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| Living Abroad - Living In Spain |
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Intro |
TV/Internet |
Banking |
Shopping |
Public Transport |
Driving |
Healthcare |
Working |
Residence
It is difficult to give an exact cost of living in Spain as prices vary greatly from city centres to rural
villages. Also, since the introduction of the Euro, there has been a perceived inflation in prices in Spain.
Here are some rough prices:
Electricity: Will cost approximately 30-35 Euros a month for two people and you will be billed bi-monthly
Water: there is a quarterly charge for a minimum consumption paid to the local municipality
Telephone: Line rental is approximately 20 Euros a month, then you pay for your phone calls on top of that
at a similar rate to England.
Food: An average evening meal costs between 10 and 15 Euros – cheaper than this at lunch time.
Drinks: A glass of wine or beer is between 1 and 2 Euros.
Cinema: It costs about 6 Euros to see a film.
TV, Telephone and Internet in Spain
TV: Due to the differences in transmission, TV's and video recorders operating on the British (PAL-I),
French (SECAM) or North American (NTSC) systems won't work in Spain.
In addition to terrestrial TV, satellite TV reception is excellent and is particularly popular among
the expatriates.
You can import your own satellite dish and receiver and install it yourself. Before buying a system,
ensure that it can receive programs from all existing and planned satellites.
Telephone: The telephone service is controlled mainly by Telefónica which owns several other companies
(including Terra and Teleline).
When you get your telephone installed expect a fee of about 150 Euros to be charged for this service.
A cheaper alternative (if there is an existing account) would be to get the account transferred. This
will cost you about 40 Euros.
To have a telephone installed or reconnected, you must visit the local Telefónica office. Take along
your passport or residence card (residencia), proof of your address and a copy of your property deed
(escritura) or rental contract. If you're renting and don't have a residence permit (residencia) you
must pay a deposit of around 200 Euros.
Peak hours: from 0800 to 1700 hours from Monday to Friday and 0800 to 1400 on Saturdays.
Normal: from 1700 to 2200, Monday to Friday.
Reduced: from 2200 to 0800 Monday to Friday, 1400 to 2400 on Saturdays and all day on Sundays.
Internet: Dial up Internet is free in Spain, until you get your phone bill. Your local calls
are not free and will cost you by the minute.
This can be avoided by paying for a flat-rate service with the ISP (internet service provider)
rather than pay for local calls. The rates of course depend on whether you use the service at
peak or off-peak times.
The flat rates do not vary much from company to company and have various plans depending on how often you use the service.
Banking in Spain
To open a Spanish bank account, you will need to show your passport, your address in Spain,
and you NIE number from your residence card. When choosing a bank, think about where the nearest
branch is to your home, if they have anyone who speaks English and whether or not they have the
facility to receive money from overseas. You should also get a list of all of their charges for
services such as writing cheques as Spanish banks have some of the highest charges in Europe.
Your bank statement will come once a month, or once a quarter and will appear in Spanish.
If you are unsure of anything, arrange for a translation, or keep a Spanish dictionary handy.
Shopping in Spain
Opening hours
These can vary considerably between city, town and type of shop.
Small shops open from approximately 9am until approximately 1pm and from about 5pm until 8pm, Monday to
Friday, then from 9.30am until 2pm on Saturdays.
In some areas shops are closed on Monday mornings.
Department stores, hypermarkets and many supermarkets are open without a break for a siesta from around
9am until approximately 9pm from Monday to Saturday.
Most stores are closed on Sunday.
Public Transport in Spain
Public transport is generally very good in Spanish cities, most of which have efficient bus and rail
systems. If you plan to remain within the principal Spanish cities, public transportation will likely
prove far more convenient and pleasant than driving.
Intercity Rail: The Spanish rail network is operated by a state owned company called Red Nacional de
los Ferrocarriles Españoles (RENFE). They operate a wide range of services and fares. Their fastest
trains, the AVE, are among Europe's best with their slowest travelling about the same speed as a bus.
The RENFE provides a service to all major cities, although it doesn't run to many small towns, and is
supplemented by networks such as the FFCC city lines in Barcelona and private railways.
There are also a huge variety of local, short-distance trains called Tranvía. Suburban commuter trains
(Cercanías) are second class only and stop at all stations.
Buses: The local bus services in Spanish cities run from around 6am until between 10pm and midnight,
when a more expensive night system comes into operation. Most buses don't have a lot of seats, opting
instead for maximum standing room. Urban buses are quite slow although some major cities provide
dedicated bus lanes. Most towns have a bus terminal. Keep in mind that when waiting at a bus stop, the
bus may not always stop for you unless you indicate you wish it to.
Taxis: You should only use taxis that display a special licence. They are of a very high standard as they
are governed by strict legislation. They display a green light when they are free (libre). They can be
flagged down or found at a taxi rank and are metered but have a set price for certain journeys. Tipping
is a customary 5-10%.
Metro: There are metro lines in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. They offer the fastest way to get around
these cities and are unsurprisingly crowded during rush hours. Special tickets are available including a
cheap day return, a metrocard allowing three / five days unlimited use, and weekly and monthly passes. A
map (plano del metro) showing the lines in different colours can be obtained from the ticket offices.
Driving in Spain
Driving Licence
Non-residents can drive in Spain on their foreign license for a maximum of six months of a calendar year.
EU residents can drive using their existing license until it runs out, after which they must apply for a
Spanish driving license. Non EU residents must apply for a Spanish driving license after one year.
Road Tax
Road tax in Spain is paid to the local government. The fee is related to the individual vehicle and the area
you live in.
MOT
All vehicles are required to undertake an annual inspection similar to an MOT, but called an ITV, to check
the condition of the vehicle. There are several garages across the country who can perform an ITV.
Insurance
As with England, third party insurance is mandatory. If you intend to drive using your English insurance,
you must check that you are covered abroad at this is not standard on all insurances.
Speed Limits
Motorways: 120kph
Dual carriageways: 100kph
Country roads: 90kph
Urban roads: 50kph
Residential areas: 20kph
Fines
Fines for speeding are to be paid on the spot and are calculated per kilometre over the limit.
The legal drink-drive limit is 50mg per millilitre with breath test a frequent occurrence.
Fines for this are very high.
Seatbelts
It is compulsory to wear both front and rear seatbelts.
Healthcare in Spain
Spain has a public health system so health care is free or low cost if you pay social security
(families and retirees are also included). Like many countries, however, the public health service
has waiting lists to see specialists and for non-urgent operations.
If you do not qualify for public health care then it is essential that you have private health
insurance; you may not be allowed in the country without it. Even if you are under the public health
care system it is still advisable (if you can afford) to have private health insurance in order to
skip the waiting lists and receive treatment quickly.
Hospitals
Generally the larger towns have the best hospitals, which can be found by following signs with a big
white 'H' or looking in the Yellow Pages under hospitals.
When attending a hospital (except in the case of an emergency) you must present either a social security
card, evidence of private health insurance or proof of ability to pay the bills. If the insurance company
does not pay to the hospital directly then you should pay yourself (credit cards are generally accepted)
and claim this from the insurance company at a later date.
Doctors
There are a number of doctors in Spain who speak English, especially in cities and resort areas, including
doctors who received their training in English speaking countries. Embassies and consulates usually maintain
lists of such doctors.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies which dispense medicine are highlighted by a green cross. There are 24 hour pharmacies in all towns,
which are indicated by a red light on the pharmacy sign.
Working in Spain
If you are an EU resident you don't need a permit to work in Spain. However you do require a residence card
which is usually issued for 5 years.
If you're an EU national you can enter Spain as a tourist and register with the Spanish national employment office
(Instituto Nacional de Empleo/INEM) as a job-seeker (demandante de empleo). You have 90 days in which to find
employment, although if you enter as a visitor you can obtain an extension after 90 days or leave Spain and
re-enter for a further 90 days. When offered a job, you should obtain an employment contract (contrato de trabajo),
which is necessary when applying for your residence card.
Taxes
Your residence card will have a fiscal number which must be quoted when opening a bank account or paying Spanish
taxes. All residents of Spain must have a NIE number.
Most taxes in Spain are self-assessed, meaning the individual is responsible to report and calculate any tax due. Tax
forms must be purchased by taxpayers and are available from tax offices (agencia tributaria). Penalties and interest
are given for late or non-compliance.
The tax year in Spain is the same as the calendar year (1st January to 31st December).
Spanish Residence Permit
Anyone planning to live indefinitely, study or work in Spain must apply for a Spanish Residence Permit within
15 days of arriving in Spain.
It is best to contact the Spanish Consulate or Embassy in England about the requirements before travelling to
Spain, otherwise you may have to travel home to obtain the necessary documents and correct visa.
If you are planning a short stay (on a short-term contract perhaps) then you will be issued with a temporary
residence card for the period required. Children under 18 years of age can be included on the parents' residence card.
Residence cards are issued by the foreign nationals’ office or provincial central police station where the applicant
is resident. Applications must also be made in person to the nearest national police station with a foreigners’ department.
Contact officials to find out the exact paperwork that is required.
The list for a Spanish Residency Permit usually includes:
Passport valid for at least six months and a photocopy of the pages.
Official papers relating to your marital status plus a Spanish translation;
Completed application form 037 for EU citizens
Passport-size photographs (one for each application form);
Proof of residence, e.g. your property contract, a rental contract or receipts for rent;
Medical certificate obtainable from any Spanish doctor.
Official certificate of criminal record declaring that you don't have a criminal record in your home. This can be a
statement requested through your local police authorities.
Certificate of registration confirming that you are resident in Spain, available from your country's local
consulate in Spain;.
Retired persons, and some others, require proof that they belong to a private health insurance scheme that's
valid in Spain or that they have the right to medical treatment under the Spanish public health scheme.
Employees require a job contract or an offer of employment in the form of a pre-contract stamped and signed by both
parties.
Self-employed persons require evidence that they meet the requirements to operate a business or perform a particular
profession in Spain.
When you have approval for a Spanish residence card, you're issued with a receipt as proof of your application.
This is valid for two months and renewable until your residencia is ready. When your residencia is ready to be
collected, you will be summoned to the local police station and have a print of right index finger taken.
Carry your residence card with you at all times as this is mandatory in Spain.
Allow plenty of time for your residency permit to percolate through the different levels of the Spanish bureaucracy.
It has happened that year long stays have expired, and the applicant returned home, before the Spanish residency permit
process was completed.
Please note, the above information is intended as a general guide only and Barrons can not be held responsible for any
erroneous information, we advise that you check any information before travelling.
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