Is life for Britons greener in continental favourite Spain?
MailOnline Travel speaks with three British expats who say yes, absolutely.
A mum reveals that she wanted her child to enjoy an outdoorsy lifestyle in sunny Sitges, a second-time expat couldn’t wait to move to Benicassim after a decade home in the UK and a business owner adores his cheaper lifestyle in Alicante.
What about the anti-tourism protests? The Spanish are actually more welcoming to Brits than ever in some places, it’s revealed.
Read on to discover if our expats can persuade you to up sticks…
Ian Ryder, 52, co-founder of Padel Tripper, moved to Alicante from Wendover, in Buckinghamshire, last year, having previously lived in Barcelona.
His company offers padel holidays to fans of the sport.
Why did you move to Spain?
For the way of life, weather and cost of living. Alicante is the sunniest city in Europe.
Ian Ryder moved to Alicante in 2023, which he says is ‘the sunniest city in Europe’. He moved to Spain for the weather and lower cost of living
Ian (pictured), 52, co-founder of Padel Tripper, says: ‘The weather is so good there is more to do that doesn’t involve spending’
How does Spain’s cost of living compare to the UK?
Not everything is cheaper, but because the weather is so good there is more to do that doesn’t involve spending. In the UK you are always going somewhere.
Has anything changed in Spain during your time living there?
There are way more digital nomads, which has pushed up rents quite a lot.
I lived in Lisbon for a while and they were one of the first to offer digital nomad visas. Locals were being completely priced out of the market.
I left partly because the cost of living there was so high. Someone earning a normal wage can’t compete with a digital nomad earning £50k or £60k and able to pay £1k rent a month. The typical salary here is much less.
What are the best and worst parts of living in Spain?
The best is the lifestyle, the worst is the bureaucracy. Getting anything done can be really frustrating.
Have attitudes changed towards expats due to the anti-tourism movement?
Not really in Alicante. I hear stories from other parts of Spain.
Are the British disliked at all?
Benidorm is near Alicante, so the Spanish here see the worst side of the British abroad. In general, it’s something most people laugh about here, but for those living in those areas it might be a different story.
Would you ever leave Spain?
No.
Kate Austin, 54, originally from Staffordshire, runs an online business selling vinyl flooring (zazous.co.uk). She has lived in Sitges (pronounced sit-juhz), near Barcelona, since 2014 with her husband and daughter, who was eight when they upped sticks from the UK.
Kate Austin has lived in Sitges (above), near Barcelona, since 2014. She says she loves the Spanish ‘lifestyle’ and notes that people are ‘very sociable’
Kate (above), 54, says she wanted her daughter to have an ‘outdoorsy childhood’
Why did you move to Spain?
Mostly to escape the dreadful weather but also to enjoy the lifestyle in Spain. It is very sociable and, because of the weather, our daughter could enjoy a more outdoorsy childhood.
How does Spain’s cost of living compare to the UK?
Where we are is quite expensive. Rents are high. Eating out was cheaper when we moved here, particularly the price of wine, but the cost of living has increased. It is still a little cheaper than the UK in general though.
Has anything changed in Spain during your time living there?
When we moved here it was still recovering from the credit crunch, or “la crisis” as they say here. Since the economy improved rents and property prices have increased. Also, when we first moved, most supermarkets still closed for siesta, but they are open all day now.
What are the best and worst parts of living in Spain?
Obviously the weather is the best! From September to June is lovely, though I find the summers too hot. But also the way that Spanish people live. They are very social and the towns are always buzzing in the early evenings with families, and older people, mingling happily in bars and restaurants.
Have the recent anti-tourism movements affected you at all?
I am aware that there was some trouble in Barcelona this summer. But, we rarely venture into the city during peak season because it is too hot and busy. Out of season it feels as friendly and calm as ever.
Where we live, it’s still welcoming to expats.
Are the British disliked at all?
I think in areas where the Brits come in large numbers and drink heavily, often being very rowdy and singing in the streets till the early hours, they have a bad reputation. Understandably. The Spanish simply don’t behave like this.
Would you ever leave Spain?
No, I love it here. I have known people leave for work reasons or because they want to be closer to their families. But most people I know are very happy living in Spain.
Mike Bailey, 60, from London, is a freelance content/copywriter based in Benicassim since 2023, while from 1999 to 2013 he lived in Madrid.
Mike Bailey moved to Benicassim (above) in 2023, but has previously lived in Madrid. He says: ‘I fell in love with Spain when I first went there for holidays in the late 80s and 90s’
Mike (pictured), 60, is a freelance content/copywriter. He ‘jumped at the chance’ to move back to Spain
Why did you move to Spain?
I fell in love with Spain when I first went there for holidays in the late 80s and 90s. I jumped at the chance to live there in 1999. I only came back to the UK in 2013 because I couldn’t find more work. I vowed to go back as soon as an opportunity presented itself – which is what happened in 2023.
How does Spain’s cost of living compare to the UK?
It’s cheaper. There are outliers in either direction, but I estimate that, on average, it’s 20 per cent cheaper to live in Spain compared to the UK. As a rule of thumb, based on current exchange rates, what costs one pound in the UK costs one euro here.
What are the best and worst parts of living in Spain?
The best parts are the people and culture, the approach to – and pace of – life, and, of course, the climate!
The worst? The bureaucracy is always a chore. And apart from football matches, starting or opening times can be fluid!
Have attitudes changed towards expats due to the anti-tourism movement?
The Spanish love to engage with all people. Being non-Spanish is a fascination. Their attitude to finding out about me, where I am from, why I am here, and so on hasn’t changed. As I develop friendships, I feel entirely accepted in my local community.
The Spanish have always welcomed me and other expats in the 15 years I have lived here. If anything, today, they are more welcoming than ever.
Are the British disliked at all?
In my view, any anti-tourist sentiment is a symptom of the cost of living issue that Spain (and other countries) have. It is a message to the Spanish government. It does not target any particular group of people.
Would you ever leave Spain?
I do not know anyone personally who is considering leaving Spain.
Interviews courtesy of Moving to Spain.
