/2mile high, the scenery is fantastic especially compared to the flat, featureless Fens.

And as to English brands - well many are available, made in Europe, just that some places don't sell it. It is an interesting learning curve going out and trying the local alternatives and finding they are as good or better.
Just the BH keeps on at me because she misses her Branston pickle

Recent exercise - Heinz Baked Beans in local PAQUI are 95c per tin, but that is 76p, and she saw them in a UK Tesco for a similar price.

`

4 tins for £1.99 in my local Covran

Wilf, do you plan to come over to Spain for a holiday before making plans for your move? It's always a good idea to spend some time here in winter to make sure you know what you're letting yourself in for as you have to like the place even when the sun may not be shining (and yes, there are quite a few days when it doesn't).

If you do, why not write out a "typical" weekly shopping list for you and your wife, and have a trip around a Spanish supermarket writing down the prices for comparable items. That way you can arrive at a figure that relates to what YOU would actually be likely to buy.

fantastic ideas and comments, thank you all so much.; it appears we are coming over and renting for a year to take all your advice into consideration. here in uk, by the way, weather really bad, floods near me. beans about the same. cheers.