Couple retires in Spain and lives comfortably on $2000 per month.

[Freedom56]

It's not too surprising that they picked Spain. Many people from Switzerland that we know have retired in Spain as it is too expensive in Switzerland for many. Some interesting comments on healthcare in Spain and the low cost of private insurance.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/h...red-to-spain-on-about-2000-a-month-2019-10-17

 

[Senator]

If they were here, on $2K a month, they would get free healthcare in MN and many other states.

“Any time we need something now we go to see the doctor, we get in in a day or two,” he adds, noting that “our doctor is Dutch and speaks five languages — cool guy, too.” Some expats may be able to qualify for the free state health-care system in Spain (here are the guidelines); expats who don’t qualify for that — or who want to forgo the sometimes long waits that come with the public system — can buy private insurance to cover themselves.

The Bryants are so pleased with the low cost and quality of health care in Spain that they say it’s a major reason they’ll never leave. “Health care is the thing that will keep us from going back to the U.S. We can afford to grow old gracefully and see doctors here. It will not break us.” He adds: “As things stand, and as I see them standing into the future, health care costs in the U.S. completely preclude our ever returning to live there. It would be wonderful to have the option, but we don’t.”

 

[Nemo2]

We were certainly impressed with the (private) hospital I spent three days in in Malaga this time last year.

 

[Just_Steve]

If they were here, on $2K a month, they would get free healthcare in MN and many other states.

And if they lowered it by $200 they would get $400 per month food stamps.

 

[Senator]

And if they lowered it by $200 they would get $400 per month food stamps.

Exactly. And if they were from Spain, living here in the USA, they would not have this Visa issue.

Now they must get their visas renewed to stay in Spain, and Kevin says it has been “a real hassle,” adding that: “We eventually had to hire a lawyer and our case is in progress. Given another chance, I’d hire the lawyer straight off and let them do all the work.” Here is an overview of getting visas to stay in Spain.

 

[Freedom56]

Under their circumstances, this couple made a wise lifestyle changes. They eliminated their financial stress. The weather is pretty nice there. Because they chose to use public transportation versus driving a car, they will become more fit. The food is much better and more healthy in Spain than many states. With regional airlines like Easyjet, they can fly to many destinations in Europe and North Africa for little money. Many villages in Italy that are slowly disappearing are trying attract foreigners to keep their villages populated. Spain has the same issue. Spanish is an easy language to learn, they will become completely fluent in a few years if they make an effort to learn which is what they are doing.

 

[lordjust]

We were certainly impressed with the (private) hospital I spent three days in in Malaga this time last year.

Malaga is very nice... I think its growing like crazy though.

 

[Nemo2]

Malaga is very nice... I think its growing like crazy though.

Yeah...I was first there 56 years ago.....big change since then.

 

[Dtail]

Nice article.
They get to retire earlier than what they could probably achieve in the USA.
Not seeing family much could be tough for some, especially if one has grand kids.

 

[Fermion]

I looked at their budget and their activities and they are spending quite a bit more than we do in the USA at near the same ages.

Their apartment: $665
Our apartment: $525

Their electricity: $82
Our electricity: $57

Their water: $33
Our water: $0

Their phone: $44
Our phone: $40 (Visible wireless cell with unlimited internet and tethering)

Their internet: $33
Our internet: $0 (included in cell phone plan)

Their health insurance: $130
Our health insurance: $89 ($910 subsidy for silver plan with cost sharing and max $250 per year oop)

Their food: $490
Our food: about the same.

We have other expenses by choice, like a car but it is not needed where we live. There is a great bus system and the library is across the street, city hall is 3 blocks away, Safeway is 5 blocks away, Wal-Mart is about 1 mile away. Costco is 60 miles away, quite a drive, but how close do they live to Costco?

I mean if you want to be in Spain, be in Spain, but you can live cheaper in the USA with good healthcare.

 

[Senator]

I mean if you want to be in Spain, be in Spain, but you can live cheaper in the USA with good healthcare.

Not to mention all the protections you have here in the USA with banking laws, criminal laws, consumer protection laws, labor laws, etc. Mail is delivered here with almost a 100% success rate in 4 days or less.

 

[griffithee]

Dont forget amazon

Not to mention all the protections you have here in the USA with banking laws, criminal laws, consumer protection laws, labor laws, etc. Mail is delivered here with almost a 100% success rate in 4 days or less.

And Amazon 2 day delivery. 1 day in a lot of cases!!!

 

[brokrken]

Their apartment: $665
Our apartment: $525

Wow! Really surprises me that you can get a decent apartment in Seattle for $525/month

 

[Freedom56]

I guess it depends on your situation and where you live. For two of us, we pay $962 per month for a bronze PPO plan with a maximum $7800 OOP per person and $6800 deductible per person. Prescription drugs are covered only after you hit your deductible. No subsidies for us. Fortunately we are both pretty healthy, stay in shape, and only use our doctors for the annual preventive checkups covered by insurance. I don't know of too many coastal cities in the US like where they are living in Spain with the weather they have with the expenses they have. It's also about location and lifestyle. This couple was from Texas and I'm sure they were looking for locations with mild weather.

 

[brett]

If I were in their position I would do exactly the same. Good for them for choosing a better, and I have no doubt, a healthier lifestyle for themselves.

Always so good to see people proactively making changes in their lives rather than doing nothing, complaining, and moaning.

Why on earth would they even consider something like food stamps when they ca relocate and have the retirement that they dreamed of? In our travels we have met an increasing number of early retiree expats who have done the same for the identical reasons.

Smart move.

 

[Aerides]

From the article:

"The cons: The hardest thing for both Kevin and Susan has been missing their family stateside."

For us that's the biggest factor in (not) moving far. We're in the same approx ages as the article couple, but both have parents in their 70's so we don't want to be far away, don't think our parents would like that either. I also have my sister and her family nearby which I enjoy.

Also pets!

If you're otherwise un-anchored, I could see doing this sort of thing on a short term basis here and there.

 

[Bestwifeever]

If you do Facebook you can watch his videos at his user name Texpatliving (looks like mostly videos). I loved Spain when we visited last fall so researched him a bit. Quite different than Austin, I imagine.

 

[brett]

The world is becoming a much smaller place. The internet has opened people’s eyes and minds to formerly unheard of posibilities.

I suspect that as the cost of healthcare continues to increase at 2X, 3X, and perhaps more times the rate of inflation we will see early retirees in their mid and late 50’s making the exact same lifestyle decisions. For some it may be the only way they can afford early retirement and jumping off the treadmill.

Who can fault them for wanting a better retirement lifestyle than they might otherwise have?

 

[NW-Bound]

I used to dream of spending some years of retirement in Provence, or in Malta. It was not for cost reasons, but to experience a different environment and lifestyle for a while.

But then, after doing more travel, doing Airbnb and staying in smaller towns in the countryside in Europe, I discovered that I preferred my own homes now. I have lots of space for my electronic hobby, and my wife has the yard to do her gardening. Leaving behind family is not something we want to do either.

 

[Fermion]

Our apartment is in the mountains of Washington state, not on the coast, although the coastal towns of Washington ARE really cheap. I am not talking about the Puget Sound but the actual Pacific Ocean coast. In Ocean Shores, Westport, or even that sparkly vampire area Forks.

On the east coast you can get a cheap apartment in the Florida panhandle in Carabelle or Apalachicola. Heck, we rented a 3 bedroom vacation home on a private lake 5 blocks from the beach for $1600 a month in Carabelle and that was vacation rental prices, not long term lease prices.

I am sure there are cities in Spain that have high rents just as there are places in the USA with high rents.

It has been shown that healthcare in the USA can be as cheap or cheaper than Spain.

So really it is all about where do you want to live, not so much about how this place is cheaper than that place. If you want to retire in the USA, there are plenty of areas where you can do it cheaper than most of the other first world countries.

 

[Dtail]

Very LCOL places in the USA sometimes comes with other issues, such as close access to good medical services, very different culture than MCOL/HCOL places, less services provided, etc.
I can see folks living in these places, but just not for me.

 

[Teacher Terry]

It looks really beautiful! Our biggest expense is HI at 1k/month. I am hoping that will go down in 5 years once my husband qualifies for Medicare. Although my sister in Chicago is paying 600/month just for herself with the supplements.

 

[GravitySucks]

Sounds like a nice retirement.

 

[Chuckanut]

I suspect that as the cost of healthcare continues to increase at 2X, 3X, and perhaps more times the rate of inflation we will see early retirees in their mid and late 50’s making the exact same lifestyle decisions. For some it may be the only way they can afford early retirement and jumping off the treadmill.

We're starting to see some insurance companies pay to transport people to other locations where cost of treatment is cheaper. I think Amazon is trying that on a limited basis.

The day may come when my insurance company says "Chuck, we will transport you to a 1st class hospital that does the same surgery for 1/5 the cost. The hospital is located at the international resort town of SolarFlare in Lower Slobovia. We'll rent you an apartment on the beach for a week. We will guarantee that if a problem develops after you return home we will fully cover it in the USA. In return for this we will wave all deductibles and co-payments you might otherwise pay. And if you feel up to it, you might even be able to enjoy time on the beach with the world's glitterati."

 

[kcowan]

We have expats from Texas who live here in Puerto Vallarta. Not for us but very inexpensive. Less than half what Texas was costing them.