Is it more expensive to live or own in Spain now as a Brit? - Page 2

it does depend on whether it is a full time home or a holiday home.  the financial rules for moving here now are different to what they were before Brexit.  The holiday home is restricted to the 90 day rule in 180 but of course you can rent it out and make money.  the actual cost of living hasn't really changed and the tax allowances as a resident are the same ( not as high an allowance before tax as in the UK and taxed on all your income over the allowances)    

Thank you for the reply. Got some homework to do. 

. . . . more than a little homework now. 

1. You'll need expensive health insurance.

2. A two year correspondence course with Spanish authorities will feel like a weekly visit to the dentist for root canal treatment.

3. The legal route costs too.

4. Buy, maintain Spanish property costs.

5. Other Option (less painful):- Rent and use the 90 day rule to your best advantage.

Perhaps ypu should try making your own Doris?

Hi all. My wife and I were hell bent on getting out to Spain and the Vera area where a few of our UK friends live, we were looking all through the lockdown, last time we were in Spain was Feb 2020, just got home in time.

We were set to move lock stock and barrel, however as the world was changing we watched in disbelief how Spain has made itself alien in many ways for Brits (and maybe others) to relocate there, linked to cost's, insurance, health, and may I say the bureaucracy of relocation. This has had a crashing effect on our thought processes, retirement to me is enjoying yourself doing what you want to (within reason) because you have earnt the right to that over the years, we could not consider moving and thinking all the time where and what is going to happen to scupper our happy retirement. 

Just 2 days ago on Brit TV was a young lady who spent all here monies setting up a Donkey sanctuary in Spain over many years, has now got to give up her land, her passion and return to the UK as she missed the boat and now falls under the 90 day rule, because red tape in many aspects has taken so long.  And the donkeys, well who knows what will happen to them, do the Spanish care?.

As for us well it has sadly opened our eyes and we have now purchased a property to retire to in Cyprus.

Magiceye, I think you're the kind of person with whom  I could enjoy some conversations while working our way through a few bottles of tinto. You're right of course. Things are changing in Spain especially for Brits. The only advice I'd give you is to use your 90 days stints as best you can. Staying over the 90 days has just got too dear for comfort and it appears Spain is in no hurry to "fix" the situation.

For several years I've been advising Brits (if they can) to apply for an Irish passport. It has taken until now to have my pleas taken seriously.

I think you will find that the cost of living in Cyprus is some 15% more expensive than Spain currently.

some interesting reading here,some things seem dearer some cheaper

https://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/cost-of-living/cyprus/spain?currency=GBP

Property is according to location as with many countries, up and down, where you or I would like to live is a matter of personal choice, I would say at the present cheaper overall in Cyprus.

Moving and associated paperwork seemed a doddle. POA set up in the UK sent through embassy back to Cyprus (Because we cannot get there at the moment) the solicitor has dealt with everything, and kept us advised every step of the way. The rest is how I put it earlier and the reasoning. 

Residency, that has been taken care of by the solicitor, so we have no 90 day rules, when we arrive in the country we have to go to the police station in person to get our papers stamped, then we have one year while the commission deals with the full residence done, all we supplied was a DBS from UK to say we had no outstanding criminal prosecutions. We started the buying process start of Feb the only thing is until he deeds or contract is in our name we cannot register the full residency.

Cost of living really did not come into it, swings and roundabouts, overall living there is below Spain, and way below the UK, but to be honest we do not care as long as we are settled and happy with the stability of the country.

Hope that helps to show our outlook.  

perhaps Spain will look at Greece/Portugal and see the ammount of people choosing those countries and do something about it.

I personally am looking at Albania,half the cost of living in Spain,OK not so warm in the winter but warmer than the UK especially on the coastal region.and I can spend as long as I like there

Before the dreaded B word Spain worked for me mainly because I could fill up on cheap cigarettes and vodka to offset the cost