Living in Barcelona or Madrid, Spain
Situated in the Southern part of Europe is a developed country ranking ninth place in terms of the having the highest economy in the world, Spain. This country experiences warm summers and mild winters throughout the year. The average temperature year-round is approximately twenty degrees Celsius ( 68 degrees farenheit) .
The cost of living in Spain is somehow difficult to predict because costs may vary due tolocation. Generally speaking, living in the urban places like Madrid and Barcelona is relatively higher compared to countryside areas or small towns. A lot of people opt to eat out rather than to have dinner at their homes because they find it cheaper. Some restaurants offer a "special plate of the day” that you can buy for a reasonable price. This meal often comes along with a bottle of wine and bread. The nightlife in Madrid is very active until the wee hours in the morning.
Owning your own home can also be expensive and could cost you a lot ! Since owning your home requires you pay good majority of your salary or savings, you may miss out on all the fun and social happenings because you do not have spending money. A simple solution for this is a lot of Spaniards prefer to rent in small apartments rather than buy their own homes.
Cultural differences are displayed quite well when it comes to shopping and waiting in line, It has been reported that some Spaniards do not believe in the courtesy of waiting in line so if it is your turn, be ready to pay ! In addition, many shopping centers observe Spain's traditional siesta from two-thirty in the afternoon up to around five in the afternoon. Some are even closed on Mondays. However, you might be lucky to discover some shopping centers that are open Monday to Saturday during normal business hours ( 9 am to 10 pm) . As a safeguard, verify the schedule before going on your shopping trip to avoid disappointment if you find the doors closed.
If you are in the market to buy a car in Spain, it may not be as easy as you think due to prices being slightly higher relative to other European countries. This can possibly be attributed to tourism. Therefore, a lot of people prefer to buy a used car that is close to two years old because the value of cars in Spain decreases slowly. But if you still choose to buy a brand new car, make sure to negotiate with car dealers as they can compete with each other in terms of discounts, guarantees, financing and special sales ( or "ofertas" ). Other folks may choose to have a car imported to Spain but be prepared to get into a tough battle because there is a lot of red tape when you are filing for the proper documentation. To alleviate paperwork headaches, one can use an administrator to have their documents processed. Another option is to simply travel by metro or train.
Spain has a wonderful climate that is perfect for swimming and going to the beautiful and picturesque beaches. One of the famous tourist spots for swimming is in Ibiza, Spain. It is a lovely place where you can go out at night dancing and enjoy a bottle of champagne with friends and family.<