Every year or so, I publish a list of the costs of grocery shopping and household expenses applicable to the area where I live, east of Málaga.
The Cost of Living Series will also include other articles related to the costs of living in Spain.
Click on the links below, to see the posts.
Cost of Living in Malaga, Spain: July 2015
Watching The Currency Market When Buying And Selling Spanish Property
Cost of Living in Spain: February 2014
Cost of Living in Spain: August 2013
Cost of Living: East of Málaga, Spain – April 2013
Cost of Living: East of Málaga, Spain – November 2012
Cost of Living in Spain to rise from today with new IVA/VAT rate rise
Cost of Living: East of Málaga, Spain – August 2012
East of Málaga 
Marianne,
My wife and I will be returning to Malaga in May to further research the area before we make the permanent move from Canada in early 2017. Your web site has been an incredible asset while we plan this move, and I sincerely thank you for that. I have recently read of unfortunate expats who have moved to Spain only to find one of the spouses comes down with a serious medical problem ,such as Alzheimer’s or a stroke, and they are forced to return to their home country as the ailing spouse needs 24 hour care and the cost of a long term medical facility in Spain, of which there are few, is financially out of reach. I understand that the Spanish civil code states that it is the responsibility of the family to care for an ailing relative, but if you have no children, and can’t afford the long term care facility, it seems so unfortunate that you have to return to your birth country with your invalid spouse, which will be expensive and present further problems. . Am I correct Marianne, that there are very few long term care facilities in Spain, and the cost is exorbitant? Thank you. Mike.
Hi Mike – thanks for your kind words.
I’m afraid I have no knowledge at all about this subject. You’re right that it is usual for Spanish families to help out with the care of patients (even in hospital), so if someone has no relatives close-by, I’m not really sure what would happen.
I’m not trying to be evasive – I really don’t know – but it’s a subject that maybe I should look into, if only for my own peace of mind.
In the meantime, maybe the ladies at Como Consulting may be able to help you. They are two American women who now live in Spain, and who advise on aspects of moving here. I have no connection with them, but their website looks informative. Good luck!
http://comoconsultingspain.com
Marianne,
What a wonderful site you have put together. Well done. I feel fortunate to have stumbled upon it. My wife and I just returned home to Canada from a whirlwind visit to southern Spain looking for an area to retire to. We are avid tennis people and the U.S. Open Tennis Championship was being played during our travels through Spain. Unfortunately it was not being televised on any TV’s in our hotels which led me to think about television in Spain. Could you provide any information about TV in Spain? Other than football, do you get other sporting events on your TV, like tennis? I understand SKY may be available in Spain which may televise events like the US Open Tennis. Would it be possible to get any North American sporting events on TVs in Spain? Is there any English speaking TV channels? Any help would be greatly appreciated and I look forward to your reply Marianne. Keep up the good work. Mike
Hi Mike – yes, there are sport channels in Spain, but as in many countries around the world these days, most sporting events of any significance are on “pay” channels – such as Canal + in Spain.
As you say, Sky is available at a premium here, too.
There is some coverage of sporting events on the free-to-view channels as well (i.e. Spanish football is widely shown on free channels, as is Moto GP and Formula 1), but increasingly this is less often than it used to be.
As far as English-speaking channels – the trick here is to use the buttons on the remote control. Handsets differ, but if you go into the “menu” then find the audio section, there is usually an option to change the speech from being dubbed into Spanish to “original version” on programmes made in the US or UK.
Thanks for your kind words, Mike – much appreciated 🙂
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What wonderful pictures of Torrox, our winter home. I shall send them out to all my friends ( perhaps not, I want to keep this treasure to ourselves!)
Roll on October!
Anthea Waters
Glad you liked them, Anthea 🙂
I do not see Cost of Living Information since February 2014,is this Website still active
Thank You
Nigel
You’re in luck, Nigel – the website IS still active. All I have omitted to do is update this tab. Will do that straight away 🙂
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HI marianne love your blog on shopping prices in Mercadona I know you must be busy but is there any chance of an up-todate one.We are coming over in October for a long stay. Many thanks Mary and Stewart
Hi Mary and Stewart
You’re in luck! I’ll be doing an updated post soon 🙂
Excellent blog posts Marianne, I have lived here for 7 years and your account of living here and the associated costs is spot on. I have just followed your Facebook page and look forward to reading your future posts. I too am a keen (amateur) photographer. I would also like to shamelessly plug the website we just built with long term rental properties available in Competa (a townhouse and an apartment), you may here from someone who is looking for a long let. Best… Steve
Thanks for the FB follow, Steve. I’ll look you up ….
Very informative and useful with these articles about cost of living in Malaga. Me and my girlfriend are considering renting an apartment next year. Hopefully it wont just stay a dream, but reality.
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Hola Cecetea,
Nice to hear from you and your plan to move to Spain. There are private insurance companies in Spain as we have them here in the states like Blue Cross/Blue shield. I have to search my emails because I corresponded with a company and they gave me some potential quotes for my wife. I think most American insurance companies will not provide coverage outside the country. Interesting question is how will the Affordable Care Act impact this. Sanitas and BUPA are a couple you can begin with in Spain.
I live in Vermont and we are moving toward a single payer system in the next year and I’m not sure how that will impact my wife’s insurance. Happy to discuss this with you more or other issues.
All the best, y buena suerta
phil
Glad to be of help to you, Philip.
Ah yes, healthcare. Both myself and my husband come under the Spanish health system, so I’m afraid I really don’t have any personal experience of private healthcare costs. I know there are sometimes advertisements in some local English language publications – so if you click on some of the links in this article I wrote a while ago – you might just find something to guide you.
https://eastofmalaga.net/2013/03/07/postcards-from-spain-free-english-language-publications/
What a great place Ronda is – I love visiting there 🙂
All the best to you and your wife for your move next year.
oh, I am getting a better idea now for my new page 😉
That´s good!