Many of us believe that Florida is the perfect state for retirees. In fact, a large portion of the US population moves to this state to enjoy their retirement. However, a teacher from Indian River decided to go against the grain and leave Florida for the other side of the pond. This is the story of Patti Addington, who at 68 decided to embark on an adventure and spend her golden years on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
Spain, an alternative spot for retirement
It didn’t happen overnight; she had already visited this country in 2018, when she made the Camino de Santiago, a spiritual journey. She ended up with the urge to return to Spain, as she wanted to have a better old age. Between rising costs in the United States and the hostile political climate, Patti wanted to break out of her routine in Florida.
The Costa del Sol seems to be the perfect place: not only does it offer a sunny climate (as its name suggests in Spanish), but it also does not suffer as many hurricanes as Florida. In addition, she can have a better quality of life with less money. Here, her pension in US dollars goes further in the shopping basket. That is why Patti moved to Torremolinos, Málaga in 2021.
Florida vs. Spain
Compared to what she pays now, the expenses she had to deal with in Florida were ridiculous. She had to pay $1,500 a month just for rent. Basic utilities such as electricity, water, and the Internet cost another $350. In her two-bedroom apartment with sea views in Torremolinos, Pati pays €860 a month. Utilities are only €92.
In total, she saves $1,000 a month on rent and housing. In addition, private health insurance in Spain is almost $1,000 cheaper per year than what she paid in the United States. With this margin, Paty can enjoy herself and travel around Spain at least once a month.
Quality of life; it’s not all about money
Patti never sits still for a moment: she starts each day with a coffee, looking out at the sea and enjoying the seagulls and palm trees. She then leads a very active lifestyle, with daily walks, Spanish classes, trips, and volunteering in the community. What stands out most is the friendliness of the people and the social atmosphere in the streets. She also emphasizes a sense of security that she didn’t feel at home.
The cost of leisure activities is much lower than in the United States; food, wine, and even spa treatments cost less than €100. Overall, she can enjoy entertainment much more often than she could have if she had stayed in the United States.
It is no surprise that the Costa del Sol has become one of the most sought-after destinations for expats; it enjoys more than 320 days of sunshine a year, with an ideal Mediterranean climate. This makes it a dream come true for the English-speaking community, which comprises more than 56,000 British nationals registered in the province of Malaga alone in 2022. Needless to say, they have an established community where, if they feel a little lazy, they don’t even have to try to speak Spanish.
US states such as California and Florida also offer sunshine, but their costs are prohibitive and they are very congested… So the Costa del Sol may be an alternative if you are considering retiring to a sunny location.
Paperwork if you want to live in Torremolinos
Be careful: remember that you cannot just show up in a foreign country. To do so, you must obtain a retirement visa (without the right to work). You must prove that you have a passive income of approximately €27,800 per year. You must also obtain private health insurance. As you have not paid social security contributions in Spain, you are not entitled to access the country’s public health system.
Despite having to deal with the bureaucracy, our friend Patti Addington describes moving to the Costa del Sol as “the best decision of her life.” If you want to save money for your retirement, get a great tan, and enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle, you might want to look into a few flights to Spain.
