Job Discussion Forums

[almonkey66]

Hi all
I am planing to move to Valencia next summer to Teach and wanted to get in touch with people who live there and find out more about the cost of living, in or around valencia. My wife and I plus our son will be going, we all have eu passports. I wanted to know how much it would cost to rent a 1-2 bedroom apartament and how much I could expect to make teaching 25 hours a week and how much more time one should expect to contribute. I also would like to know how is the job market in Valencia in general, is it true that it is quite easy to afford a living there? I only stayed five days in Valencia and that was 3 years ago, but i truly fell in love with the city; I would greatly appreciate any information about living and working there, since I am planing to move my whole family there. Thanks in advance
Alex

[nakotigi]

Hi there Alex,
I would love to hear how it works out for you and your family. My husband and I are also planning to move to Valencia (sight unseen) in the next few years. We have two children and we are wondering about all of the same things that you are. I am curious if you have jobs waiting for you or do you plan to find something upon arrival.
Thanks for a reply. Laura

[Ernst]

Hello -- I just left Valencia, about 4 months back. Oh, do I miss it. I don't want to build it up too much, but I will always remember that city with great love.

To respond to your email -- August or September would be prime times to go.

My wife and I paid 440 Eu. a month for a furnished 2 bedroom (one bedroom was used as an "office") about 6 blocks off the beach of Malva Rosa. But don't let that get your hopes up -- it depends on your neighborhood, and I think we had an excessively good deal. I would expect to pay around 700 a month on average.

25 hours a week will get you about a 1000 per month. (Please understand that these are all estimates.) Private students pay more, but Academies are more effecient in getting the hours in.

How much extra time to spend? When you first start, you can expect to put in an hour planning for every two hours teaching, which will slowly sink down to about 20 minutes per hour or hour and a half classtime. You soon learn what you can get away with.

If it is conversation classes, and then you just need to know how to chat, be charming, and correct every mistake that falls out of their mouth without frustrating them. Keep track of the mistakes on a piece of paper, and review them the next class and periodically thereafter.

About expenses, it is getting more expensive all the time, but it still isn't that bad.

My wife and I spent about 220 a month on groceries, and ate rather well, Tons of pasta, good bread, great olive oil, lots of fresh vegetables. Meat is more expensive, but still not unreasonable. But our experience my not be everybody's as we do not have expensive tastes, didn't go out extremely often, and it is possible to get a very nice bottle of wine in Valencia for 3-5 Euros, or pay 100. Hit the markets, and the fruterias for fresh veggies and fruits for cheap.

Lots of expats hit The Lounge in Carmen district, so you can pick up advice (and the local publication for expats) there while you have a beer.

Lots of tourists and some other expats go around the corner to cafe lisboa, in the plaza behind the Lonja.

Same is true for Finnegans, in the Plaza de la Reina, but it is more expensive.

I always preferred a bar where the only expat patronage were the teachers from our school -- check it out. It is across the street from La Almudin, and carries the same name. A new cafe opend near it, but go to the old one on the left, sit at the bar under the TV and watch slow spanish afternoons swirl around you. God I miss it.

I am going to go have a good cry now.

Ernst

[jonniboy]

Hi okay it was Summer 2005 when I left but my friends who were there last year were getting between 1000 and 1100 a month for 25 hours p.w. Rent prices are rising but my friends lived on Avenida Del Puerto last year (until July) not far from the beach and paid 425 for the two of them for a flat. I'd say 425 would be a reasonable guesstimate for a half decent flat.

Generally I found Finnegans to be full of tourists just passing through with the ex-pats generally going to St Patricks or the Black Sheep pubs instead.

I'd also be interested in getting more up to date info as I haven't totally got Valencia out of my system as it's a great place to live.