Living and Working in Spain
Living in Spain is a dream for many people, especially for people currently living in the UK. The
weather is better than the UK, the Spanish cost of living is lower (in most areas), and the general atmosphere is much more relaxed.
Our articles about living in and moving to Spain are divided into two sections:
good general advice on moving to Spain and advice on
finding a job in Spain. All articles are written by expats already living in Spain. See also our articles on travel in Spain in the menu on the right.
- see the menus on the right.
Living in Spain is quite different from living in the UK. Traffic jams are shorter, bars open late, eating out
is cheap (in fact the cost of living in Spain is generally lower than in the UK) and people are generally more relaxed. It’s much more child-friendly here too: on an ordinary Saturday
night in most cities you’ll find everyone from young children to grandparents on the streets and in restaurants
having a good time. And of course there’s the great variety of countryside and wildlife. Fewer people living in
a bigger country means there is just so much more space for forests, olive groves and everything from lush green
countryside in the North to the breathtaking semi-deserts and mountains of the South. You’ll even see wild boar
if you’re lucky!
There are downsides to living in Spain too, though as many expats will tell you. The national telecommunications company (Telefonica) make BT look like the best
run outfit since Roman times. You can wait hours for service even in big stores and there is no point at all in
trying to tie a Spanish plumber down to a particular time or even day. On the coast you’ll also have to be wary
of fraudsters (especially British ones) but you should be able to avoid most with our guide.
Still want to live in Spain? Click on the links on the right for more information. Alternatively, we would recommend the
following further reading (in association with Amazon.co.uk)
Living and Working in Spain
An excellent all-round guide for those thinking of living in Spain for any amount of time. Although it is a little
pessimistic in places and makes some things sound more complicated than they actually are, it is by far the best guide we've read.
Buying a Home in Spain
A very useful guide to the pitfalls of buying a house in Spain. Forewarned is fore-armed!
You and the Law in Spain
While 'Living and Working in Spain' is a good introduction to the subject, this book really gets down to the nitty gritty, and is
indispensable for anyone who will have to deal with any official Spanish body, such as the tax office.
Spanish with Michel Thomas
An excellent introductory course in Spanish, especially for those who find learning languages difficult.
If you have any questions about living in Spain, then please have a look at our
Spain forums..
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