Barcelona has a lot to offer. In fact, it may be one of the best places to live in Spain as an expat (if not the best). And there is no doubt about it. Nevertheless, there may be several downsides you should consider before choosing it as your new residence.
And that is why we created this article. We wanted to highlight everything that makes Barcelona a wonderful city… But without losing sight of what you may not like that much.
Let’s then review the main pros and cons of living in Barcelona:
For those who are still debating between Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia or any other capital in the Spanish territory…
We hope that the following arguments convince you once for all that Barcelona is the best city to live in.
Why did we put it on the 1st place inside our top 10 best things about Spain?
You are about to discover it now:
Beach + Mountain: A Varied Landscape
Barcelona has everything.
You can be laying down at Barceloneta’s beach right now, get a bus and be able to see the whole city from the mountain in just 40 minutes.
And that is because Barcelona has a perfect location.
It’s the perfect city for both beach lovers and mountain lovers. You don’t have to even choose!
That is because Barcelona is located in the Mediterranean Sea, and also surrounded by mountains.
This creates outdoor activities opportunities for the whole year: you can go kayaking or sailing during the hot summer months, or you can go hiking during winter.
And not only that.
You will find plenty of weekend excursions. There are thousands of biking and hiking routes you can start in the surroundings of the metropolitan area of Barcelona, liking going to Montserrat (an amazing mountain).
There is one thing for sure: you won’t spend any weekend bored at home.
Perfect location and its surroundings
Related to the prior section, there is another upside Barcelona offers, and it has to do with its perfect location.
Because even though the wonders of the city conform a long list, perhaps at some point you would also want to explore and change your setting.
If that is the case, you will also be in the perfect spot.
Because just 1 hour -1 hour and a half in both North and South directions you will be able to reach amazing towns and cities.
You can enjoy the Catalan coastline by doing one-day excursions to the amazing towns of Costa Brava.
Or you can go south and explore the historical gems of Tarragona or enjoy an amazing paella in “El Delta del Ebro”.
No matter where you look, Barcelona is in the center of many places worth visiting, exploring, or even settling in and finding your next home while benefiting from lower rentals and overall prices.
Perfect Weather 360 Days per Year
Warm summers and semi-cold winters. The ideal temperature for the whole year.
Forget about rainy days like in London. Forget about the extremely hot temperatures of Andalucia.
Barcelona, due to its geographical position, offers the perfect climate and weather conditions for you to enjoy your new life in Spain.
Besides, rain won’t bother you more than 5 to 7 days per year.
Huge number of Expat & International Communities
The Mediterranean Cuisine: Food & Restaurants
After trying Spanish food you can understand why its inhabitants enjoy one of the longest life expectancies in the world.
Mediterranean cuisine is made up of fresh food, vegetables, fruits, olive oil… And the most important thing: it’s delicious!
So you can easily eat healthy while fully enjoying your meals.
And, in fact, going out to have dinner at a restaurant is an important part of Spanish culture. That is where Spaniards get together with their family and friends and spend quality time together (no doubt about it, the food they eat is amazing!).
Hence, if you start living in Barcelona, you will find it difficult to choose a restaurant: they are all so good!
You can enjoy everywhere a good glass of wine, beer, and tapas.
Public transport
The city has one of the most extensive and modern public transport systems in Europe.
Not only you can get anywhere using public transport, but you will also be able to choose if you want to move by metro, bus or tram.
The metro in Barcelona (the most commonly used transportation system) is fast (so you will hardly wait long) and connects the vast majority of the city. So no matter if you are living in a residential area far from the center, you will find a way to get there in no time.
Besides, the public transportation system offers several types of passes adapted to your needs (from monthly to quarterly) that will make it an affordable journey.
You will hear English nearly everywhere
Another great advantage for foreigners is the widespread use of English.
Not only among expat communities (that, as we have mentioned, abound), but also in many restaurants and spots you may frequent.
And while it is true that older generations may speak 0 English, younger ones are growing much more fluent in this language.
Is it possible to live in the city with 0 Spanish (or Catalan)? The answer is yes. Nevertheless, in order to properly integrate and enjoy its culture, it is really advisable to also immerse yourself in both of these languages.
CONS OF LIVING IN BARCELONA
But not all that glitters is gold.
There are several downsides of living in Barcelona you may take into consideration. Especially when comparing with other options.
Which are the bad things of living in Barcelona?
Sundays in Barcelona (and in Spain in general) can be one of the best days of the week.
Time to meet your family and friends and relax.
But maybe that’s the problem: too much relaxation.
The city completely shuts down on Sundays: no supermarkets open, malls closed, and no store open.
Of course, convenience stores and some emergency pharmacies are open, but don’t expect anything else.
If you are from the US, where you have tons of 24 hour-open stores on Sunday… you will have a hard time in Barcelona.
Humidity
We have stressed how one of the pros of living in Barcelona was its perfect weather the whole year round.
And while that is true, things may get a bit complicated during the summer months (June-July-August).
Yes, there are many countries and cities with temperatures much higher during summer than the ones you will face in Barcelona
But you cannot overlook humidity.
Being next to the sea, humidity in Barcelona can be a huge con for many.
Walking down the street without sweating will become mission impossible, and sleeping with an AC or fan something compulsory.
Sundays
Salaries and Getting a Job
Barcelona faces an important problem that affects both nationals and foreigners: salaries are really low.
Especially if you compare with the rest of European countries. The net average amount you can expect to earn is about 1.200-1.400€ a month.
And, if you would like to open your own company, things are also a bit against you. Taxes may eat you.
This is also correlated to another detrimental factor, which is the complexity of getting a work permit and finding a job offer. Unless you are a highly qualified worker… it will be tough.
Of course, you don’t need much to enjoy an amazing life in Spain, as prices are lower than compared to cities like Paris and London.
So with 1.000€ per month, you can enjoy a decent life.
Nevertheless, during the past years, the city is Barcelona is suffering from one factor that may make that change, which is…
Rental Prices
The upside of being in front of the beach and surrounded by mountains at the same time can also be one of the main cons of Barcelona.
The city can’t keep expanding and growing. There’s no extra space to use.
If you combine that with an increasing number of individuals wishing to live in the city… you get rental prices rising tremendously.
Finding a decent apartment in a decent location at a decent price is becoming a complete headache these days in Barcelona.
Especially if you take into consideration the average salaries, rental prices are really expensive.
So make sure to plan well in advance and give yourself enough time to find the spot you are looking for.
Tourism
Pick pockets
Unfortunately, recently the city of Barcelona has become famous for its increase in the number of report picket pocketing events.
If you travel using the subway it is crucial to watch out for your belongings, but that is not enough.
Even if you walk at night in some areas that are overcrowded (and this is true especially for foreigners), you must also be aware of this threat.
Long summer holidays
If you have children, you may suffer from this con.
Schools in Barcelona (and the rest of Spain) have nearly 3 months of summer holidays, which are quite long.
Starting mid to end of June, and ending on mid-September, you will have to accommodate your own schedules to make sure you can take care of your children during this period of time.
Nevertheless, you will find many options during June and July to enroll your children in summer camps.
Barcelona has suffered a radical transformation during the past 20 years. The city has become one of the top touristic destinations worldwide.
That, for sure, is really beneficial for its economy.
But it can also pose a problem: losing its identity.
It is not the same as going to Bilbao or San Sebastián, cities where hardly see a tourist on the street: everything is local. And you get to fully experience the region’s vibe.
That is something difficult nowadays in Barcelona.
Tourists are everywhere, and they compose the vast majority of your visual field when walking down the street.
So if you would like to relax… maybe Barcelona is not your place. Mass tourism is turning it into a complete rush.
Just the opposite as the way the next point works.
Bureaucracy
You may have heard how Spanish bureaucracy is slow, really slow.
And you will suffer from that, for sure!
Why? Because during the process of getting your residence permit, you will be facing several legal procedures.
And there is where you will have an encounter with the Spanish Immigration Office.
In that sense, you will see how Spanish workers don’t have any rush to complete their tasks as fast as possible. So make sure to be patient!
Do you have any doubt? Ask anything to our immigration lawyers and get an instant answer:
