One Year in Madrid: Lower Costs, Better Health, No Stress

Jeffrey Clawson One Year in Madrid
Jeffrey Clawson found better health, community, and peace of mind in Madrid.|©iStock/fotoVoyager

One year after moving to Madrid, Spain, Jeffrey Clawson says he feels healthier, happier, and more energized than ever. “I’ve definitely noticed an improvement in my overall well-being and physical health,” he says.

Since leaving Los Angeles in March 2024, Jeffrey has lowered his blood pressure, embraced a Mediterranean lifestyle, and made fitness a daily habit—all in one of Europe’s most livable cities.

A Healthier Life Abroad

Before life in Spain, Jeffrey struggled to manage his blood pressure. Now? “Each morning it’s a celebration when I take my blood pressure and see numbers below 120/80.”

He credits the Mediterranean diet and a new commitment to exercise. “I found the perfect personal trainer for me. Javi is a great motivator, and his personalized help keeps me coming back. I also take his Zumba classes—so four days a week I’m either lifting weights or doing cardio.”

Jeffrey works out with his trainer Javi four days a week in Madrid.
Jeffrey works out with his trainer Javi four days a week in Madrid.

For him, the secret to eating a healthier diet is shopping at his neighborhood mercado instead of a supermarket. “When you enter a mercado, you are stepping into an entirely different experience, and when you get home, you end up eating healthier. At my neighborhood mercado, the vendors are personable. They recognize me and look so happy to see me. They ask how I have been, and if they haven’t seen me for a while, they always look concerned and ask if I have been alright. Then there’s the excellent quality of food that you can always taste.”

When Jeffrey eats at home, he piles his plate with vegetables and a small portion of grilled meat or fish. “I always eat fruit for dessert. I’m still in disbelief that I no longer crave cakes and ice cream. I simply don’t eat them. I am proud of my recovery as a sweet junkie. That’s easy to accomplish when you live and eat in Spain.” When he eats out, he often takes advantage of Spain’s Menu del Dia, a fixed-price midday meal including a glass of wine for €15/$17.56 or less.

Jeffrey’s two-bedroom, two-bath apartment, which he rents for €1,576/$1,845, is near several parks. “My favorite is Parque Madrid Río. On each side of the river are microhabitats. There are several compact pine forests, grassy areas, and many kinds of trees. Tiny islands for water birds fill the riverbed. The air is clean, and the scene invigorates me during my morning walks.”

Fresh produce and friendly faces at Jeffrey’s neighborhood mercado.
Fresh produce and friendly faces at Jeffrey’s neighborhood mercado.

Living Well in the Spanish Capital

One thing Jeffrey does not miss is having a car. “I love taking public transportation in Madrid. It’s clean, affordable, and frequent. People on buses and the metro are polite, and it’s normal to see a young person offer their seat to someone older. Not only does public transportation take me quickly where I am going, but I also enjoy seeing nice, happy people of all ages. On the metro, because it’s allowed, I occasionally see a nice, happy, polite person with an adorable, nice, happy, polite dog.”

In the evenings, Jeffrey enjoys visiting Madrid’s historic bars. His favorite is La Venencia, which only serves sherry from Jerez. “It’s been there for more than 100 years, and I tell the truth, nothing has changed but the bartenders and customers in more than a century. Each customer’s tab is written in chalk on the bar, and somehow the bartenders always remember which tab goes with each customer. After you pay, the bartender erases the chalk. If you do go, DON’T TAKE A PICTURE! That rule is strictly enforced. Quite a few tourists have left in embarrassment.”

Jeffrey’s retirement/non-lucrative visa requires him to carry private Spanish health insurance with no deductibles or co-pays. “I just renewed it for €2,300/$2,693 for a year. Several times I have seen a doctor nearby, and my longest wait has been five minutes. The doctor is kind and competent, and I love getting in and out fast. That last part never happened in the US.”

Embracing Culture, Community, and Travel

Everyday life in Madrid blends historic charm, green spaces, and a welcoming local vibe.
Everyday life in Madrid blends historic charm, green spaces, and a welcoming local vibe.|©iStock/saiko3p

As a gay Christian and an Episcopal priest, Jeffrey makes spiritual life a high priority. In Madrid, he discovered more than one group that meets to explore spirituality for LGBTQ+ people. “I have found a great community called CRISMHOM. It’s all in Spanish, but they make room for everyone, including English speakers who don’t yet speak Spanish.”

Life in Spain also has its challenges. Jeffrey offers this advice to potential expats: “It is best to accept at the start that the Spanish government bureaucracy moves slowly. If you don’t accept this, you get frustrated, sometimes angry, and other times you may fantasize about finding a different country to live in. I wish I could apply my own advice, but I am getting better at it.” He adds, “Whether it’s renewing your residency permit or deciphering Spanish taxes to pay them on time, start early and do everything step by step without a rush. Although it’s not required, I highly recommend using an attorney. As an American, I am always surprised by how affordable they are in Spain.”

Madrid is a central hub for transportation throughout Europe. Jeffrey says, “You can catch a train or hop on a plane to be in another lovely city in Spain or land in another fascinating country in two or three hours. In Spain, I have been wowed by Flamenco performances in Sevilla, the grandeur of the Alhambra in Granada, and the awe-inspiring church of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. I flew to Venice with friends, and we finally got to take a gondola ride that we had waited for since we were children. It’s all so close by that it’s no big deal.”

Jeffrey also traveled back to the US during his first year in Spain. As much as he enjoyed seeing his friends, he doesn’t plan to go again in the near future. “I am so shocked and disillusioned by the political situation in the US. Friends are asking me when I will return. I don’t know. It’s sad, but I feel safer in Spain than I do in my own country.” However, he does have another adventure in mind. He has begun searching for an investment property to buy in Spain. Now, he faces new challenges: “There are so many options!”

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