Danish expat on the Costa del Sol – open to questions about life here
Posted by MikaelHansen@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 7 comments
Hej from the Costa del Sol
I'm a Danish expat living down here with my wife and our little dog, while most of our kids and grandkids are back in Denmark. We made the move for the climate and a quieter pace of life, and along the way we've worked out the usual things: which area to settle in, how daily life actually works, and what genuinely feels different from back home.
I come across quite a few posts from people considering Spain or the Costa del Sol – whether they're seriously planning a move or just exploring the idea – and the same topics tend to come up: areas, cost of living, schools, healthcare and what the expat community is really like day to day.
If you're curious, feel free to ask about:
- Everyday life as a Nordic family by the coast
- Pros and cons of different towns (Mijas, Fuengirola, Marbella, etc.)
- Things that surprised us after moving
- What we miss from back home, and what we don't
No agenda, no sales pitch – just happy to share our experience if it helps someone who is a few steps behind us in the process.
ChetoChompipe@reddit
You are an immigrant not an expat.
The-American-Abroad@reddit
I always have the impression that coastal Spain is really touristy, but I haven’t spent much time there. Where would you recommend if I have basically no interest in beaches or traditional “sunny place” tourism but just want to be in a safe, family friendly place? Learning Spanish isn’t an issue, but it would also be good if the city is fairly cosmopolitan.
MikaelHansen@reddit (OP)
Don’t be afraid of the bigger cities on the coast. Like everywhere else, there are good places and not-so-good places. You will fall in love with Malaga—it is very cosmopolitan. From Malaga, you can also go to towns like Estepona, Nerja, or Almuñécar.
In summer, we have many tourists during the months of July and August. Malaga is lively all year round, but Almuñécar is very quiet after the two summer months.
I have traveled to many places in Europe, the US, the Far East, and the Middle East, but I have never felt unsafe here on the coast. Avoid Puerto Banús on the Costa del Sol after dark if you are flashing wealth.
bfffca@reddit
Were you fully fluent before moving?
How much are you saving compare to home?
Is it full of expats/retired like you?
Is there a problem of Spanish people being ''tired'' of all the expats moving there?
MikaelHansen@reddit (OP)
My Spanish is far from fluent, but it hasn't been a big problem day to day. My son moved to Malaga Centro about 12 years ago and picked it up quickly – if you move here at a younger age you really do pick up the language fast.
On costs: things here are roughly 2/3 of what you'd pay in Denmark, but that honestly wasn't the reason we moved. It's more about the lifestyle.
The Costa del Sol has changed a lot. It's not just retirees anymore – you have a real mix of people who've moved here for the lifestyle, remote workers, entrepreneurs and young families. I run my own business here so I'm definitely not retired yet!
As for the "Spanish people are tired of foreigners" narrative – I think that's largely driven by newspapers chasing clicks. The reality on the ground is quite different. The Costa del Sol's entire economy is built on tourism and international residents. Most locals understand that and appreciate it. You occasionally see the headlines, but day to day people here are welcoming and it's part of what makes the area work.
akie@reddit
How much did you save and/or how much are you spending per month? What about health care and other long term considerations?
MikaelHansen@reddit (OP)
The lifestyle here is genuinely different from northern Europe. Life revolves around being outside – the weather makes it easy – so you end up spending a lot of time at restaurants, cafes and bars. That said, it doesn't have to be expensive: a coffee is around €1.50, and eating out is still very reasonable compared to Denmark.
Cost of living on the Costa del Sol has gone up over the past few years, but overall it remains lower than back home, especially when it comes to rent and day-to-day spending.
On the financial side: if you're moving without a job contract and planning to set up your own business, I'd say you need savings to cover at least 6–12 months of running costs before you see any real income. Things take time to get going.
For healthcare: if you come from an EU country, you keep access to the public health system. If you're coming from outside the EU, or you want broader coverage, you'll need to take out a private health insurance policy – which is actually a requirement for certain visa types here anyway.