The cost of Living Sticky

[chris(madrid)]

Originally Posted by monstaboi

Thanks for your quick and informative reply. I don't really need an all-risk insurance, just one for liability - i'm not really used to anything else; i'm Dutch, 23 years old, which means a simple liability insurance is about 800 a year here in The Netherlands.

The car that I want (I didn't buy it yet though) is an Audi A6 with a 2.4 liter petrol engine. But I might go for a Rover 75 (probably 2.0 CDT diesel) instead because of all the options and luxury. I'm thinking that it'll be hard to find a garage to fix the Rover though, in case something breaks down - this might not be the right thread to ask but anyone know more about this?

I'm pretty reluctant to buy a Seat Ibiza or something Spanish built because of the 13-in-a-dozen factor and the lack of luxury - i'll be driving a lot for work, and will go back to NL once a month. I will be situated in or near Benidorm (Altea, Albir, Alfaz del Pi) so that should probably be a little cheaper than Madrid.

Is your guess of 350-450 per month, quarter or year?

Right well at 23 - yup you'll probably pay more than 450/yr. I am 49 - considered LOW risk.

Buy Diesel. Spanish built includes masses of europes Citroen and Peugeot plus Ford. And from experience as a high mileage driver I'd drive a Peugeot 406 in preference to an A6 any day. As for SEAT - well they are basically Volkswagens.

If you'll be doing HIGH mileages - look at what Spanish taxi drivers use.

As for Benidorm being cheaper - I would not bank on it. There are a lot of thumps due to all sorts of reasons in tourist areas - will not surprise me if it's more than Madrid.

[lshilleto]

Hi there,just been nosing at your link & it says that you live near Denia,we are looking to move into this area & was just wondering if you could let us know how you find living there,cheers,Lee.

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by lshilleto

Hi there,just been nosing at your link & it says that you live near Denia,we are looking to move into this area & was just wondering if you could let us know how you find living there,cheers,Lee.

Who are you talking to?
Maybe start a new thread, as this is the cost of living sticky

[lshilleto]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

Who are you talking to?
Maybe start a new thread, as this is the cost of living sticky

Sorry,have'nt been on here for a while,getting a bit mudddled!

[EllieC]

I have just moved back to the US having spent the last 6 years in Spain and although I must agree with you that during that time prices went up dramatically (although don't you think food and staples seemed to stay about the same for 4-5yrs) but......I am suffering some severe sticker shock here! Wine prices are a shocker after spain, cheese, milk, bread....$4 for a loaf of como pan rustica!! Ouch! Spain is still pretty cheap. You can't get a 3 course meal here for 8euros!

Originally Posted by cosmokramer

I have lived in Spain for the last 7 years, and i can agree, that prices of food and other household groceries has risen massively in that time.
The price of fuel is the obvious reason for this. Lots of people who live in the UK, including some of my friends, think that living here is really cheap, but its not now.
The only things i still see that are cheap are Beer and Cigarettes, i dont mind the beer being cheap, but i dont smoke, so cigarette prices dont mean anything to me.
Here's to hoping that fuel prices level out and hopefully drop soon.

Lee.

[the owl]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

As time goes on I will add costs of stuff in Spain here for info, so you can build some kind of idea of the cost of living here in Spain. Bear in mind I am in a rural area, 6 kms from the sea in Northern Costa Blanca. CDS, and the cities will be more costly.

Hope this helps

I live in a small inland village in Murcia. I have lived in spain for over three years, i run my own busniess based with the spanish. I am shocked how much prices are rising, and believe that living in Spain is no longer cheap! I am also encountering problems ( i speak good Spanish), where before i always found them friendly, they seem to have closed ranks. (SNIP)

[vaternish]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

As time goes on I will add costs of stuff in Spain here for info, so you can build some kind of idea of the cost of living here in Spain. Bear in mind I am in a rural area, 6 kms from the sea in Northern Costa Blanca. CDS, and the cities will be more costly.

Hope this helps

Can you tell us if these prices are from large supermarkets or the local produce shop and markets as where we go in Andalusia ( we are not there permanently yet ) in a small town between Sevilla and Cordoba the cost of living does not appear to be so high for some of the items. Obviously petrol is up....still cheaper than uk. though but then that wouldn't be difficult!!!
Thanks

[Stravinsky]

That was a while ago, from large supermarkets generally, not always the cheapest way!

Recently

Aldi

White sugar €0.86
Carrots (big bunch) €0.65
Large Eggs (12) €1.19
Pasta tubes 500gm €0.39
Skimmed milk €0.53
Digestive biscuits 400gm €0.69
Mango (half kilo) €1.11
Sausages (8) €2.29
Tray of Beef Mince €1.65
Mushrooms €1.89
Kiwi fruit 0.87 kilo €1.47
Bananas 1,37 kgs €1.58
Loaf white bread €1.25
Large Prawns 0.80 kg €3.45

Mercadona

6 beef burgers (yummy) 3.00
6 apples Royal 1.39
1 Calbaza (pumpkin) 1.84
Digestive biccies 2 pack 1.49
Boiled ham 125 gm 1.36
4 burger buns 0.85
a bloody nice cake 1.35
8 tomatoes 1.45
8 yoghurts 1.70
big bag crisps 0.79
Baked bleeding beans (Heinz) 0.89
Vino tinto litre 1.99
12 large eggs 1.24

Times is tough
We now go to Aldi & Lidl first to buy what we know is reasonable value and then go to Mercadonna for choice, and veg and fruit usually from the local market

[chris(madrid)]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

Times is tough
We now go to Aldi & Lidl first to buy what we know is reasonable value and then go to Mercadonna for choice, and veg and fruit usually from the local market

I just use Mercadona weekly and LIDL monthly (generally only non perishables). Find it's a good overall average.

For really cheap fruit/veg cant beat our local Moroccan shop. Their produce however is really sold to be used that day - they deliberately buy short shelf life produce. Cheaper but means you have to shop daily. Generally don't have the time though.

[ibz1492]

[Most Menus del Dia here on Ibiza are 15 Euros, give or take. Of course there are a couple for 6 Euros and some for 37 Euros... but........ Better choice is to know your local restaurants and get a good meal not full of bad calories and enjoy for 3 hours over a nice bottle of wine with friends.
Petrol here is still way more than I am used to in USA, but lots less than it was 6 months ago. Housing here is ridiculously high even with the economic downturn.....
A one bedroom house on the sea sold here last year for 21 MILLION Euros; yes it had lots of land with it but none of it could be built upon..... One bedroom condo in a typical area, is now about 150,000 to 250,000 without going into the next level of luxury.
Hope this explains a bit of Ibiza pricing. W