A Dream Destination With A Down To Earth Price Tag

In the context of Europe, Spain is fantastically affordable.

Many North Americans have this perception of Western Europe as being financially out of reach, a destination only accessible in daydreams…

The truth is that many Western European countries—especially Spain and the Costa de la Luz—are more affordable than the States or Canada.

A couple’s basic monthly budget here should come to about US$1,575.

Rent on the Costa de la Luz is likely to be your biggest outlay, with a well-appointed two-bedroom apartment by the beach costing around US$600 per month at the upper end of the spectrum.

Groceries cost an average of US$240 per month. You’ll often hear that in Andalucía (the region where the Costa de la Luz is located), “wine is cheaper than water,” and it’s true.

You can get a decent bottle of wine for about US$1 while a liter of water can be closer to US$2. Dinner for two, including drinks, appetizers, mains, and dessert, could come to about US$35.

A fancy coffee will be less than US$3; a beer, which is served in small glasses called cañas in Spain, will be about US$1.20.

Transportation costs depend on whether you have a car. It’s possible to get by without one thanks to the train, for which the basic fare is negligible.

How Is The Good Life In Europe?

Spain’s health care system is ranked seventh-best by the World Health Organization.

Hospitals here are of a high standard, with highly trained medical staff and high-tech equipment.

Spain offers a mix of public and private care, with about 90% of the population relying on public health care.

Primary health care is delivered at health centers (centros de salud) across Spain. You can register with a GP at a health center after becoming part of the national health system and paying social security contributions.

For instance, one expat in Spain quotes about US$60 for her monthly contributions.

Pharmacies are abundant in every town.

As to the climate, you’ll enjoy well over 3,000 sunshine hours per year here.

Cádiz is touted as the oldest city in Western Europe, dating to 1104 BC. Walking its streets, you can feel the history and see the cultural influence of the many civilizations—from the Phoenicians to the Romans to the Moors—that impacted it over time.

Its Old Town is densely populated, with one of Europe’s oldest neighborhoods and ruins hemmed in by old city walls. Individual landmarks syncretize various architectural styles.

Narrow streets spill out into lively plazas where you can sit in the shade of a towering cathedral and watch the world go by…

Despite being the biggest city on the coast, Cádiz is not home to a huge number of expats. But there’s more to the Costa de la Luz than just Cádiz…

For example, all along the coastline are appealing places to live, including ancient hilltop villages and well-appointed beach towns. If you’re looking to settle into an established expat community, consider Rota, home to a naval station that employees U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel.

Rota offers ancient history, fine beaches, a walkable town center, and proximity to golf and natural attractions, including the Camino Natural, a wooden pathway that runs through a pine forest and along the beach.

Expat Stephanie, who moved here with her husband in 2020, says:

“We chose Rota because of the U.S. military base here. My husband is retired from the military, so we can use the facilities—most importantly the free Space-A flights for military personnel, but also the fitness center, hospital, and library.

“My husband is an avid golfer, so that was another reason for choosing Rota. His membership at a championship course is about US$1,400 for the year with discounts to other courses in the region. Golf is also a great way to meet people.

“I feel that the Costa de la Luz is a hidden gem that many travelers (or aspiring expats) from other countries don’t know about. Rota and the other towns along the coast have incredibly beautiful beaches that are practically empty for many months of the year.

“I love the beauty of Rota’s coastline. I never get tired of seeing the ocean. I can run along the beach for miles or walk through the pine forest on the dunes overlooking the Bay of Cádiz. It’s so easy to make plans to do something outside because the weather is rarely bad.

“I also enjoy the calmness and simplicity of life here. I feel comfortable in Rota. People are out so late here, so there are always people on the streets and I never feel unsafe at night.”

Sincerely,

Sophia Titley

Editor, Overseas Living Letter