Living Abroad

See Do I need a long-stay visa?

If you wish to travel to an EU country for more than 90 days, you may need a long-stay visa and/or a residence permit. In some countries, you will need first a long-stay visa and then a residence permit once you arrive on the territory of the EU country.
You must submit your application for a long-stay visa/residence permit to the relevant authorities of the country where you want to go. To find out more about getting a long-stay visa/residence permit, select the country from the map below or use the search tool on the left hand-side of the page.

Sure, it is feasible. Just follow the rules or you become an illegal alien. The are other web site that would better address your question.

Why pay double? If you rent a house in Spain then travel you are paying double rent each night. We are a retired couple with little income in the middle of a five month trip in Europe (only 3 months in the Schengen countries). Three days here, a week there. It requires planning but it’s definitely feasible.

Less than where? I would guess that on average housing in Spain is cheaper than Norway. But the real differences are going to be between the individual country's locations. Cartagena will have cheaper options than Barcelona or Madrid and general cost of living is likely lower (Murcia is one of Spain's poorer communities). On the other hand, Barcelona has a major airport with regular flights to many parts of Britain or Europe. It's also got decent rail and road links. By contrast, people aren't entirely sure if Murcia has a working airport or where it is (a long story of bureaucratic incompetence), and you won't find any high speed trains here.

There is a place near Granada called Beneficio that has become something of a centre for American and other "non-resident residents", following it's fame from the Driving Over Lemons books.

Are the rents less in Spain?

Less than where? Rents are cheaper in some parts of Spain than in northern Europe, but in some places they are inflated due to retirees from Northern Europe.

And is this feasible on a retirees budget?

Depends what your budget is. You don't say where you come from, and I have no idea what a "retirees budget" is where you come from.

But, biggest problem, what is your nationality? If you are not an EU/EEA citizen, you will need a residents visa to stay in Spain (or anywhere else in the Schengen Area) for more than 90 days.

3lovetotravel has posed a great question for someone concerned about rents and budget. Why pay double? Your plan might make sense if you just want to focus on living in one specific area and take day trips and an occasional overnight or weekend here and there over 6 to 12 months, but it sounds like you are interested in going further.

And acquiring a long term rental can sometimes be a bit of an ordeal. So why not just identify a group of places you can base yourself out of and stay for shorter periods like 2 weeks or 1 month? Unless this is a large group of friends you are talking about sharing a house with don't necessarily have to plan and book every single place for the entire 6 to 12 months. I did a year around the world and aside from my very first stop, I just planned and booked lodging as I went.

Great idea to rent as we go. Thanks.