Why retire to Almería in Spain?
Do you dream of moving somewhere with a slower pace of life, 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and a three-bedroom house for less than £150k?
Maybe consider the Spanish region of Almería, where there are wild volcanic landscapes, mild winters, whitewashed villages, and fabulous beaches – some of the best in Spain on the Costa Tropical.
The average property price in Almería province is around £157,000 (€180,000), but many property hunters look there because they have less than that – often around £100k.
How much does property cost in Almería?
Vanessa and Peter from the Wirral had never been to the area when they applied to A Place in the Sun, but they knew they were ready for a Spanish retirement. Says Vanessa:
“I had had enough of working. It was always my dream to have a home in Spain, but Peter was more dubious about it working.”
It is lucky that any fears Peter had have been unfounded, and the couple are now “so happy” living in Albox, Spain.
They purchased the four-bedroom house near Cantoria that needed work for £165,000 – property five on the TV show that aired in early 2026.
They bought the home in May 2023, but you can find four-bedroom homes there now for just over £100k.
What extra costs should you expect when buying in Spain?
They say they found it really useful to write down – separately – what they wanted from the property they were looking for. “That made us discuss whether we were both expecting the same thing,” says Peter.
After having done their research – with a Buying Guide to Spain – they knew to expect the 10% purchase costs on top of the sales price, says Peter.
How easy is it to get a Non-Lucrative Visa for Spain?
So how easy was the move?
“We started the process of applying for a Non-Lucrative Visa as soon as we bought the property. We knew the requirements – do your research – and got help with the application [through the company My Lawyer in Spain]. I would recommend paying for expert help. The process is long and there are loopholes to avoid.”
He says it was not too stressful, but don’t think you can do it in a hurry. “It took us six weeks to apply for a recent copy of our marriage certificate – one of the documents they ask for.”
What practical things do you need to know when moving to Spain?
But they were successful, and Peter has learnt a couple of useful things to share about navigating life in Spain. “When you get your TIE card [the residence permit you get after the visa stamp] you need to take it everywhere as it’s needed to buy things like furniture or use the recycling centre.
“Also, when we got the kitchen refurbished, I learnt from the builder that I had to first get a builder’s licence from the town hall to say what work you are doing.”
What is the cost of living like in rural Almería?
They love their beautiful and “very Spanish” village of Cantoria, which they visit for coffee when not doing home improvements or walking their dog Albert, who has ‘settled well’.
“Cost of living is much lower than the UK. Bills are lower, we pay €3 for a bottle of wine in the supermarket. We are trying to learn Spanish as a little goes a long way at the town hall or in restaurants.”
It’s a very rural area with no public transport, so it’s pretty crucial that they both drive, but they joined a walking group, made friends and “take one day at a time”, which was just what they had in mind for a Spanish retirement.
Considering Almería?
With affordable property, year-round sunshine and authentic Spanish village life, Almería could be the perfect place to start your next chapter.
🔍 Search for properties in Almería
📘 Download our free Spain Buying Guide
📺 Join us in Manchester for A Place in the Sun Live this weekend
