The difference in the cost of living between Spain and Thailand is leading some Spanish retirees to seek a new life outside the country, reigniting the debate about the purchasing power of pensions in the Iberian Peninsula and raising inevitable comparisons with the Portuguese reality.
In recent years, it has become more common to see Spanish pensioners moving to countries where housing, food and basic services are significantly cheaper. The promise of a more comfortable life with the same pension is the main argument, according to Spanish digital newspaper Noticias Trabajo.
This trend is not exclusive to Spain. Also in Portugal, where many retirees face high rents and widespread price increases, interest is growing in alternative destinations with a lower cost of living, inside and outside Europe.
A specific case: changing country to save money
The case was publicized on the program “Espejo Público”, on the Spanish channel Antena 3. Rafa, a retiree born in Mallorca, explained that he decided to move to Thailand after retiring and becoming a widower. With a monthly pension of 1,136 euros, he guarantees that in Spain he would have difficulty covering all his fixed expenses. In Thailand, he claims to be able to live comfortably and still save money every month.
The decision came after starting a new relationship with a Thai citizen. For more than a year, he considered alternatives, including moving to northern Spain, but prices ended up being decisive, according to the same source.
According to the values presented in the program, Rafa pays around R$100 per month in rent. In Spain, the average considered would be around 900 euros per month. Food for two people is, according to reports, around 4 euros per day. A liter of gasoline costs approximately 90 cents.
Electricity and water costs total 25 euros per month, while internet service costs around 10 euros. In Spain, the estimated average cost for internet would be close to 30 euros. “In Mallorca you cannot rent an apartment for less than 1,000 euros”, stated the pensioner during the interview, highlighting the importance of housing in the monthly budget.
Debate on the purchasing power of pensions
According to the accounts presented in the program, a retiree with an income similar to Rafa’s would spend around 1,026 euros per month in Spain. “In other words, the pension would only cover the essentials”, said one of the commentators when analyzing the comparison.
The situation is not completely distant from the Portuguese reality. In several cities in Portugal, especially in the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto, average incomes absorb a large part of the income of many retirees. Although the value of pensions varies between the two countries, the increase in housing costs has been one of the main factors putting pressure on family budgets, both in Spain and Portugal.
A trend that could grow
The existence of expatriate communities in destinations such as Thailand, Morocco or even specific regions of Portugal has facilitated this type of change, offering support and information networks. For some retirees, the possibility of maintaining the same income, but with greater financial margin at the end of the month, becomes decisive.
According to , Rafa’s case illustrates a reality that is beginning to gain expression: when the pension is limited, the place where you live can make all the difference in the balance of your accounts.
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