'It's only getting worse!' Expat in Spain shares what to consider before moving

Expat Spain

An expat shared advice for those looking to move to Spain

GETTY/YOUTUBE/Spain Speaks
Sarra Gray

By Sarra Gray


Published: 26/01/2024

- 10:33

Updated: 26/01/2024

- 15:30

An expat who moved to Spain shared some of the challenges of living abroad

Spain is the most popular European country for British expats to move to.

It has great weather and beautiful beaches, but an expat explained those looking to move should consider the job market before making their decision.


The expat explained job security is not easy to come by in Spain.

He added: "[The job market] is no good. It doesn't seem to get better, it just seems to only get worse."

Are you an expat? Do you have a travel story you’d like to share? Contact our team by emailing lifestyle@gbnews.uk.

Spain beach

The job market could be a challenge

GETTY

He added "low salaries" are also "part of the deal in Spain".

The average salary in Spain is €29,994 (around £25,580) according to Expatica, which it notes is "lower than many other western European countries".

This is notably lower than the average UK salary, which Expatica puts at around £33,000.

While salaries are lower in Spain, the cost of living is not as high as the UK.

The expat highlighted another potential obstacle to moving to the country.

He said knowing Spanish is "fundamental" but living abroad can be challenging even for those who do know the language.

The expat added he can speak and understand Spanish well but the language is still a problem.

"Language is still a barrier because every now and then you're going to find people that... are not going to give you the time of day because you don't speak Spanish like them," he said on YouTube channel Spain Speaks.

Spain beach

The language barrier can be tough in Spain, the expat said

PA

"[They] just don't want to have anything to do with you because you're not a local."

There are lots of lovely areas in Europe for Britons to move to apart from Spain.

The best cities for expats have been shared with two European countries dominating the list.

The list largely consisted of areas in Switzerland and the Netherlands.

You may like