Spain has been an attractive destination for retirees from many different countries for years who are drawn to its great weather, lifestyle, culture and often cheaper cost of living.
In recent years, however, the situation has started to shift a bit, prices have skyrocketed, particularly when it comes to buying and renting property and weather patterns have become very unstable with extremes such as droughts and flooding becoming more frequent.
With a bit of planning and know-how, Spain can still be a great retirement destination, but you need to think carefully about where you want to live, as its 17 regions and even different cities can offer a completely different lifestyles.
READ ALSO: Your guide to retirement in Spain
Cost of living
The cost of living in a certain place can greatly affect the quality of your retirement and where you can afford to live. According to the Spain's National Institute of Statistics (INE), the regions with the lowest cost of living in Spain are Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León and Murcia. In comparison, the Balearics, Madrid, the Basque Country and Catalonia have the most expensive costs of living. If you’re looking to purchase somewhere, it’s worth knowing that there are many places in Spain where you can still buy a property for under €200,000. These include cities such as Zamora in Castilla y León, Lugo in Galicia and Lleida in Catalonia. According to property portal Idealista, the most expensive places to buy a home this year are Mallorca, Madrid, San Sebastián, certain places in Málaga province and Ibiza. Barcelona is of course high on the list too.
READ ALSO: How much money do I need in savings for a good retirement in Spain?
Climate
Traditionally the places with the best climate in Spain and the greatest number of sunny days are the Canary Islands, the Andalusian coast, and the Costa Blanca. It’s important to be aware, however, that weather patterns have been changing dramatically with climate change in Spain. Over the last few years, parts of Valencia and Andalusia have experienced frequent flooding, and inland Andalusia has become so hot that the mercury regularly gets over 40C in summer. Parts of central Spain have also be plagued by devastating wildfires. Although you may have not considered northern Spain for your retirement, the cooler and slightly more stable climates could be better places to be in the future. Look at these flood maps to see which areas may be at risk and find out which are the hottest places in Spain that you may want to avoid.
Language
Learning a new language can be challenging, particularly when you’re older. It’s important to realise that Spain doesn’t just have one official language – it’s not just Spanish. Depending on where you choose to retire to, you may also have to communicate in and learn Catalan, Valencian, Galician as well. This may also be a deciding factor on where you choose to retire to.
Other foreigners
It’s important to think about how you want your retirement to look in Spain. Do you want to make other international connections and be surrounded by other foreigners in a similar situation as you or do you want branch out and choose somewhere secluded, away from other people. According to the INE, the Balearic Islands have the highest percentage of foreign nationals, at 21.8 percent. This is followed by Valencia with 20.5 percent, Catalonia with 19.3 percent, Madrid with 16.9 percent, Murcia with 16.4 percent and Aragón with 15.7 percent.
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Immersing yourself in local culture
If you want to completely get away from your fellow countrymen and immerse yourself totally in the Spanish culture and lifestyle, you may want to know which areas have the least number of foreign residents and consider moving to those places. According to the INE regions with the fewest number of foreigners are Extremadura, Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria. Of course you can immerse yourself in local culture in other regions, but you will find more English-speaking services and other foreigners, so it may be harder to totally get away from all of that.
Culture and cuisine
Every region of Spain has its own unique culture, and cuisines are very different too. Before you move, it’s worth knowing that not everything here is about flamenco and paella. It all depends on what types of foods you enjoy, the types of cultural festivals you like and even the type of people you vibe with. For example, the Basque Country is all about fine cuisine and seafood, while Asturias is about hearty stews and cheese and Andalusia is the queen of tapas. You may like the loud, firey festivals in Catalonia or Valencia or prefer the more serious religious ones in the south of the country.
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