Cost of living

It really is a difficult question to answer. I would be aware when buying an apartment on a complex to ask about the community charge and what it covers, also if it’s an older building and improvements needed in the future, ask how they are paid.

Take into account both you and your partner will need private health cover to obtain Residencia. It might be worth getting a few quotes to factor into your budget.

As for water and electricity I can’t help as we have a villa with pool, sorry.

Car tax is cheap and insurance average I would say.

Eating out is cheap and groceries slightly cheaper than the UK. alcohol certainly is.

My biggest advice is don’t rush into anything just yet. Brexit & Covid-19 will make the world a different place.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

Thanks Jack, we are thinking of  trying a rental property to start with, we know the area around Mojacar, Vera, not stayed in Palomares but intend to visit the area as soon as Spain "opens again". Thanks again Jack for your input, Stewert.

Really good idea to rent first. You may decide it’s not the area for you, or even the lifestyle.

Now I’m going to say something which will more than likely be taken the wrong way by some, but it’s true.

As newbies you will be an easy target for some expats. Don’t always rely on their advice, quotes, ideas about living here.

Spend your time before you move learning as much Spanish as you can which gives you a more open market. It’s a wonderful country and I will never leave unless they throw us out. Accept and enjoy every aspect of it.

Hi, Jack do mind me asking which area you live in? Stewert.

San Juan de los Terreros

any particular reason you want to go to Palomares?  It's the area where the nuclear bombs were dropped in the sea and on land when an American plane crashed there.  We have visited it but found it very quiet indeed.  We live between Mojacar and Garrucha and have everything in touching distance when not in lockdown that is and free bus passes to go up the village or along the seafront of Mojacar.  Plenty of lovely places which will hopefully recover when these times are over.  

Hi Alicia, the main reason we looked at Palomares is the price of apartments, while we would love to live closer to Mojacar, the prices seem to be quite a bit higher there, we always stay in Mojacar and love the place, but like I say it all comes down to cost.

We are not set on Palomares as there are lots of other places within the area we are yet to visit, we have rebooked to visit next June and intend to do a lot of sightseeing around the area.

Thanks for you input  Stewert.

Hi Alicia, do you mind me asking, do you live any near the golf course? Stewert.

I do - I live at Valle del Este.  Rent here is VERY reasonably priced - in the Urbanización in which I’m in, around 450€ a month will get you a two bedroom duplex with garden, or even a three bed ground floor with garden.

Electricity varies - more expensive in winter, but on average we pay around 65€ per month.  Water is through Codeur and is 38€ per two months.

We have HolaFibra for Internet, it’s Fibre to the door - well, in fact to the modem as it is an optical network terminal; for a genuine 100 Mbps up and down, we pay 30€ per month.

Maintenance of gardens, hedges, lawns and pool in the complex is all included and as a renter you pay no extra.

Valle del Este resort is a Golf resort.