Is life for Brits greener in continental favourite Spain?
MailOnline Travel speaks to three British expats who say yes, absolutely.
A mother reveals she wanted her child to enjoy an outdoor lifestyle in sunny Sitges, a second-time expat couldn’t wait to move to Benicassim after a decade at home in the UK and is a business owner love its cheaper lifestyle in Alicante.
What about the anti-tourism protests? The Spanish are actually in some places more welcoming to Brits than ever, it has been revealed.
Read on to discover if our expats can persuade you to up sticks…
Ian Ryder, 52, co-founder of Padel Trippermoved to Alicante last year from Wendover, in Buckinghamshire, after previously living in Barcelona.
His company offers padel holidays to fans of the sport.
Why did you move to Spain?
For the way of life, again 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’s 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 there?
There are a lot more digital nomads, which has pushed rents up quite a bit.
I lived in Lisbon for a while and they were one of the first to offer digital nomad visas. Local residents were priced out of the market entirely.
I left partly because the cost of living there was so high. Someone earning a normal wage cannot compete with a digital nomad who earns £50k or £60k and can 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 very frustrating.
Have attitudes towards expats changed as a result of the anti-tourism movement?
Not really in Alicante. I hear stories from other parts of Spain.
Were the British hated at all?
Benidorm is close to Alicante, so the Spanish here see the worst side of the British abroad. Generally, this is something that most people here laugh at, but for those who live in those areas, it may be a different story.
Will 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 uprooted 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 ‘outdoor childhood’
Why did you move to Spain?
Mostly to escape the awful weather, but also to enjoy the lifestyle in Spain. It is very cozy and because of the weather our daughter can enjoy a more outdoor childhood.
How does Spain’s cost of living compare to the UK?
Where we are is quite expensive. Rent is high. Eating out was cheaper when we moved here, especially the price of wine, but the cost of living has gone up. However, it is still a bit cheaper than the UK in general.
Has anything changed in Spain during your time there?
When we moved here, it was still recovering from the credit crunch, or “la crisis” as they say here. Since the economy has improved, rents and property prices have risen. Also, when we first moved, most supermarkets were still closed for siesta, but now they are open all day.
What are the best and worst parts of living in Spain?
Of course the weather is the best! From September to June is lovely, even if I find the summers too hot. But also the way Spanish people live. They are very social and the towns are always buzzing in the early evenings with families, and older people, happily mingling in bars and restaurants.
Have the recent anti-tourism movements affected you at all?
I am aware that there has been trouble in Barcelona this summer. But, we rarely venture into the city during the peak season because it is too hot and busy. Out of season it feels as friendly and calm as ever.
Where we live, it is still welcoming to expats.
Were the British hated at all?
I think in areas where the British come in large numbers and drink a lot, are often very rowdy and sing in the streets until the early hours of the morning, they have a bad reputation. Understandable. The Spanish simply don’t act like that.
Will 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, having lived in Madrid from 1999 to 2013.
Mike Bailey moved to Benicassim (above) in 2023 but 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 ‘seized 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 could no longer find work. I promised 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 is cheaper. There are outliers in either direction, but I estimate that on average it is 20 percent 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, kick-off or opening times can be fluid!
Have attitudes towards expats changed as a result of the anti-tourism movement?
The Spanish love to interact with all people. Being non-Hispanic is a fascination. Their attitude to finding out about me, where I’m from, why I’m here, and so on, hasn’t changed. As I develop friendships, I feel completely 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 hated at all?
In my opinion, any anti-tourist sentiment is a symptom of the cost of living issue that Spain (and other countries) have. This is a message to the Spanish government. It does not target any particular group of people.
Will you ever leave Spain?
I don’t know anyone personally who is considering leaving Spain.
Interviews courtesy of Moved to Spain.
