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Spain or Portugal: where is the best place to buy a home?

Similar in many ways, Spain and Portugal both offer expats the chance of an idyllic life in the sun

Choosing to move away from the homeland is a huge decision for every expat, one that’s made all the more difficult by the number of appealing options. For years, neighbours Spain and Portugal have shared a fierce rivalry as the top destinations to relocate to, but which country takes the prize as the best place to buy a home?

Both Portugal and Spain have many excellent qualities in common: they are both laid-back, family-focused nations with rich cultures, year-round fabulous weather and a range of properties to suit all tastes and budgets. But there are also some striking differences, from obvious things like the language and history, even down to the types of food they like to eat.

Choosing the right property to purchase is never easy but the experts at Girasol Homes, with a vast number of properties across Portugal and Spain, can help take the stress out of relocating. But first, it’s time to decide which Iberian paradise is right for you. Here, we’ll take a look at some of the most important factors to consider.

Property prices

Homes in Spain and Portugal are excellent value for money compared to in the UK, and both countries offer every style, shape and size of property imaginable, from rural mountain retreats to stunning sea-side villas. From the foreign buyer’s perspective, Portuguese property is surprisingly good value, although a home on the well-loved Algarve will set you back around 1,562 euros per square metre.

While property in Spain tends to be a little more expensive, it’s still way below the 2,649/m2 price tag of the UK. One of the main plus points is that it’s much larger than Portugal geographically, so there’s far more choice for the foreign buyer. Spain is also home to several big cities while Portugal only has Lisbon and Porto, which tend to be pricey.

Work and play

For expats hoping to find work when they move abroad, it’s worth noting that Spain’s labour market is much stronger than Portugal’s. Both the minimum wage and the average monthly salary in Spain are far higher, while the job market in Portugal is notoriously competitive.

On the other hand, Portugal exempts foreigners from paying taxes for the first 10 years of residence, while the charges in Spain, particularly for the self-employed, are notoriously high.

Since they’re part of the Schengen zone, both nations require third country expats to jump through a fair few hoops, but Spain has recently introduced its Digital Nomad visa which gives UK citizens another great option.

Once you open that first pay packet, you’ll be delighted to see that money goes a lot further on the Iberian Peninsula than most other places, and the cost of living in Spain and Portugal is still very low. Food, clothing, public transport and education are all really cheap in Spanish locations like Alicante and the cost of living is estimated to be 44% lower than in the US.

And although employees earn less, Portugal is more expensive than Spain in many fundamental areas including electricity and petrol.

Climate

Since they’re both situated in the southwest of Europe, Spain and Portugal experience similar Mediterranean climates. However, due to its sheer size, Spain has more diverse weather: the north tends to be rather wet and considerably cooler while the south of the country in places such as the Costa del Sol, Granada and Huelva provinces all enjoy baking hot summers and damp winters.

Portugal is generally warmer than Spain, with much of the country easily hitting 40°C in high season. Here again the north is a little cooler, frequently dropping to 5°C in winter.

It may seem at the outset that Spain and Portugal are very similar nations but the deeper you dig, the more you’ll realise that they both have something unique to offer. It’s really worth taking the time to get to know both countries before choosing where to relocate to and ultimately, the life-changing decision will come down to one factor: which of the two you fall in love with.

Contact Girasol Homes today to see how they can help you find your new property in the sun

Images: Girasol Homes

Tel: UK Head Office 00 44 1974 299 055 / Spain Office 00 34 965 321 346

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Girasol Homes specialist property finders in Spain and Portugal

Girasol Homes are Specialist Property Finders in Spain and Portugal, serving clients globally to help them find their dream home in the sun.

Established in 2007, Girasol Homes have won awards for their property-finding expertise in Spain and Portugal.

In their own words, their mission is “to provide you the very best service and to achieve your dream of buying your ideal property in Spain or Portugal – safely, quickly, for the best price and with clarity.”

With a huge list of properties available to buy or rent, Girasol Homes are the first choice for many people searching for property in the Mediterranean.

Girasol Homes specialise in finding the best new build offers in Alicante, Granada and Huelva, where they have excellent staff, but they can also help you get the best property for you in the best locations around Spain and Portugal.

They also have area associates and partners in Huelva province, the Costa del Sol region of Spain and also property for sale in La Romana, an exclusive inland region of Spain.

If you need help finding a property, you can contact them now or use their FREE property finder service today.