The cost of living in Spain is one of the lowest in Europe.

If you are coming from the UK, you will get between 1.45 and 1.5 Euros for each of your pounds, and products cost just under 1 euro for each pound you would spend in the UK.

Fuel costs are the most expensive thing you will buy here, at about 1.02 € (68p) per litre for unleaded gas and 92 cents (61p) per litre for Diesel

Electricity costs 8.7 cents (5.8p)per KWH.

Mains Gas is not available unless living in a town. Prices are about the same as the UK. Bottled gas is used in the Campo (countryside) and costs about 9.50 € (£6.30) per bottle.

Water is very cheap, as is food.

Wines, Beers and Spirits cost about a quarter to half of their UK prices in supermarkets. A pint of beer in a bar is about 1.75-2 € (1.15- 1.30), a caña (half pint) is about 1.25 €. (85p)

Cigarettes are between 2.30 and 3.00 Euros (£1.50 and £2) per pack. Smoking is restricted here, and you cannot smoke in most public buildings, offices, shops, trains, busses etc. You can only smoke in bars and restaurants that have a notice in the door saying that smoking is permitted.

Most food in Spain is fresh rather than frozen or ready meals. The freezer sections in most supermarkets here are less than 10% of the store, a very different way of life to the UK. So you will eat better.

Trains and buses cost very little, a return train ticket from Sax to Alicante costs as little as 4 €, and the trains run on time and are clean!