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    Super Cheap

    • Chitré, Panama
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    • Home
    • Countries

      Top Destinations:

      Whether you’re looking for fun and sun, a peaceful retirement, or the chance to earn some extra income, you’ve got a real world of opportunity open to you… In short, we’ve done our best to narrow down your best options, but only you can decide the right country for you.

      • Spain
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • Colombia
      • Cyprus
      • Mexico
      • France
      • Montenegro
      • Browse All Countries

      Best For:

      • The Best Places To Retire
      • Health Care Abroad
      • Cost Of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Establishing Residency
      • Gun Laws In The World
      • English-Speaking Countries
      • Safest Places For Retirement
      • Best Places In Latin America
    • Budgets

      How Much Will It Cost You To Live Overseas?

      The only honest answer is, we have no idea. And neither does anyone else. The only one who can answer that question is you. Here’s the most important thing to understand about budgeting your new life overseas…

      Super Cheap

      • Chitré, Panama
      • Santa Marta, Colombia
      • Phuket, Thailand
      • Dumaguete, The Philippines

      Cheap

      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Kyrenia, Cyprus
      • Hua Hin, Thailand
      • The Algarve, Portugal

      Affordable

      • Valencia, Spain
      • Cascais, Portugal
      • Las Terrenas, The DR
      • Pisa, Italy
      • La Rochelle, France
      • Mazatlán, Mexico

      Luxury

      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Kotor, Montenegro
      • The Panama City Beaches
      • Paris, France
    • Resources

      Global Living

      • Living & Retiring Overseas
      • Raising A Family Abroad
      • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
      • Offshore & Diversification

      Making Money

      • International Real Estate
      • Banking
      • Employment
      • Investing

      Follow Us:

      • Meet Our Experts
    • Real Estate

      Join our Weekly Newsletter
      Overseas Property Alert

      Sign up for our weekly newsletter to receive expert insights on the best international real estate investment opportunities.






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        Buying Real Estate For Cashflow

        • Discover tips and strategies used by global property investing veterans

        Explore Our Latest Posts

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        Go To The Overseas Property Alert Site

        • How To Become Independently Wealthy And Fund The Lifestyle Of Your Dreams
      • Conferences

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        • Explore Our Events Site

        Live and Invest In Spain Conference

        Offshore Wealth Summit

        Greece Workshop

        VALENCIA, SPAIN

        Sep. 17-19, 2025

        PANAMA CITY, PANAMA

        Oct. 15-17, 2025

        VIRTUAL

        Nov. 13, 2025

        LEARN MORE
        DISCOUNT
        LEARN MORE
        PRE-REGISTER
        LEARN MORE
        PRE-REGISTER
        • MORE EVENTS

        Contact Our Events Team

        Toll-Free U.S. and Canada:
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        From Outside North America:
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        Reach us with your questions by email at: events@liveandinvestoverseas.com

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        • Expats' comprehensive destination guides

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        Lahardan Books

        • Titles on living and investing around the world
        • Explore Our Store
        Your passport to a life well-lived abroad

        Services

        overseas living letter offers affordable retirement guidance
        The Simon Letter Wealth Protection Insights
        Global Property Advisor Global Investment Opportunities

        Our Customer Service team is here to assist with any questions or concerns CustomerService@LiveandInvestOverseas.com

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        Home In Focus: Europe

        My 8 Favorite Things About Spain

        Sunshine, Party Vibes, Rich History…

        by Kat Kalashian
        May 16, 2024
        in In Focus: Europe, Lifestyle
        0 0
        Sunny view of Spain

        AdobeStock/pkazmierczak

        As we prepare for this year’s Live And Invest In Spain Conference, I am thinking ahead to sunshine, seafood, and catching up with our local friends and colleagues in Iberia.

        As I think ahead to enjoying a week in the south this autumn, I’m reminded of all the things I love about “The Bull Skin” (the nickname bestowed upon the country by Greek geographer Strabo who noticed their similarities in shape)…

        1. The Sunshine

        Who could deny that one of the top things we seek in a new life overseas is a more pleasant climate—whatever that means for you.

        After living in Panama for seven years, I couldn’t wait to come to a place with four seasons again. I missed winter and the transitional seasons—during which I get to wear some of my favorite clothing items!—and I find that even after five years here in Paris, I eagerly await autumn and the coziness of cold weather.

        But the grass is always greener…! After a few weeks of shortened daylight hours and gray skies, I find myself yearning for some vitamin D.

        Being such a massive country with such varied topography, you can easily customize the climate you’d like in your new life in Spain.

        Map of Spain
        ©europeisnotdead.com

        Valencia, perhaps, represents one of the ideal global climates… while it gets hot in the summer, no doubt, winters are mild yet significantly cooler. You won’t see any snow here, but you’ll never lack for sunshine, even in January and February.

        Head even farther south for more consistently warm temperatures… or farther north along the southern coast for more annual change. The northern coast is famous for its completely different climate, with much more precipitation and wind.

        I’m not the biggest beach lover, but for those seeking sand, Spain’s got miles upon miles of it, and the weather to appreciate it year-round.

        2. The Party Vibes

        You don’t have to be a nightclubber to enjoy Spain’s version of a party (I’m certainly not!).

        Spaniards simply love to celebrate and embrace joy… especially Catalans (those living in Catalonia, of which Barcelona is the heart).

        Whatever the event, big or small, it’s worth some fanfare in Spain. I love the wild abandon and sheer delight you see at every turn here.

        3. The Easygoing Culture

        Aside from a party, not much is taken too seriously here…

        People are casual, friendly, and neighborly. Folks here are friendly and everyone is ready to chat.

        Of course, this can work both ways… it’s the source of the famous “mañana attitude” that’s so common.

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        4. Traditional Schedules

        One of the things I’ve come to love most about living in Europe is a return to traditional schedules that put an emphasis on personal and family time.

        This comes out in a few different ways…

        First, the “siesta hour.” Throughout most of Spain (and much of Europe), business hours aren’t as regular as they are in North America. Most things open in the morning and close for several hours from noon until 4 or 5 p.m., hearkening back to times before climate control, when it was simply too hot to do much when the sun was at its peak.

        Likewise, Sundays are for rest. It’s rare to find businesses that will open on a Sunday anywhere in Europe, though some have modernized and transferred the day off to Monday to take advantage of higher weekend traffic.

        Second, meal times (again, this isn’t particular to Spain). People eat at regular hours in Europe, and meal times are taken seriously as times away from work and as a chance to connect with people, be they family or friends.

        Throughout most of Spain, you’ll only be able to get lunch between noon and 2 p.m., and dinner is rarely served before 9 p.m. Luckily for us foreigners, tapas hour is between 5 and 7 p.m., and is your chance for an early meal or a snack to tide you over until dinner.

        Sure, in tourist areas, you’ll see places that serve at all hours, but it’s nothing you can rely on in general and definitely won’t be offered in smaller towns or rural areas.

        5. The Language

        Many Americans have some kind of a foundation of Spanish… but it’s nothing like Castilian, the original form of Spanish that is spoken here.

        It takes some getting used to, but once you do, I think you’ll find it to be as charming as I do.

        If you’d like to begin getting an ear for Castilian, I recommend watching the uber-popular Netflix series, “Casa de Papel” (“Money Heist” in English). Read the subtitles as you listen to the Castilian spoken and you’ll instantly hear the strong difference between Spain’s Spanish and that which you might be familiar with in Latin America.

        Note that there are several other regional languages spoken in Spain, aside from Castilian. In Catalonia, Catalan is spoken; in Valencia, Valencian; in Galicia, Galician (also called Gallego); in Basque, Basque. While these aren’t nationally recognized as official languages, they may as well be, and if you move to one of these regions you’ll see them everywhere and would do well to learn a few words of them.

        In Catalonia especially, people are fiercely proud of Catalan and it’s often the first language used on menus, for example. It’s also taught in regional schools, as is Valencian in their local schools, which is something to consider if you’re thinking of putting your kids in the local educational system.

        6. The History

        Perhaps the thing I love most about living in Europe is that your day-to-day life is full of reminders of the past, whether in architecture, traditional customs, art, or even the layout of a city.

        I’m an art history nerd with a love of the ancient, and I am reminded of these things every day as I go about my life in Europe.

        In Spain, which was once well populated by Romans, you’ll find no shortage of archaeological sites to visit—even in the heart of its most modern cities—as well as much more recent treasures to appreciate.

        A crossroads of culture, with many nationalities and ethnicities making their mark on this giant country, Spain is a cultural minefield, full of wonders from all ages.

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        7. The Importance Of Family

        In France, children are best seen and not heard… but in Spain, children are embraced in all their beautiful chaos. I love that when I come to Spain with my family, people are as eager for my toddler’s company as for ours.

        Don’t be surprised if you have restauranteurs offering to take your kid off your hands while you enjoy your dinner.

        Likewise—and this may be an adjustment for some North Americans—get used to your child being treated like community property—in the best way possible, it takes a village, after all, and that’s an adage taken seriously here. People here aren’t likely to ask before they touch, hug, kiss, pick up, or give treats to your child. Personally, I love this attitude… but I recognize that it can feel like an invasion to those who are used to more cultural boundaries.

        8. The Proximity To Everything Else

        From Spain, it’s just a couple hours flight to anywhere else in Europe, North Africa, or a quick train ride to Portugal.

        If you base yourself in the mountains, it won’t take you long to get to the coast, and vice versa…

        Bonne route,

        Kat Kalashian signature

        Kat Kalashian

        Editor, In Focus: Europe[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

        Tags: 'best places to retire overseas''Expats Overseas''retire to europe'
        Share83Tweet52
        Kat Kalashian

        Kat Kalashian

        Kat Kalashian has grown up around the world, living in the United States, Ireland, France, and Panama, and has traveled extensively in her few years. Growing up as a young expat she is familiar with the trials and tribulations of an overseas move and the adjustments that must be made in every new destination. After living in Panama for seven years, she and her husband relocated back to Paris, France, in 2018 where they now live full-time with their American-born cat, Panamanian-born dog, and two French-born daughters. She's now been living in Paris for over 10 cumulative years, and enjoys being able to explore France and the rest of Europe at every opportunity. As head of Live And Invest Overseas’ European Division, she is Editorial Director of Europe Uncovered, a monthly subscription service, MCs the Europe based Live And Invest Conferences, and scouts out new locations for coverage on the Continent.

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              HOME

              Top Countries

              • Spain
              • Portugal
              • Panama
              • Belize
              • Colombia
              • Cyprus
              • Mexico
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              • Montenegro

              Best For:

              • Health Care Abroad
              • Retirement Living
              • Cost Of Living
              • Investing in Real Estate
              • Establishing Residency
              • Gun Ownership
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              • Safety
              BROWSE ALL COUNTRIES

              Budgets

              How Much Will It Cost
              To Live Overseas?

              Super Cheap

              • Chitré, Panama
              • Santa Marta, Colombia
              • Phuket, Thailand
              • Dumaguete, The Philippines

              Cheap

              • Medellin, Colombia
              • Boquete, Panama
              • Kyrenia, Cyprus
              • Hua Hin, Thailand
              • The Algarve, Portugal

              Affordable

              • Valencia, Spain
              • Cascais, Portugal
              • Las Terrenas, The DR
              • Pisa, Italy
              • La Rochelle, France
              • Mazatlán, Mexico

              Luxury

              • Ambergris Caye, Belize
              • Kotor, Montenegro
              • The Panama City Beaches
              • Paris, France

              Resources

              Global Living

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