Few places on earth of similar size can match the number and variety of the restaurants on the seaside Costa del Sol or indeed the cost of living in spain. Like many of the sports facilities, top quality eating-places are being established inland in greatly increasing numbers. The family-run restaurants known as ventas are located almost exclusively in the Málaga province countryside and there you can enjoy traditional dishes for very affordable prices. They serve large portions of simple Spanish food at prices you will find hard to believe and (naturally), they are very popular with residents and visitors alike.
The cost of living in spain is in general quite low and may also be reflected in the earnings that one recieves, however though this may seem low to more northern countries but overall the purchasing power of the money earned is dramatically higher than other european countries so the cost of living in spain is in fact very little!
From Malaga eastwards there are cliffs of up to 200m where the Sierra Almijara joins the sea. This section ends at Mara on a coastal plain. It has an urban landscape surrounded by traditional agriculture. In the limestone hills is Nerja cave. Nerja is the most important centre on the coast and has grown rapidly. It is surrounded with tourist pueblos (villages). At the foot of Nerja a winding footpath joins several coves.
The western coast is highly developed from Malaga to Cadiz, the provincial capital, from the point of view of international tourism and the cost of living in spain is reflected and varies quite dramatically between these regions . Communications revolve around Malaga International Airport (8 km west of the city) and the N340 backbone coast highway. In the middle of the Costa the greatly improved district road from San Pedro de Alcantara inland to the historic town of Ronda is the most important inland connection and the and the cost of living in spain is reflected and varies quite dramatically between these regions is reflected in the various toll charges on the roads.
With 300 days of sunshine a year, over 40 top golf courses - with 12 of the most famous championship courses in Europe and a truly top quality lifestyle, Marbella is one of the most sought after locations for permanent and temporary relocations in Europe. The advantage to investors is twofold. Not only does buying a second home in Marbella provide you with a wonderful ‘escape from it all’ opportunity it also provides a superb investment return this means that the better lifestyle and the value recieved in this far outways the actual and the cost of living in spain.
Capital appreciation is rising steadily in the region with 20-25% per annum return - a trend that is expected to continue over the next two years at least. At that stage the market may simply level off. Either way it is unlikely to show any kind of slump over the next five years.Many people feel that Marbella provides the best return for a number of reasons. As the primary area for permanent or temporary relocation, the region has benefited from massive investment over the past five years and the cost of living in spain is generally reflected in total and in varying degrees along this route.
Infastructure The Costa del Sol highway system enables you to drive along miles of impressive roads in the shortest possible time - way ahead in terms of development when compared with other coasts It now only takes 30 min via the new motorway from Malaga Airport to Estepona whereas it used to take almost an hour on the N340.
Close proximity Close proximity of Malaga and Gibraltar airports to other European Capitals is a definite plus and represents the ideal location for ‘pop over’ visits to check out your property.
Sunshine With a unique micro-climate (a completely different climate to other parts of Spain including the Costa Blanca for example) of 360 sunshine days a year - with temperatures in the mid 20’s in November and into December Golf There are 40 superb golf courses in total with 12 of the most famous in Europe located in and around the Marbella district - three distinct areas are GOLF VALLEY (Puerto Banus area - Nueva Andalucia); COSTA DEL GOLF (Elviria and Las Chapas area East Marbella) and MIJAS (South of Malaga) hence the cost of living in spain is greatly reduced in another respect as the huge amount of variety available allows plenty of choice as where to spend your money.
Entertainment Theatre, concerts, entertainment, exclusive shopping, restaurants, yachting facilities, night life, lack of language barriers (with English and German spoken freely and easily) along with top quality service at every level makes living or holidaying in Marbella a truly refreshing experience.
Tourist Market 2 excellent markets - SUN market and GOLF market - yielding a total of 40 weeks of potential tourism for the property investor per annum. Golfing season lasts 8 months (30 weeks) - SUN Market (lasts 8-10 weeks). Golfers and Sun worshippers visiting the area tend to have more disposable income than the average tourist - an important consideration for investors looking to rent their property a great place to analayse the cost of living in spain.
Quality of Life - cost of living in spain With an entertainment lifestyle second to none, a wealthy community in place the quality of professional services including retail, legal, medical and healthcare is extremely high. An important consideration for those who may went to settle there or spend at least two-three months of the year in their second home.
Cost of living in Spain - cost of living in spain Comparing the cost of living in Spain to other European countries is a difficult questions to answer. Prices can vary substantially depending on the area, generally the cost of living is higher in urban centres such as Madrid or Barcelona than in rural villages and towns.
Permits and Taxes in Spain - cost of living in spain You are liable for income taxes when you reside 183 days per calendar year in Spain, or if you have your main business interest in Spain. In some cases paying for Permits and Taxes in Spain may be advantageous since there are deductions that may not apply in other countries.
Residence permit in Spain - cost of living in spain Obtaining a residence permit in Spain is necessary for anyone planning to live indefinitely, study, work in Spain, they must apply for a residence card within 15 days of arriving in Spain. Children under 18 years of age can be included on the parents' residence card.
Working in Spain - cost of living in spain There are many jobs in Spain for foreigners, nevertheless, throughout the coastal areas most jobs are seasonal. Working in Spain depends to a large extent on what you can and are be able to do. Most of the qualifications obtained in the United Kingdom and Europe are recognized in Spain.
Banking in Spain - cost of living in spain The Banking in Spain system has been relatively profitable by European standards, as operating income has been above the Euro Area average. Capital adequacy roughly equals the EU average, although Banco de Espana requires somewhat stricter capital standards than many EU countries.
Schools in Spain - cost of living in spain There are many very good intenational schools and colleges in Spain with tailored packages to suit your needs. All are bilingual in English and Spanish and many are co-educational. Choose an area from our selection of International Schools in Spain to see more information.
Healthcare in Spain - cost of living in spain If you pay social security, healthcare in Spain is free or low cost, (families and retirees are also included). Like many countries however, the health service in Spain has a waiting lists to see specialists and for non-urgent operations. Find out information about the E111 form for non residents and the E-121 form for permanent residents.
Travelling to Spain - cost of living in spain Information about airports in Spain, flight arrivals and flight departures in Spain, scheduled airlines flying to Spain, major charter airlines flying to Spain and low cost budget airlines flying to Spain.
Consulates in Spain - cost of living in spain Information about Embassies and Consulates in Spain, by city location, address, telephone and fax, opening hours and available services of Embassies and Consulates in the Balearic islands, the Canary islands and Spain.
Lawyers in Spain - cost of living in spain When people have a legal problem or issue outside their own country, they need accurate and useful legal information. For your convenience we have prepared a growing list of lawyers in Spain, click on a region below to see lawyers in your area of interest.
Driving Regulations in Spain - cost of living in spain Drivers licence and driving regulation information for Non-Residents and EU residents, road tax in Spain, ITV stations, Insurance, road speed limits, parking, traffic fines, seatbelts.
Buying Cars in Spain - cost of living in spain In order to buy a Spanish registered car you need a residence card, a deed (escritura) or rental contract for a Spanish property, or a certificate of residence (certificado de empadronamiento) in Spain.
Bringing Pets to Spain - cost of living in spain Information about pets International Vaccination Health Certificate or Pet Passport showing they can be imported into Spain without a quarantine. The health certificate must be issued no more than 15 days prior to bringing your pet into the country.
TV in Spain - cost of living in spain Information about differences in transmission, tv's and video recorders operating on the British (PAL-I), French (SECAM) or North American (NTSC) systems. Satellite TV reception is excellent and is particularly popular among the expatriates.
Telephone in Spain - cost of living in spain The telephone service is controlled mainly by Telefónica which owns several other companies (including Terra and Teleline). When you get your telephone installed expect a fee of about 150 Euros to be charged for this service.
Internet in Spain - cost of living in spain Dial up internet is free in spain, until you get your phone bill. Your local calls are not free and will cost you by the minute. This can be avoided by paying for a flat-rate service with the ISP (internet service provider) rather than pay for local calls.
Utilities in Spain - cost of living in spain Immediately after buying or renting a property you should sign a contract with the local electricity company. This will entail a visit to the local office in order to register. You need to take with you some identification (passport or residence card).
Public Transport in Spain - cost of living in spain Public transport is generally very good in Spanish cities most of which have efficient bus and rail systems. Further information about trains in Spain, buses in Spain, taxis in Spain and the metro in Spain.
Shopping in Spain - cost of living in spain The majority of Spanish stores are small family run affairs although many more hypermarkets and supermarkets have begun to spring up. Information about shopping hours, local markets and advice on the best products to buy in Spain.
