huidu - 14 July 2009 04:38 AM

oh, my god, I am struggling to decide if I should move to BCN.

My salary would be 29000Euro before tax, I would like to rent a small apartment with one bedroom.
Small is fine. Just need to be convenient for basic shopping.
Also, it need to be safe. I don’t know any Spanish and have no idea how hard it would be to live BCN

Can anyone give me some suggestions?

Thanks a lot!

This happens a lot.

I took a job in Spain, the company confirmed the average wage would be 35,000 Euro`s a year.

Great was my reply.

Found out though that in Spain its standard to work out wage average over 14 months, don`t understand why, well i do, but its not fair.

Also within a month, my first wage slip was obvious I wasn`t getting that amount, it was a job based on performance as well as a basic salary.

So off i go and ask colleugues and show them my letter stating the average medium of the workers is 35,000 a year.

It took around 30 minutes for them to stop laughing, the local jefe showed me the average bonus and wage in that office was 18,000 and that the area Jefe didn`t earn 35,000 a year.

The company was a large International company working in 35 countries around the world.

Not good when you moved based on that info.

HR dept basically stated that the 35,000 was a resonable amount based on company performance figures and if i wanted to sue, here is the address of our lawyers, good bye.

So my solution was to work the year with them, steel a lot of clients and set up on my own business with a lot of borrowed equipment 😉 from them and basically got fired after they lost a lot of business.

Hi

Just done some figures…

On the Outskirts of Barcelona 2 bedroom Apartment Fully Furnished Range from ?550 to ?3500 per month Decent apartment is around ?650 on wards… this excludes Water gas, elec etc… all in all your looking around ?1100 per month to live etc,...

Central Barca.. Apartments cost around ?850 (1 bed cant swing a cat around space of a flat) Decent Apartment 2 bedroom ?1500 Per month Bills all depends as some apartments landlords want you to pay comunity costs etc… Some rents include Bills…

This is the thing with moving to spain.. The Start up costs etc always the most expensive until you find your feet and settle down…

These figures were just quick I am sure with a little more searching you may find a deal… With estate agents now… there is no 1 month fee (Estate Agent) 1 month deposit 1 month rent

Rules changed too 2 months deposit 1 month rent go figure?

I live in Salou and drove 50 mins in and out of barca everyday… It was cheaper… You get more for your money if you can travel…
Just remember Transport… Is good in Catalonia however for the outskirts its very difficult…

😖

Just remember that employers sell a good deal to immigrants knowing there likely to stay since you`ve moved countries.

My old Jefe constantly stated that certain country folk arive to Spain hungry, meaning they`ll work hard no matter what the conditions forced on them.

As a guiri you will face challenges not found in your own country, there are a lot of Spanish employers abusing an unregulated system and many crap onto there workers, even Spaniards.

In the year I was with that company they went through 18 people, some sacked for not workin hard, others walked out.

And that was pre crisis.

I live in U.S. right now.  I am mentally ready for the step down about the life quality.
The employer said the tax would be around 15 percent and 6.x% for the health issue.
Basically, more than one fifty of my salary would be taken away.

Not sure whether the tax rate would be very different with different salary. 
I was excited when I got the offer, but now I am kind of frustrated after I heard so much about the sky-high cost living in BCN.

Really want to know if it would be a correct step in my life to move to BCN

huidu

I think either you or your boss is talking aload of BS…

As 15% tax Does not exisit unless your earning monkey nuts of a salary…

The tax that be deducted from your salary (Spanish) will be around 25/30 % I think it be more 30% as you gone over 25k a year…

You could be awarded the 25% Tax break allowance as your not a Spanish citizen as your considered an outsider but being awarded this means you lose out on pension etc (I think)...

Regards Mac

Mac,

Thank you so much.  30percent of tax is way too much.
Based on what I have learned here, staying in U.S is a better choice.
Thanks again for your information
Have a good evening,

Huidu

What you learn here is reality and not BS..

I just did a Spanish Tax Calculator and indeed you will be paying 30% the option is you can take the 25% Ruling you just cannot apply to government for Paro which is State Benefit.

US Tax Is still the highest to Europe. “As Per Forbes Magazine”

Mac

Ummm .. I live in the US, make a modest salary,  and I pay 25 percent federal income tax, 6.2 percent for social security,  1.45 percent for medicaid. Then I pay about another few percent points to the state I live in.

So, not sure what’s so much better about that.

And don’t forget, we’ve got sales tax, sin tax, property tax, toll roads, etc. etc. 

I can’t imagine Spain is that much worse..

Maybe this is a socialist thing to say; but I kind of think countries with higher taxes tend to be the nicer ones to live in…

I think you should learn more about Barcelona. Only you can decide whether it’s right for you. “Quality of life” isn’t just about how much surplus money you’re able to stash away, or how big of an apartment you can afford to buy.  At least, not to me. I live in one of the lowest cost of living locations in the U.S., and can tell you that there’s a REASON it’s so cheap. It’s because nobody wants to live here.  So, there’s a trade off. But for me, I’m willing give up some luxuries I have here in order to live simply in Spain. To me, I feel it would be a step up in terms of quality of life, being somewhere new and experiencing a different and lively culture.

Of course, if it’s not feasible it’s not feasible! But I think you could make it work if it’s something you decided you really wanted to do… sounds like you’re not that excited about coming to Barcelona, though, anyway.

A major point lots of Expats miss or choose to ignore is.

What happens if I don`t make it ?

Getting to a new country, being happy and successful is a huge risk, yes you may have holidayed in the place, loved it.

But what have you researched about goin back, do you gain assistance on your return etc etc.

It can be a huge problem when returning back, expensive as well.

It can be hard enough for EU residence moving around the EU, but for a person coming half way around the world, thats huge.

I would advise all potential expats to research not only moving to Spain, but what implications being away from your original country a few years would impact on your return.

Its easy to get a flight back, but moving home, work etc can be a huge surprise if you were not prepared before.

Santi,

That is also a issue I am worrying about.
I don’t think I would want to stay in Spain for the rest of my life. Finally, I need to settle down in some place where I can have a successfully career and good friends without any language barrier. 
Actually, I am not originally from U.S.
I still want to leave the door open for coming back to U.S.
Tough choice for me

I have another question.

Is the 25% tax ruling only for the first year?  If I apply that, Can I get the heal benefits?

Thanks

25% Tax Ruling lasts for 10years… However you wave the right to your spanish pension “APPARENTLY”
However your Health Contri will remain and you will get state Health Care…

In Holland I took the 30% rulling and got screwed! I can not claim anything !

... So check and double check what you lose if you claim the Tax Ruling…

The Tax ruling does run for 10 years and you can move it to job to job…

Mac

Mac,

If I only took the 25% ruling just once or only a few years, that would mean I lose the right to claim Spanish pension permanently?

How about moving to other EU countries after a few years?  This 25% tax ruling I take would the pension I would get in other EU countries?

Thanks!

Huidu

The Tax ruling is only applied in the country you in and no it does not affect you when you move..

Like I said… “Apparently” the 25% ruling in Spain does affect your Spanish Pension meaning you do not get one… Do not quote me on it… its what said in every other website but not gospel truth no doubt…

Tax Rulings are different to every country in the world all depends on there rules and regs…

I claimed my tax ruling in Holland and now I am claiming my tax ruling in Spain..

However once you claim the ruling once thats when the clock starts ticking to your expiry of the ruling it does not stop because you stopped working!

You dont work for HCL by any chance?

As For some reason I have the feeling you do…