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Is Spain now much cheaper than UK?

(72 Posts)
Glorianny Wed 18-Oct-23 09:41:41

I'm just back from a holiday in Spain and thought that most things were cheaper than here. Coffee in a rural cafe for 2 Euros, Beer in a central. Seville posh bar for 4.50 Euros. Supermarkets seemed cheaper too. So is it anything to do with that dreaded word Brexit?

M0nica Sun 19-Nov-23 17:18:33

Here is a link to an EU site giving comparative costs of living in EU countries, although, obviously not the UK.
ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Comparative_price_levels_of_consumer_goods_and_services

Spain is cheaper than France
Here is another useful comparison site www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/

Primrose53 Sun 19-Nov-23 17:33:53

We go to Spain often and I don’t think there is much difference TBH.

It’s swings and roundabouts. Beer and wine is cheap but some food items are more expensive.

My friend moved to Spain and the first year they moved out they were freezing in the winter. Tiled floors and no carpets so they had to try and buy a gas heater but everywhere was sold out. They drove hundreds of miles in the end.

NotSpaghetti Sun 19-Nov-23 17:52:47

I haven't been this year but noticed that California was much more expensive than the UK for (our) ordinary groceries it seemed to me.

We eat a lot of "wholefoods", fresh fruit and veg, pulses and nuts and only organic dairy - their organic prices were eyewateringly expensive
- unbelievable!

Of course wages are higher there if you are a "professional" - obviously not significantly if you are on the $15.50 minimum wage..

Given that California has high minimum wages for the USA don't know how some people manage..

NotSpaghetti Sun 19-Nov-23 17:53:51

And then health care costs too...

Fleurpepper Sun 19-Nov-23 17:54:16

Depends which part of Spain too. And which currency you use to visit Spain. If you have a strong currency, it is much cheaper- if you use Sterling, not so much.

Iam64 Sun 19-Nov-23 18:12:40

Better weather, food less expensive and good quality , less heating costs - I’ve grown to love Spain (alsmost as much as Greece )

NotSpaghetti Sun 19-Nov-23 18:15:01

Sorry, was sidetracked by prices in Germany, Portugal, France etc!

Didn't mean to hijack the thread with America. Sorry.

Casdon Sun 19-Nov-23 18:15:50

www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_countries_result.jsp?country1=Spain&country2=United+Kingdom
This is a contributor based website, which is used Europe wide. It certainly indicates that living in Spain is considerably cheaper than living in the UK for UK nationals.

Fleurpepper Sun 19-Nov-23 18:22:56

NotSpaghetti

And then health care costs too...

The OP is clearly about holidays in Spain, not living there.

NotSpaghetti Sun 19-Nov-23 18:28:23

As I said, Fleurpepper, I'd been distracted.

Sorry again.

Callistemon21 Sun 19-Nov-23 18:30:19

Iam64

Better weather, food less expensive and good quality , less heating costs - I’ve grown to love Spain (alsmost as much as Greece )

Shall we all move there en masse?

We could buy a Gransnet Olive Farm collective

Fleurpepper Sun 19-Nov-23 18:35:42

NotSpaghetti

As I said, Fleurpepper, I'd been distracted.

Sorry again.

no worries at all

Iam64 Sun 19-Nov-23 18:48:33

Let’s do it Callistemon

MayBee70 Sun 19-Nov-23 18:49:23

I know I’m going off at a tangent here but I really struggle with the way the people inSpain treat their hunting dogs; at the end of the hunting season they just discard them, often in the cruellest of ways, shooting them or throwing them out of cars.

Callistemon21 Sun 19-Nov-23 18:52:30

😲

Iam64 Mon 20-Nov-23 08:18:54

Oh no MayBee70 - you’ve reminded me of my mother. One of their first holidays abroad was to Spain. As part of the tour they were taken to a bullfight. She refused to stay in the audience, or ever to return to Spain. ‘They’re cruel to animals, that tells you so much about them” - no budging mum once her mind was made up. She loved Italy and Greece and travelled internationally later in life.

Fleurpepper Mon 20-Nov-23 09:11:05

MayBee- so so many countries unfortunately. Italy and Greece are not much better.

I have 2 friends who live in Djerba- as they love the sun and it is cheap. But they are constantly witnessing terrible cruelty to animals- all animals, and spend all their time rescuing, treating and trying to re-home 'back home' (like our Princesse Yata). The current one was shot with another group outside a local Hôtel- shooting ordered by said Hôtel. She survived, with a bullet in the back and one in a foot. Rescued and being treated and vaccinated, etc, for long term rescue. I couldn't live in a country where I am confronted with such cruelty.

Apologies - I responded to MayBee- not the subject of the thread.

glammanana Mon 20-Nov-23 10:21:15

Greciangirl

Benidorm is very cheap.
We have friends just returned from there.
On a daily basis they reported just about everything they ate and drank because we were interested to know.

We just couldn’t believe how much cheaper everything was compared to UK.

Definitely going there next year for a holiday.

They rented an air b&b apartment for a month but ate out a lot.

You will find The Old Town of Benidorm so much cheaper than the tourist area Coffee & Brandy with pastry for 3 euros and menu del dia from 9-12 euros.
Get your fresh veg twice a week from the farmers markets all so much cheaper & fresher than the Supermarkets,you will improve your Spanish vocabulary at the markets at the same time

Joseann Thu 21-Dec-23 08:46:00

I've no idea about Spain, but I've just helped an ailing French economy. grin M Macron will be grateful to me. A whopping bill in a French supermarché, definitely dearer than in UK.
And that's without all the smoked salmon, speciality cheeses, wines, cakes and hams from individual shops.
A cauliflower was €3,99. Carrottes de sable were expensive too, (but I couldn't resist).
Clothes were also dearer.
But parking was very cheap in comparison. Phew!

Joseann Thu 21-Dec-23 08:48:44

Actually Fleurpepper it's just occurred to me that I've boosted the Swiss economy too with all the Lindt chocolate I bought, so you'll be fine!

Joseann Thu 21-Dec-23 08:51:29

* carottes