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Among the many things for consideration as an ex-pat is your monthly living expenses. Spain in general is cheaper than most places in the states. Valencia is the third biggest city in the country. Compared to the two bigger cities which are Barcelona and Madrid, Valencia gives you more bang for your buck as it is considerably cheaper than those. Here is an overview of the amazing cost of living in Valencia.
The amazing cost of living in Valencia:
Valencia Monthly Expense Breakdown
In this post, I will break down our typical monthly expenses so that you have a guide to budgeting for life in Spain. It’s important to know that this will vary depending on your wants and needs.
We, for instance, shop at a typical supermarket, not an upscale one where you can find imported food. Our local Mercadona sells Spanish products that we have found to be just as good as the ones we had back home, sometimes better.
We also live in a local barrio as opposed to the expat enclaves. We find that makes a huge difference in how much you pay in rent or when you choose to purchase. It’s important for you to access how and where you want to live. If your plan is to live exactly as you were in America, then you should be prepared to pay the higher prices. Nothing wrong with that, every ex-pat experience is different. Knowledge is power.
Rent:
Your rent will obviously be influenced by which part of the city you wish to live in. If your plan is to be in the city center where most of the action is, then be prepared to pay the price. A furnished one-bedroom apartment in the center will run anywhere from 550 to 800 euros. This number bumps up to 950 – 1100 or more if you choose a penthouse apartment (attic) that has a terrace.
Choose outside the city center, and the prices drop considerably. For about 650 euros, you can find a one bedroom penthouse in Nou Moles, a barrio that is only about a 15-20 minute walk to the city center. We have noticed prices slowly creeping up in the real estate section since we’ve been here. We put that down to the fact that Valencia is being touted as a top retirement destination contender in big magazines such as Forbes. It’s still a bargain though.
Short term rental in Valencia
We recommend renting first when you first move anywhere as an ex-pat. There are just too many things that might go wrong with your move early on. Being stuck might make your transition worse. Renting gives you the ability to get to know the various neighborhoods and figure out what you like best. Things like noise levels, closeness to grocery stores, and other amenities might be a deal-breaker. Real estate is pretty easy to buy, but very hard to sell.
AirbnB is awesome to find temporary lodging while you check your new home in Spain. If you have an idea of what area you like, book a room and suss out the area. I have actually advised people who were not sure of an area to book a few days in maybe two or three places and see where they prefer to be. Once you have narrowed the area down, you can then move forward with finding an apartment that suits your needs.
Book your Valencia AirBnB stay:
Utilities:
Utilities carry reoccuring costs. We have a three bedroom flat and we find that our cost runs roughly €104. Broken down into:
Gas 13/month (usually estimated, then is adjusted every three months and becomes about 25-30 euros, no idea why they do it this way.)
The water bill is usually about €28/month. We tend to use a lot of water. I like long showers, plus we have two dogs that we clean up after on the balcony.
Electricity is the most expensive utility, and l believe Spain has one of the highest costs in Europe. About 63/mth.
Groceries
We eat mostly at home. Even more so since the pandemic. Our month grocery expense has been averaging €375. I suspect the prices have risen slightly, plus we have been eating more fancy cheeses lately as well as more expensive cuts of meat. All in all, much cheaper than we were spending in the states. Here is a typical grocery store shopping items for us.
Health Insurance:
Based on what kind of coverage you have, your healthcare premiums for a couple will run about €150 if you are under 60, and much less if you are under 30. Most insurances cover up to the age of 70 or 75 in Spain. If you’re older than that, you have to use the National health system for coverage. Good care though, whether private or not. The major difference seems to be waiting time to see specialists.
Cable Package:
It’s interesting that a lot of Spanish people don’t have cable. They live their lives outside for the most part. A lot of them don’t even have television, something unthinkable for Americans. Our cable package includes a landline, two cell phones with data, a movie club subscription (which is great, we don’t go to the cinema), and his precious football package (he can’t live without his Italian league, plus a bunch of other leagues). We pay €110 monthly.
Other Monthly Expenses
It’s important to add things such as gym memberships, and other incidentals such as bank fees, prescriptions, and other things that pop up. I am listing a month’s worth of expenses (August 2020) on the table below to give you a clear picture.
Is Valencia Affordable?
Valencia Is Affordable
We have been pleasantly surprised. As you can see, the cost of living in Valencia is quite affordable, and a major reason why the city is seeing an influx of ex-pats, not just various parts of the world, but from other cities in Spain like Barcelona. The combination of affordability, safety, and a relaxed lifestyle is tough to beat.
Are you ready to move to Valencia yet? Make sure to subscribe to the mailing list, and join other future expats.
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