Tourists hoping to swap the UK for sunny Spain are being warned about a problem that is “making it difficult for everyone”. Expats living in Spain have shared their advice for anyone looking to move abroad.
Two people who moved to Valencia, Spain, warned others about common mistakes they shouldn’t make. The expats, who have lived in Spain for two years, said they loved many aspects of their life in the warmer climate.
But the rising cost of accommodation was proving difficult. Speaking on their Everything is Boffo YouTube channel, the couple said: “The rent is going up a lot due to the influx of people.
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“If you are looking for an apartment, I beg you not to post your quote. I know it may be cheap for some of you, but that doesn’t mean it’s cheap for everyone here, or for the locals.”
They described how it was “making it difficult for everyone to look for an apartment” as prices increase due to higher budgets. Expats said this could lead to people being overcharged, GB News reports.
But a “good rule of thumb” is 10 euros per square meter, they said. The couple added: “Anything double seems crazy to me. If you have an 80 square meter apartment, 800 euros would be a fair price.”
While it is becoming more expensive to live in Spain, expats said “the people are very nice” and more people speak English than when they first moved to the country. Expats also praised Valencia’s variety of dining options and great culture.
An expat in Greece also warned of the “biggest culture shock” in the country. He said that he loved his life in this Mediterranean spot, but stated that he would “never go back.”
She said: “One of the biggest culture shocks so far… even from the beginning was the lack of personal space that everyone gives here. For me it was crazy. I don’t know what it’s like in other places, but (at home) yes you’re close to someone, it’s just strange.
“You can’t be too close to someone or they’ll consider you a weirdo. If you get on the subway and there’s someone in the car, you have to go to the next car because if you sit in the same car, I have some strange reasons.”
