A recent article appearing in The Olive Press highlighted how many people are choosing to live permanently at the Costa del Sol but commute to another European country for work. The idea of getting up at dawn to travel to either Malaga or Gibraltar airports for an hour's flight to London won't appeal to everyone, but those with highly paid jobs in Britain, Switzerland or Scandinavia see no reason to miss out on sunshine or big salaries.
Saving on Living Expenses with a Life in Spain
Sam Cookney, a blogger based in London, posted on his blog site that it was cheaper for him to rent a two-bedroom flat in Barcelona and commute to London than living in central London permanently. It takes him 5.5 hours commuting from his 800 euro per month flat in Barcelona to central London, he said in his interview with the newspaper, a trip he makes several times a month.
However, considering how he had paid nearly 960 euros a month for a flat in a run-down part of the British capital, he's better off in Barcelona, even if that does mean getting up at 4.30 am to be in his London office by 9.30 am. Sam believes he's several hundred euros better off each month - there's not just London's high rent to be taken into account, but also council tax, heating and high living expenses for groceries, leisure activities and socialising.
A better Quality of Life at the Costa del Sol
Matt Ibbs said in his interview with The Olive Press that he has been commuting between a small farm in Granada and Dublin for the past two decades. He has an IT consultancy job and wanted his family to live in a part of Europe where they can ski in winter, mountain bike in spring and autumn and enjoy summers like no person is Dublin is every likely to see - despite global warming. The Ibbs-family didn't choose Granada for financial reasons, but decided on living in Granada Province because they liked it best and had already ties there.
London-based PR consultant Yasmin Sethna chose Sotogrande as her main residence four years ago, when her partner decided to take a job in Gibraltar. They feel they "get the best of both worlds", being able to enjoy an outdoor life with golf, sailing, tennis and paddle clubs that provide an easy entry into social life at the Costas. In Sotogrande Yasmin can go horse riding for a mere 30.00 euro fee per session, a pleasure that would cost her 130.00 euros per session in London's Hyde Park.
Martina Willis, owner of The Source of Wellness, near Coin, and MD of a Swiss-based company, has been commuting between Zurich and Spain for the past three years, leaving each Monday lunchtime and returning on Fridays. Although she pays around 1,000 euros per month for her 2.5 hour flights, she feels the better quality of life in Spain justifies the expense. Her flat in Zurich cost 3,000 euros per month, while in Spain she can have a big house for the same amount. In Coin she can spend every weekend by the pool and relax totally, she says, a luxury she wouldn't have in Switzerland.
Property Prices across Spain are beginning to stabilise
If you are contemplating life at the Costa del Sol and can see yourself commuting between Marbella and your place of work in London, Oslo or Brussels, don't wait to long to make a decision.
Property prices in Spain are gradually stabilising and Marbella already leads the recovery in the luxury housing market. Having a look for a dream home at the Costa del Sol now, when prices are still much lower than property prices at the French or Italian Riviera for example, is a good idea, especially when you are looking for a high-end property that will serve your family as a permanent home for years to come. Marbella has excellent transport links with Malaga City, the airport there and Gibraltar Airport.