The cost of Living Sticky

[Eva33]

Originally Posted by lamha

The employer is a worldwide IT-company, which is establishing a new office down there.

Coming from Switzerland I could earn here approx 4000 euros. So it's hard for me to believe, that life in Malaga would be half as expensive as in Switzerland, but it seems, that I could be wrong?

I am a Swiss living in Spain (Alicante). I am traveling to Switzerland on a regular basis, because part of my family lives there. The big difference in costs is about the fix costs. In Switzerland Rent, health insurance and Taxes will -at least for us as a family of three- be about half as much as in Spain. We rent an apartment for 900 Euros, which would be about at least 1500 - 1800 Euros in Switzerland. Taxes are, as far as I know, - I am retired- normally already deducted and, if you work, health insurance is free. So up to you to make the math. Going out to eat is also quite cheaper in Spain. I did notice that food prices are about the same (except fruits), or maybe sometime even cheaper (Migros) in Switzerland. Overall, I would estimate cost of living about 30% cheaper in Spain. But of course is does also depends on your life style. If you live very low key, then you can live in Spain on very little money (for Swiss standard). I mean many Spaniards have to live with an amount of money which would not even be sufficient to pay the rent in Switzerland.

[dizzy]

Update 4 November 2008

Rent - 3 bed 2 balcony piso in Aiguafreda (50k north Barca) 500EU per month + tax. + 40% of outgoings

Carrefour Shopping List
Weetabix 2.65
Dozen eggs 1.29
Gin Old Thames 700ml 4.25
Nescafe coffee 200gr x 2 9.65
Peach Juice 1lt 0.53
Ketchup 560gr 0.92
Tuna 260gr 2.40
Honey 1kg 3.79
Margarine 500gr 0.75
Bacon Rashers 700g 5.00
Sangre de Torro Wine 4.00
Bread 1kg Toasting 1.24
Cupasoup 4pack 1.10
Cornflour 285gr 0.48
Iceberg Lettuce 0.69
Tissues pack 100 0.89
Fresh Bread 1kg 2.29
Milk Full Cream UHT 1.5lt 1.49
Spaghetti 700gr 0.75
Tonic Water 6 x 200ml (to go with the gin) 1.14
Dijon Mustard 200ml 2.30
Tomato Paste Tetra Brick 390gr 0.38
Yoghurt 16pack individual danone brand 2.99

Local Supermarket

Bag crossants 1.00
Apples x 5 Royal Gala 2.65kg
Blood Plums x 5 2.95kg

some things are cheap - others are not. It all comes out in the wash. My fortnightly shop for 4 people has been around 120EU - but i do get free mushrooms from the mountains, chestnuts too, and the occassional wholesale meat order from work.

[CKSMadrid]

Quadruple these prices at least to get an idea on the cost of Madrid.....
I suppose it is a good job that land on the outskirts is still relatively cheap and you can get a decent park home or build a house for a reasonable price still!

[dosprompt]

So how are people managing now ( Pension wise) with the downturn of the Euro/Pound,

BBC today tried to make a massive issue on Pensioners running for the UK hills as they can no longer afford to live out there. typical news media.

[jojo]

Originally Posted by dosprompt

So how are people managing now ( Pension wise) with the downturn of the Euro/Pound,

BBC today tried to make a massive issue on Pensioners running for the UK hills as they can no longer afford to live out there. typical news media.

I think the BBC were on this forum a week or so ago looking for people who were struggling to make ends meet here and wanting to go back - that in itself tell me that the conclusion and the story was decided by the media and not by the reality. They could have asked for people who were doing well out here and they'd have got responses and made their programme about that - but all the british media ever do is "doom and gloom" - I hate them, they're biased and they make what they report happen!

I KNOW there are alot of folk who are finding the euro/pound thing a pain, me included but the media seem to enjoy "bigging" it up and making it worse. I dont believe running back to the UK would be a cheaper option tho!

Jo

[dosprompt]

Originally Posted by jojo

I think the BBC were on this forum a week or so ago looking for people who were struggling to make ends meet here and wanting to go back - that in itself tell me that the conclusion and the story was decided by the media and not by the reality. They could have asked for people who were doing well out here and they'd have got responses and made their programme about that - but all the british media ever do is "doom and gloom" - I hate them, they're biased and they make what they report happen!

I KNOW there are alot of folk who are finding the euro/pound thing a pain, me included but the media seem to enjoy "bigging" it up and making it worse. I dont believe running back to the UK would be a cheaper option tho!

Jo

I have to agree with you Jo, I too hate the way the Media will create a problem ( Mountains and Molehills come to mind) to up the ratings, its nothing to do with empathy, its just pure rating grabbing, we are all feeling the pinch in Europe, but the Media (TV and Papers) seem to get a kick out of Glorifying our problems, I hate newspapers and dislike TV issues such as prearranged "Public interest" documentaries,I had better get of my soap box and get back to reading the Exchange and Mart.

[chris(madrid)]

Originally Posted by CKSMadrid

Quadruple these prices at least to get an idea on the cost of Madrid.....

If you don't shop where normal locals do. Look for Mercadona & LIDL. Even Carrefour is suffering out nr us now.

[SteveHall]

Just to give you an idea of how inexpensive transport is - Fuengirola - Málaga by train 45 minutes just 2,60 euros (By bus it's 50 minutes and just 1,70)

Barajas to the centre of Madrid - just 1,60 (?) (Compare that with the Heathrow/Gatwick/Stansted Express)


Another GREAT offer that is overlooked and NOT promoted well is the www.alsa.es "tarifa plana" for one week/fortnight/month. For just 99 euros you can get UNLIMTED travel on their buses/coaches. When you consider that Málaga - Barcelona is 135 euros return you can see what fantastic value it is - this week I am doing Málaga-Murcia-Torrevieja-Valencia-Barcelona-Torrevieja-Alicante-Málaga .....all for 99 euros!!

[SteveHall]

I read a friend's paper today Daily Express 50p whereas I pay 1,10 euro for my daily here. Almost exacttly twice as much in Spain,

I thought about a new laptop for Christmas and they are wayyyyyyyyyyyyy cheaper in the UK.

So, lower salaries but two more examples of products that are cheaper in the UK.

Don't get me started on internet charges here!

[jkchawner]

god u eat some crap lol