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Santander, Spain

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Northern Spain’s Elegant And Friendly City Of Santander

Welcome to what some consider the most beautiful, unspoilt part ofSpain. Listed among the “Most Beautiful Bays in the World,” Santander has a stellar view of the waters off the coast. It’s also the capital city of the Cantabria region, along Spain’s northern coast.

What to do in Santander

Originally, Santander was a fisherman’s town. Today, its main activities are focused on tourism, port activity (fishing, passenger ferries, and industrial shipping) and nearby heavy industry.

There are plenty of sights throughout the city, including the cathedral, Magdalena Palace, the stunning Plaza Porticada, the imposing Banco Santander building, the Grand Casino, and several cultural centers, the most impressive of which is the Centro Botín. No one comes to Santander without visiting Magdalena Palace, located on the peninsula that juts out into the Bay of Santander.

If you’re looking for a nice beach day with gentle waves, try the beaches of El Sardinero, La Magdalena, Bikinis, and Los Peligros.

Health Care in Santander

In general, non-EU retirees will not be able to access the Spanish health care system and will have to take out private insurance. However, there are some good hospitals in the area, including: Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, hospital Santa Clotilde, and several other private clinics. Overall costs aren’t extremely high, so some expats choose to “go naked” and pay as they go.

Cost of Living in Santander

Penny-Pincher’s Budget for Santander, Spain

ExpenseCostNotes
Rent€450Cheapest part of town, most basic kind of rental.
Transportation€10Bus, taxi, etc.
Gas€50Cooking and heating
Electricity€52
Water€37
Telephone€42Bundled with internet and cable
Garbage Collection€0Paid by owner
Internet€0Bundled with telephone
Entertainment€50Bare bones, eg. dinners at cheap, local places, etc.
Groceries€215
Total Monthly Expenses€1,816.00US$2,186.10 (as of 1/11/2018)

Apartment or House Rental Budget for Santander, Spain

ExpenseCostNotes
Rent€650This would provide a good quality apartment. (For luxury budget €1,000-€2,500/month.)
Community Charge (shared garden, pool, etc.)€0Not included, as usually paid for by owner
Transportation€10Taxi to airport: €20; town bus ticket: €1.30 anywhere within the city (€0.66 with resident’s pass)
Gas€50Cooking and heating
Electricity€52
Water€37
Telephone€42Bundled with internet, cable, and cellphone. Lots of options. This is with Vodaphone.
Household Help€144Based on €12/hr, cleaning 4 times a month, once a week for 3 hours.
Entertainment€85Movie ticket: €7.90; theater ticket: €20-30; museum entrance fee: €5-8; Tennis club: €50-75.
Groceries€250
Gym Membership€68Includes Pilates
Medical Appointment€48Assuming no health insurance. If you qualify for state healthcare, there’s no charge.
Total Monthly Expenses€1,436.00US$1,728.96 (as of 1/11/2018)

Apartment or House Ownership Budget for Santander, Spain

ExpenseCostNotes
Mortgage€0Not included (Large variation in price).
Community Fees€90Includes: upkeep of grounds, pool, and tennis court
Property Taxes€35Based on a two-bed condo/apartment
Transportation€10Taxi to airport: €20; town bus ticket: €1.30 anywhere within the city (€0.66 with resident’s pass)
Gas€50Cooking and heating
Electricity€52
Water€37
Telephone€42Bundled with internet, cable, and cellphone. Lots of options. This is with Vodaphone.
Household Help€144Based on €12/hr, cleaning 4 times a month, once a week for 3 hours.
Entertainment€85Movie ticket: €7.90; theater ticket: €20-30; museum entrance fee: €5-8; Tennis club: €50-75.
Groceries€250
Gym Membership€68Includes Pilates
Medical Appointment€48Assuming no health insurance. If you qualify for state healthcare, there’s no charge.
Total Monthly Expenses€911.00US$1,096.76 (as of 1/11/2018)

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