Cost of Living - Benidorm, Costa Blanca, Spain
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- čas přidán 18. 05. 2024
- In today's video I cover an updated cost of living for the Costa Blanca in Spain. I have relocated from the Costa del Sol to the Costa Blanca last year and I have been tracking data for this video.
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Another fantastic video! I love seeing how much more affordable life is in Spain compared to Canada
Thanks I appreciate it
Great vid. Thx so much. 😊
Thanks, glad you found it useful
Great information. Gives a great idea of costs. Even if you spend less, still gives good idea.
Thanks glad you found it helpful
I love this video, so honest, I can't stand CZcamsrs that say "live ion $800 USD per month", that is just to get clicks, nobody can live comfortably on that, maybe in Cambodia in a rural area, it is very possible, buy I've been to rural Cambodia, NO THANK YOU. Costa Blanca is at the top of our list to move to, we live in Penticton BC, planning to sell everything this summer, and get our investment portfolio in order and make the move!!
I never made it to Penticton whilst this area hosted the BC Bike Race. I too, am planning on heading to Spain (Alicante/Torrevieja sp?). You will get to Spain before I do and will be looking for cycling areas there. I have lived in Spain before and loved everything about the experience!
Thanks! I do not like those click bait videos either. Best to be realistic. Good luck with the move to Spain!
I actually do live on $800 a month here in Sweden but I only pay rent (utilities included) for a small cottage and buy food at the grocery store. Rarely do I eat out. It makes for a pretty boring life. 😅 (I am living cheaply intentionally so that I build a bigger buffer.)
Thanks for posting these informative,realistic possible vids.
Wife and myself retired and will be there next month after the 17th. Will wave at you guys from the square!😂
Glad you like them. Enjoy your trip
good video. benidorn is a great place for Us and Can people to go and life like kings!
Great video. Thank you so much. Could you also make a video about how TFSA & RRSPs are taxed in Spain?
Thanks. I closed my tfsa before I left because you can no longer contribute to it as a non resident. I never had rrsps. But I can say that Spain taxes your global income, everything except public pensions. I'm currently going through the tax situation now in Spain. It's very invasive and much more complicated than it needs to be. I'm using a tax professional.
I live in spain. I think alicante is way better than Malaga. Malaga beaches suck. In Alicante you have a lot of places like bennidorm and you have great beaches. Near mallorca too, that's always a plus. I live in madrid and want to move to mallorca with wife and kids.. best Beaches there
Thank you very much sir indeed I was wondering how to pay the bills and other expenses thank you again wonderful Jo indeed
Thanks for watching!!
I see you filming in Torrevieja, what is your thoughts on the area? I heard they are building new sea front marina and big shopping center.
Yes I was in Torrrevieja for a CZcams meetup with some other channels. That video will be out this weekend actually. They have a massive 16 million euro project in the port area, it will be very nice when it is done. Torrevieja is nice, it's more family oriented much more quiet than Benidorm or Fuengirola. That's one of the reasons I was filming there, it can be hard to find a quiet place in Benidorm. The El Chaparral area is very nice, it's between the 2 big lakes and the Habaneras shopping centre is out that way. Thanks for watching
Thanks for sharing, we are viewing properties in Alcazores area. We just feel at home in this area. We will have to purchase health insurance, any suggestions? Also flying back and forwards to England, needs to be factored in
Hi I use ASSSA for health insurance, they have been great. Good luck with the house hunt
Can I please tell us where is the best place to stay whilst looking for a rental property? We wish to buy a property there x love your channel! Thanks so much for all the valuable information! It’s fabulous
Hi, thanks so much for watching. When I moved over I just stayed in a hotel while looking for my rental. The other option would be an Airbnb. I preferred the hotel with a small kitchenette. I prefer a hotel, because you have access to the staff for booking rides, questions and anything that you may need help with around town. Definitely start your search online a few weeks before arriving. Try to book some viewings before arriving, so once you are on the ground you time will be used effectively.
Your numbers are very much realistic and as you said it's different from one person to another I experienced this in Alicante thanks good job
Thanks, I appreciate it.
Also moved from costa del Sol to costa blanca and basically everything is half the price; ( property and a lot of eating out is way cheaper here) and my new barber is half the price 8 euro I used to pay 16
I just left the Costa del Sol also, was in Estepona, to expensive, and way over rated in my opinion, I was told by everyone down there that the Blanca is a dump??? It’s gorgeous here,!!
@@barryoneill-ec9zz nope it’s beautiful here amazing beaches and everything you need
@@sunnybeachwalks4k2022 I agree, It's really nice, Been wandering around Alicante city, Great city, am going to visit the nearby places to hopefully buy a property, It's a third cheaper here than on the sol. I hope I meet some UK, Irish people.
@@barryoneill-ec9zz yes we sold a villa near Fuengirola and bought a similar one for less than half the price here in Torrevieja, yes places like la Zenia, guardamar del segura have some of the most beautiful beaches in Spain. Alicante is very similar to Malaga in size and population, I’d say it’s even better in Alicante, cheaper prices for everything
Thank you for the information good honest example, interesting you didn’t buy any property yet in Spain..prices are going higher everywhere if you bought 2 years ago you will be making money by now, area like Torrevieja I am not sure why it’s so cheap, did you search the market if you will buy what area in Spain since you travelled all the country
Thanks. I was just in Torrevieja, the houses are cheaper. There is not a lot there in the city. Out in El Chaparral between the lakes is a really nice area, close to a lot of amenities .
Someone telling the truth well done 👍
Since I am going to apply for the visa by the end of the year can you explain how you come over the language barrier in paying your bills by the way this is the second time I am watching this video thanks again
Thanks for watching. So most of the bills i.e. internet and electric will be debited right from your Spanish account. Unlike back home where you actually have to pay the bill, they are just taken out on specific dates. Also you can always translate the page online. You will get the hang of the language quickly when it comes to daily tasks. You might not be conversational for awhile, but you will figure most things out. Any bills paid through wise (rent) are all in English. I also had my Spanish bank online application set to English. Every bank I have been to also had bilingual employees, but sometimes you have to wait longer for them. My contract for my apartment was signed in English and Spanish. The harder part is dealing with the Spanish authorities at your appointments, padron, TIE etc. There it's mostly done in Spanish, in my experience anyway. Google translate will be very useful at first.
I see you're speaking from Torrevieja. Is that where you live?
No I was in town overnight and thought it was a great location to film. It can be hard to find a quiet place in Benidorm sometimes
Wow you spend a lot of hair cuts etc. I live near San Pedro and a cut and colour costs 32 euros and a barbers hair cut 8 euros including design and beers if you want some. Are you using English establishments? Local places are alot cheaper.
I use a local Spanish shop, maybe Benidorm is just more expensive
32 for a cut and color? That's 50 Canadian. That would be unheard of.
Hi, Benidorm has a reputation for having a lot of of loud, drunken obnoxious (mainly from the UK) tourists especially during the high season. Apparently Torremolinos and Benalmadena have the same problem to a lessor extent. It seems that Fuengirola is much quieter and more suitable for a retiree. Having lived in both areas what has been your experience?
Hi, Benidorm does get a bad reputation, but it's really only a few blocks. The hardcore partiers are really only on one street. The UK press does it no favors also. There is a lot more to Benidorm than the party scene, that is mostly confined to a few blocks in the new town. I live in the old town, it's mostly Spanish families and retirees. The Poniente side has no partying, is very family friendly and has great beaches. I actually prefer Benidorm. Benidorm has a lot to offer, there are lots of trails for hiking, entertainment, a lot of Spanish festivals they have a great football club and tickets are reasonable. There are lots of wonderful towns close by accessible by train or bus. Valor chocolate is made in the next town over Villajoisa. Fuengirola is also great, but I would lean towards Benidorm.
How much you spend back in Canada or the USA compared to Spain?
Back in Canada we usually spend between 8000-9000 cad a month. Canada is quite expensive.
@@TheEmptyMiddleSeatTravel is that for the same lifestyle as you have in Spain.
Yes the same lifestyle. Dining out multiple times a week, entertainment etc. I find things much cheaper in Europe. This apartment back home would be $3000/month.
Hi Again, I’m just behind you, Left Estepona. Went thru Fuingirola, Now in Alicante, haven’t been sure where to go, Kinda thought Benidorm, but as I seen this, I will come to Benidorm next.
It's hard to find a place that I want to settle in for a long period of time. All the places start off great, then shortly after problems start to rise. I have been researching other countries for possible retirement. I hope you enjoy Benidorm, check out the Finestrat area, not technically Benidorm, but it's quite nice up there.
@@TheEmptyMiddleSeatTravel sorry to hear that, I’ve been having a lot of problems here myself, I’m thinking forget Spain and check out Thailand, It’s a very difficult country to settle, It will be interesting to see where and what you will do,Take care
Can you talk about your kid's adaptation in Benidorm? Schools....Is it a good place for families?
My daughter is an adult and lives in Canada. I would say the Finestrat area is great for families, I wouldn't recommend the old town.
If you plan to move to Spain and have kids I suggest you move to the city of alicante or near there. Still cheap, lots of people, good schools, good beaches and about 40 minutes away from benidorm
I live in madrid
Did you move all of your money to Spain? I’m wondering about tax issues in Canada and Spain if I don’t.
No I didn't, I left a lot in Canada. I'm going through the Spanish taxes right now. It's much more complicated than it needs to be.
@@TheEmptyMiddleSeatTravel Hmm I was afraid of that re the complications. Not surprised though. I’m not sure how Spain views offshore holdings but I guess you’re finding out right now. Good luck and thanks for replying!
That's my hesitation. I'm very concerned about the tax impact.
@TheEmptyMiddleSeatTravel I personally wouldn't feel comfortable depositing a huge amount of money in a foreign country and being at the mercy of their opinion. LET ALONE, all they're brokers for investments and banks are only insured up to 100k euro.. and the EU is corrupt as *&#.. feel much safer in a brokerage in Canada, where my money collects dividends and insured up to 5 million by regulatory body governed by Canadian Federal goverment.
CAN I AFFORD TO LIVE IN COSTA BLANCA IF MY PENSION IS $1,200 A MONTH AS A SINGLE PERSON?
Possibly if you are from the EU. If you are outside of the EU I don't think that would meet the financial requirements for the visa. You check the requirements on your local Spanish consulates website.
NO! The requirement is for a minimum €2,400 of per month.
How many people is that costs for please
Two, myself and my wife
Maybe you should also talk about taxes that an expat has to pay after moving to Spain.Funny how everyone convineantly forgets that, because that negates any cost of living advantage.
I didn't forget taxes. I'm currently filing my first Spanish tax return right now. There is no tax you pay when moving to Spain. Just regular income tax, but Spains is filed in May/June
@@TheEmptyMiddleSeatTravel And that is my point. Even the 3100$ a month (which incidentally is very high for Spain, but to each his own) will have to be bumped up because of the high income taxes that you now have to pay being a spanish resident. The dual tax treaty (U.S) will not protect you/any American expat from the very high spainish income taxes. I am glad you are living well. But I think your 3100 a month is about to go up significantly because of the additional income taxes you are going to pay in addition to what you pay in your home country atleast that is the way it is for Ameircan expats. This is why Americans are leaving portugal in droves since the expiry of the NHR or not coming at all (portugal incidentally is missing the forest for the trees) . Not dumping on you but want to emphasize the importance of income taxes that a lot of bloggers tend to leave out.
Maybe for Americans, not sure ,I'm Canadian. I have never paid taxes monthly and do not intend to start. I'm using a tax professional and before I moved I did a tax summary with a Spanish professional. The taxes are unnecessarily complicated, but with the advice from professionals you can clearly understand your tax obligations in Spain. Taxes in Canada are very high also.
Awesome. Thanks for sharing. Is the place safe for gay couples? My husband and I are thinking of moving from Vancouver, Canada. We have been to Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga and Seville and had no issues. But we are a bit more nervous with smaller towns. Are you happy being in Spain? I have watched all your Spain videos and it seems you are happy with your decisions. Cheers. Chris
Benidorm is specially good and safe for the gay community, you'll feel like home there, zero worries
Hi thanks for watching. Yes Spain is safe. Benidorm has the largest pride festival in Spain I believe and there is a large community here with lots of bars and cabarets in the old town.
That's a lot of money!!!
The average wage in Spain is €29,000 / year taking home €1,887 / month. You would need to earn over €58,000 a year in Spain to take home €3,376 thats double the average salary. No wonder you're living well.
For my wife and I to reside in Spain the Spanish government requires us to have a minimum of $4400 cad or about 3000 euros a month. The visa requires the equivalent of 400% of the Spanish IPREM/month.
Most people in Spain don't make 29k a year. They make less
@@crisiturralde1966 Are you going to tell the OEDC they are wrong? Maybe you could tell them (and us) where YOUR figure comes from ... oh you didn't provide a figure or a source so we must assume you just made it up! Duh! You have added nothing to the conversation.
@@pauls3075 I live here. The avg person doesn't make that. Lots of people renting bedrooms, but you think what you will.
@@crisiturralde1966 Oh so your individual experience represents a whole country of 50 million people. You 'feel' that you are correct so other people with facts and numbers and statistics must be wrong. You know less than 200 people, your 'lived experience' is worthless.
as an American how did you manage to be living in Spain permanently? who did you need to pay off? please tell me as I am desperate to move there but after Brexit I can't now unless I get rich and can pay off the corrupt spainish officials.
Look on your local Spanish consulate website, the financial requirements are there. An individual requires about 2400 euros a month. I'm Canadian lol
It’s relatively easy and affordable if you are British, even after Brexit, however, employ a Spanish speaking person who is familiar with the system, don’t try cheap too good to be true shortcuts, and corruption amongst Spanish officials is definitely no worse than anywhere else and significantly better than many other places. We moved in 2017, weeks ago knew Brexit was coming, took advice, and followed all the rules, we’ve had no problems other than my health, and we still feel it’s the best move we made
Lol...buy a clipper and do your own haircuts....duhhhh
im kinda shocked how expensive it is. thinking there is no way, you spend almost ~60,000cad after tax living there. big amount, i was thinking you could easily do it on 3000 cad or less. i guess not
You could definitely do it for less. Lots of places in the budget to cut expenses. We kept the same lifestyle we had in Canada.