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personal expense here is a difficult one to judge as its all dependent on your real budget, accom, transport whether you need to work or not, whether there are children or family to consider, managing expectations is important, and of course the lifestyle you want and can afford.... we are all different but we live no differently to the way we lived when in malta but a far better lifestyle than uk and its the same for us here, we are just as careful and we spend similar amounts - where things are cheaper here we spend the savings on the things that are more expensive - so its swings and roundabouts really.
this is for two people and are based in monthly costs
for example here you will get good high quality 2-3 bed apartments and townhouses for €300-450 a month villas with own pools from €550-800.... water is very very cheap at 0.70-0.90c per 1000L electric is i think an expensive commodity here but almost all houses here have solar panels for heating your water (excellent even in winter) so that helps... 0.13-0.16c per unit for everyone but then there is the extras fuel surcharges PSO vat etc ..... (overall incl extras rate is approx 20c per unit) our average bills between €80-140 per two months but that includes a pool pump running 4-6hrs per day AC 3hrs at night in summer - and water is about €35-45 per three months
food stuffs well thats a very personal thing our budget for that is about €100 per week (we usually shop at Lidls and the local supermarkets, but you soon find out where to shop... rarely do we use it all.. milk eggs and chicken are I think expensive here but we buy chicken in bulk when the offers are on whereas lots of other stuff fruit veg etc is so so cheap and good quality.......the same applies for going out socialising with friends, we probably go out on average 2-3 times per week average spend is maybe €20-25... when we eat out it can be anywhere between €10-25 per head.....but again we make sure we get the local 10-15% discount cards from the bars etc and we know where to eat and drink at a decent level without paying thru the nose... we tend to keep the "higher end" restaurants for special occasions.
Fags (€4-5 per pack) and drinks (€2-2.50) are cheap
the exchange rate movements are important and I personally follow it closely and make adjustments and exchanges when it is best to do so... investments are moved accordingly to ensure they are fully covered by the Depositor Compensation Scheme etc - its worked well for us in the 10 years we ve lived abroad and not having worked at all in that time - so its just as important to get your financials in place before moving.
I would suggest that what you do is use this - set out the budget as follows to cover your expectations
monthly spread of expense
Rent - (depends on property) but our 2 bed FF DGlazed bungalow & basement 6m x 3m private pool drive carport and gardens with fruit trees - €500)
Rubbish/Communal charges - (often included in rents on many complex properties-some include water too) maybe €10-15)
Contents Insurance - (€5 -many dont bother with this we do as we have got about €15k of our own stuff)
Pool Maintenance if applicable - €50-80 (we do our own pool about €10 per month)
Healthcare Insurance and Private Ambulance cover - (min cover €15/mth each and ambulance cover at €20/mth each) there are more expensive policies but we are mostly healthy and reasonably fit.. our first policy here cost us over €700 each per yr - be aware ambulance are not always with paramedics and they do have trouble finding places as the postcodes here cover massive areas and many roads although they have names they are not always signed
Life Insurances - (uk policies we have had for yrs ( joint cover at €18/mth)
Water - (with pool upto €15 - without pool €8-€10)
Elec - as mentioned
Gas - (€30 per month but only for dec to feb incl) best to use AC imo as its safer and healthier) we now have a gas hob and use a 10kg bottle every 4 months (currently €11.33 per bottle)
Mobile Phone - (PAYG units buy unlocked units in uk - very cheap to run) we simply buy a €10 top up and lasts ages) my last top €10 up has lasted in excess of three months and would ve lasted much longer had it not neen for a friend who uses a uk mobile and phones me
Internet - expensive here (10mbps min required here for tv - €25-30) plus install of approx €100) my Cyta 50mbps service is €55 per month but very stable and trouble free
Smoking / vaping - (€150 - the missus has now given this up completely 36months now - so a massive saving)
Hairdressing and nails etc - (€15-35 for hair (not mine i shave) - €25 for nails) full massage and pedicure about €50-60
Clothing purchases - (cant assess this to be honest - clothing and shoes arent cheap)
Opticians - (varies)
Dentistry- (varies)
Doctors - (varies)
Car - (depends if you are bringing your own or buying here new or second hand) cars here tend to hold their price really well we bought a new 5door ford fiesta 3 petrol manual for €10k and its now 4 yrs old and just had its first mot €35 valid for two years - been almost cost free except for two tyres 2 sets of wipers and two services (a full service is about €150-€170)
Fuel - (€60) - we put €20 in three times a month - current cost of petrol 95UL is about €1.30 per litre
Road tax - (€5-10 depending on car co2 etc)
Car Insurance - (€20-25 depending on car, users, ages etc) our fully comp just renewed €259 all drivers 25-70) incl breakdown and protected no claims
Spends - (we budget €400 but usually spend far less)
Groceries - (we budget €400 but usually spend far less)
Pet food, cat lit etc (if applicable) we have our own cat and have been recently adopted by 7 feral ones too so - probably €150)
Winters arent as harsh - much milder here but the summers can be longer and hotter.. buy hey ho
Crime isnt a big problem - although our village is getting a bad name but we now have a neighbourhood watch and its active we all watch out for each other, rental prices are still exceptionally good depending in what it is you are after but are slowly rising as happened to malta over the lats 4-5yrs\
Traffic is just about non existent and as such pollution isnt an issue either, very few if any traffic jams here = roads are far superior - driving standards is only slightly better standard but we still have idiots...
Hope this helps
