Living in Andorra is a beautiful experience, as the country is filled with endless activities and excellent views for you to see. This is actually the tip of the iceberg, as it is one of those countries that everyone needs to visit at least once in their lives.

If you are planning on relocating to this country, you must be wondering how life will be. First of all, this is a pretty safe country, and in fact, it has been classified as one of the safest countries worldwide. There are only two roads that can get you out of the country, which are both patrolled at the borders, and there is no airport.

It is so safe that people constantly leave their vehicles running all the time to run errands. So, let’s have a look at what to expect as an Expat living in Andorra.

Cost of Living

Living in Andorra is at par with most other Spanish cities like Madrid and Barcelona, especially on transportation, accommodation, utilities, and food. The cost of living here is 30% below what you are likely to expect in major cities of the world.

Here are some estimates on living expenses in Andorra;

-A two-bed and one-bath apartment in La Massana costs between €650 and €850 a month, with storage and a car park. This apartment is around 80 m².

-Andorra has the lowest gas prices in the whole of Europe; they charge €1.20/liter.

-Internet – the internet speed in Andorra is at 300 Mbps and costs €39/month.

-Utilities for a two-bed apartment costs €80/month.

-A standard meal costs between €8 and €15.

-Coffee costs about €1.20

-Membership for the gym, sauna, and pool costs approximately €40 per month.

-Bike park year-round membership or ski pass costs €180.

Taxes in Andorra

This is yet another benefit of living in Andorra. People do say that Andorra is a sort of Tax haven. Of course, this is not 100% true, but their tax laws are much better than other countries. Some highlights;

-For married couples that earn up to €40,000 before tax, they are charged a maximum of 10% on the income.

-Andorra does not have any sales tax, and its VAT is at 4.5%

-For entrepreneurs who would wish to start a company, the corporate tax rate is at 10%

-No gift tax.

-No wealth tax.

-No payment of inheritance tax.

-The Capital gains tax – between 0 and 15%

-Selling within the first year – 15%

-Selling in the second year – 13%

-Selling in the third year – 10%

-Selling in the fourth year – 9%

-There is a 1% decrease each year from four years and onwards, which means that the property is tax-free and capital gains after about 12 years.

The Internet

It is important to mention the internet in Andorra, and this is because it is super-fast and every home and office in Andorra has internet.

According to a previous update from Andorra Telecom, there were 5,000 offices and 30,000 homes in the country with upgraded modems as of 2018. The average internet speed is up to 285 Mbps.

Healthcare System

In Andorra, the Healthcare is pretty advanced, and the ratio of residents to physicians is 3.6:1,000, meaning that there are 3.6 doctors for every 1,000 residents.

They also have many different medical services offered locally, but the best part of this country is that it is integrated into neighboring countries such as Spain and France.

As per a 2017 publication by Lancet, Andorra is one of the best countries globally in terms of access and quality of Healthcare. It is ranked better than other countries such as Australia, Norway, and Switzerland. These are world-renowned for their progressiveness.

The Main Health Insurance – Caixa Andorrana De Seguretat Social – CASS covers most of the healthcare costs. Some of what this covers includes;

-90% of hospital visits

-100% of childbirth costs.

-75% of dental and medical appointments

The Andorrans wishing to travel to Spain, France, or Portugal must notify CASS of this intention, plus any unexpected medical costs that are likely to arise during their visit, so they can be covered.

Outdoor Activities to Enjoy While In Andorra

While in this country, here are some ideas for the weekends;

-Hiking – You can hike all over the country, and people regularly go on Lunch loops, where they get to see some amazing views that mostly cost thousands in other countries.

-Skiing – in Andorra, there are several ski companies and lots of bike parks.

-If you love road cycling, you will find the perfect places to train in Andorra, and many pro-cyclists live here.

-There is a company called - Festa Majors, which brings parties to each village all over the country.

-Booze is duty-free, which means that prices are pretty low.

-There are always events in this country, which should keep you pretty entertained and busy.

-Almost all the houses in the entire country feature amazing views.

-This is one of the healthiest countries in the world.

-If you wish to visit a big city like Barcelona, a bus charges only EUR15.

-There is a wide mix of technology, old villages, and the countryside, plus if you decide to take a walk, you will see horses grazing, tobacco fields, modern apartments, old town buildings, fiat pandas, tractors, amazing cars, free Wi-Fi, among other interesting things.

The Andorran People

The kind of people you will meet here are from all walks of life, but of course, there are the “Andorran Locals,” who have families and have lived here for centuries.

These people emigrated from Spain, France, and Portugal, and a few may have come from Great Britain. Currently, most of the expats are from America, Eastern Europe, and the Philippines.

Some came to work for higher salaries, and some were just perpetual travelers enjoying the country. They spend their time hiking, skiing, cycling, and learning new ways of living.

Some people are super rich with lots of money, while others are happy to just own what they have in their backpacks and spend their summers enjoying the country.

The good news is that they are super friendly, and everyone always has a funny story for you.

A Few Things Might Make You Feel Disconnected 

You may feel like this country is a little behind for someone accustomed to the big cities and a big way of life where Amazon delivers everything. 

Some online retailers do not even include Andorra in their list of countries they will ship products to.

There is, of course, always a way around any of these hassles. For example, you could get your parcels sent to a shop on the border at La Seu d’Urgell, and it is always wise to learn about these small annoyances before settling here.

If you have it on your mind, learn all about getting residency in Andorra as well as don't hesitate to contact our experts! 

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