An Expat Talks about Retiring in Salamanca, Spain

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Salamanca

Why did you choose to retire abroad?

My retirement pension was not enough to afford my husband and I the kind of life we wanted. Living in California is very expensive, and with my pension we could not afford many adventures. We also wanted to lead a more social outdoor life.

Are you retired abroad all year or part of the year?

All year

Why did you choose the country you retired to?

My husband speaks Spanish and what's not to love about Spain: friendly people, great culture, terrific food and wine, and a rich variety of landscapes to visit.

Did you ever live abroad before you retired abroad?

No.

How long have you lived abroad since you retired abroad?

One year.

With over 40 years of professional experience, Balcells Group provides legal advice on immigration, business, real estate, and tax. They help individuals, companies, investors, students, entrepreneurs, highly-qualified professionals, digital nomads, and more, to enjoy successful law processes in Spain by guiding their clients every step of the way. They speak Spanish, English, Catalan and Russian.

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With over 40 years of professional experience, Balcells Group provides legal advice on immigration, business, real estate, and tax. They help individuals, companies, investors, students, entrepreneurs, highly-qualified professionals, digital nomads, and more, to enjoy successful law processes in Spain by guiding their clients every step of the way. They speak Spanish, English, Catalan and Russian.

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Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

How many countries (other than your home country) have you lived in as a retiree?

None

What have been the most challenging aspects of being retired abroad?

Not speaking the language. Also adjusting to the meal hours and realizing that most stores are closed between 1:00 to 4:30. You may have trouble buying clothes if you are tall or overweight; the Spaniards tend to be smaller and thinner than many Americans.

What have been the most rewarding aspects of being retired abroad?

Making new friends, walking everywhere, feeling like a part of the community. The cost of living is cheaper, so we can travel. The culture of tapas is not bad either.

What would you do differently if you were just starting the retire abroad process?

Learn the language. If my husband didn't speak Spanish, this entire process would have been significantly more difficult. I'm still learning.

What is life like for a retiree in your city and its surroundings? (Is there an active expat community? Cultural Attractions? Recreation? Nightlife?)

We love Salamanca. It is a university city, so there are lot's of young people. We don't own a car, so it's nice to live where we can walk everywhere. There's always something going on, plus the city is a Unesco World Heritage site so it's quite beautiful. The weather can be difficult in the summer though: high temps and no air-conditioning. There are cultural events and a vibrant night life. I am not aware of any expat community here.

What residency documents or visas did you need to obtain to retire in your host country? How difficult was this process? (Please describe)

We obtained a Non-Lucrative Visa from the consulate in San Francisco. I have to say that the process was difficult. Since the necessary documents are only good for 90 days, any time there's a delay, you have to start all over: new originals, new translations and new apostiles.

Did you buy a home or apartment, or rent one? Is this a difficult process? (Please describe)

We rented an apartment. It was not difficult. We went to a rental agency, they showed us apartments and we chose the one we wanted. The agent gets a commission but that's the only way I know of to rent an apartment here in Salamanca.

Financially, has living abroad in your host country met your expectations? Exceeded them?

It has exceeded our expectations.

What are the most important financial considerations for retiring to your host country?

It helps to have euros in a Spanish bank; Sabadell will let you open an account without being physically present. Many expenses like utilities, cell phone, etc, are automatically deducted from your Spanish bank account so it helps to have one in place before you arrive.

How much can a retiree live on comfortably in your host country?

I can only attest to the cost of living in my city. For Salamanca, you can live very comfortably for 1500 euros (or around $1650).

Do you have access to quality medical care? (Please describe - is it close? Expensive?)

Yes. When we were applying for our visa we purchased insurance with Sanitas Health. It costs 150 euros ($165) a month. We have only used our insurance to refill our American prescriptions.

Balcells Group Lawyers
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With over 40 years of professional experience, Balcells Group provides legal advice on immigration, business, real estate, and tax. They help individuals, companies, investors, students, entrepreneurs, highly-qualified professionals, digital nomads, and more, to enjoy successful law processes in Spain by guiding their clients every step of the way. They speak Spanish, English, Catalan and Russian.

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Balcells Group Lawyers

With over 40 years of professional experience, Balcells Group provides legal advice on immigration, business, real estate, and tax. They help individuals, companies, investors, students, entrepreneurs, highly-qualified professionals, digital nomads, and more, to enjoy successful law processes in Spain by guiding their clients every step of the way. They speak Spanish, English, Catalan and Russian.
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Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Is there a lot of crime where you live? (Please describe)

There is very little crime. I feel much safer here than I did in California. Walking my dogs at midnight doesn't worry me at all.

Describe available transportation where you live. Do you need a car? Is there access to safe public transportation?

We do not need a car. Everything is within walking distance. Salamanca's "walkability" score should be 100. We take a taxi if the distance seems too far or if we're loaded with packages. Very inexpensive. There are also public buses, though we haven't used them yet. Importantly there is a train station here; we can get to Madrid on the rapid train in just over an hour.

Is there high-speed internet access where you live?

Yes. We ended up getting internet and cable through Vodaphone. In our apartment, we shared the router with other tenants, so it was very slow sometimes.

Do you have any other thoughts you would like to share about retiring abroad?

Spain is a wonderful country. No matter how trying the visa process is, don't give up!