That is the main question for us. Barcelona vs Madrid. The best neighborhoods in Barcelona are in zona alta, my top is Pedrables, Saria, Sant-Gervasi, but you can't just be there all the time. As a result you will be always on stress in the metro and in turistic areas due to high crime level, tourist, etc. On the other hand no water, 2 hot summer months and colder during the winter in Madrid 😢
@@denniszenanywhere I've visited NYC but never lived there. Even though I have some friends who are there right now and were living in Barcelona so had quite a bit of discussion about it with them. So one thing that stood out to me immediately when I visited NYC was how many distractions and things there are that require your attention. Barcelona is quite opposite to that. Also the rythm of the city. Barcelona is wayyy more relaxed than NYC. Also what you can do on your spare time is different. NYC would be more focused on restaurants , activities inside , potentially bars/clubs , museums etc. While Barcelona is more of a life outside. I lived in London for close to 8 years and could draw a lot of similarities between London and NYC, but Barcelona is quite different. ( I have a video comparing London and Barcelona ) , but might come around doing few videos about NYC too :)
@@PauliusCreates Appreciate the wonderful insights. I had a relative visit me in NY once and the moment he saw all the people milling in the restaurants of NY, he instantly said what a sad life that they probably live in a box where they don't have kitchens to cook good food and they have to eat out all the time. I never get offended by any insights, having been a researcher, but that was an interesting take that I never thought at first but realized, hmm, he is not entirely wrong. All the years I lived in NY it was all about the hustle and networking. It had its pros and cons. I would like to know more about you mean by life outside in Barcelona and would like to see the video of London vs Barcelona.
If Barcelona has something nice about it to live in is because the neighbours fights against privatization of public services and public spaces. It is a huge problem for the city and the people who lives in it that is starting to be full of people from richer countries with higher salaries who don't give a fuck about that and just consume the city and the locals like a zoo. If you are really going there still, even when locals are begging you not to because they can't afford to live there anymore, are least give something to the community and fight for everyone's rights like others do. If you just go there to make profit out of others fights and others work, how do you expect them to be happy with your presence?
Squatters are not a mafia, they are mostly working class families with kids who cannot afford to pay the rent or buy a house in the city they have to work thanks to greedy people who make business with basic needs like housing. This idea about them being a mafia is rightist propaganda sadly spread lately.
@@xaviperez26 exactly. Madrid is the best EVERYTHING in the World. And they do EVERYTHING better. Yeah, maybe you think that in your country you do something better than anyone else? Wrong! In Madrid they do it better. Whatever it is and even, if they don't know it yet. Tell them. They will do it better. Also, don't forget the motto of Madrid "de Madrid al Cielo". If you die in Madrid, which most surely will be the case (especially if you are "older". You know that movie? Logan's Run? Yeah the city from the movie is Madrid) you'll go directly to Heaven. It's like La Meca or whatever but just, better. As it's always the case with Madrid. Madrid number 0! Because 0 comes before 1. And it's better! Yeah!
On the whole I think it’s amazing, but it’s flaws are the mass tourism which ruins the centre of the city- Born and Gothic are beautiful areas, but in the summer, forget it about it. The crime has always been an issue, and I think it’s got worse post covid. Rents are extremely high and if you’re on a Spanish salary you have no hope. The fact it is small and you can get around so easily is fantastic ( I’ve lived in London and it was a nightmare), plus it has beaches makes it special. Go up or down the coast or north and you’ll find so many incredible places to visit, the location is out of this world.
The part about parks/green spaces is one of my biggest gripes. When I visited Madrid and Valencia last year, I was so jealous of their amazing parks. Have lived here in BCN for 2 years now (watched some of your vids before making the move) after growing up in California, and am just about ready to move on to another place. My gf and I don't want to build our family in a big city like this, and the salaries are so low compared to the same job back in the States. That being said, it's been an amazing experience living here, and I love this city with all my heart. As someone who's a bit introverted, I'm glad I came here enrolled in a University program, because it made it easy to meet some people and make friends. Great video!
The kind of job that pays better in the States is, I guess, some sort of company middle-manager or manager position, consulting, law firm, maybe IT dev, right? Maybe private doctors? I don't think we're talking bus drivers, teachers or shopkeepers. Yes, those jobs pay better in the States. Unfortunately, the cost of living here in BCN has been rising steadily for the last 20 years, while basic salaries have risen little (mostly due to the government's increase of minimum wage from 600€ in the early 2010's to today's roughly 1100€).
@@Ennio444 yeah, software engineering in my case. The salaries back home are 2-3x what they are here. And the lower cost of living here isn't half or a third as much as it would be there, so it doesn't even out. I didn't know that about the minimum wage, very interesting. California has been constantly raising it as well, and then we wonder why prices of goods/services continues to skyrocket, lol... I'm definitely much too pro free market and low tax to stay here in Spain
@@Jmoss7 Prices and cost of living hasn't skyrocketed because of the rising minimum wage. Median salary has increased much less than minimum wage, which tells you that jobs that were paying minimum wage were far from the majority. If market forces were acting only on the rise of minimum wage, you would not have unaffordable rent prices for most locals. Other market forces are at play here. In the case of Barcelona, it's wealthy expats and tourism. A software engineer for a big company here can easily earn 40 to 60k a year here. That's already more than I'll ever earn as a teacher (30k a year aprox). 2k a month and a 600 euros a month rent flat meant that I was alright 15 years ago. Cheap public service, free healthcare, the occasional 9 euro lunch or 5 euro vermut... Now, almost the same salary, 12 hundred a month rent and cost of living at least 50% more expensive makes this hard to grasp, unless you factor in the arrival of outside money loading the scales.
@@Ennio444 I wasn’t claiming minimum wage was to blame, sorry if that wasn’t clear. I’m just saying it’s one of MANY factors that result in higher prices, and was referring more to back home in the states (specifically California). Yes, you can have a decent living here as a SWE, but it’s a lot harder to go from poor -> rich (buy a home while still fairly young, etc) here, than it is in the states where entry level engineers at those same big companies are pulling 150k+/year (and upwards of 200-250k within a couple years). There are tradeoffs to each place of course, but my gf and I think moving to the states is the right move for us. There’s definitely deep-rooted problems with foreign investment and tourism here in Barna. Hope the country can figure it out to alleviate some of the gripes of locals, which I sympathize with.
Yes it is. I was born in Barcelona. And I didn't stop bothering my family until we moved out of Barcelona ... 6 days later. Yeah, that's how bad it is.
Lived there for 6 years, they have a real rat and cockroach problem, and I’m not talking just old houses. But everywhere. I lived in Raval, Sants and a whole lot of areas, yes it’s a city with its own beauty and charm! But the rent pricing is crazy and the heroin problem is also mad! I kinda lost the love for the city over the years. All that said BCN will forever be in my heart and gave me some of the best memories in my life, that lightning on a sunset and those hot summer nights….❤️ until one day Barça, I wish u all the best baby!
I mean, you're absolutely right, but I believe both the cockroaches and especially the heroin issue are more of a Raval issue than a general Barcelona issue. Ps. Barça is the team, the city is Barna.
Hey, I keep on planning a trip there but never actually make it haha I have some friends who love it and some other friends who live there and are a bit bored
I’ve been a few times and it was nice but Barcelona is better in almost every way. Also the better crime in Valencia is worse believe it or not. Every time I’ve been there I’ve seen a theft/mugging
I would not say the level of English is very high in Barcelona. In the sectors that attract tourists you can use English maybe but most of the places I’ve been to they speak limited English if at all. In my experience they’re happy to speak Spanish though.
It is definitely overrated, it has become unliveable with all these people wanting to “live la Vida loca”, up to the point that those of us who (thankfully) live outside of the city we avoid at all costs to go there unless it’s absolutely necessary. Go to London instead, or Rome, Miami, New York.. 🙏
I love barcelona bc im young i smoke weed and im not an easy target. Walk fast and be aware of your surroundings and most important part be aware of romani pickpockets some of them are nice looking chicks. Dont make yourself an easy target, dont use both your airpods, dont leave stuff in your car in plain view and you’ll be fine. Go to any central metro stops or main attractions by ticket shop area wearing expensive shit and expect to be mugged. Leave your rolex at home your dont need that there. Barcelona is one of the less glamorous cities of Spain in terms of clothing, as a matter of fact i always wear my sports direct’s nike shorts that help me stay cool, be agile and make me look less of a target.
When I ask people from Barcelona about how it is, they always complain about the amount of tourists. I have to ask how big of a problem it is really? Does it affect your day to day life? By the way great video🤙
I think it depends on the neighbourhood you live in. If you live in gothic, born, near arc de triomf , sagrada familia. Potentially it does impact your day to day quite a lot. More quiet neighbourhoods like Clot, Sant Marti or even busier ones like Gracia ( outside of all the plazas ) , potentially are not so affected.
one thing i hate about living in barcelona is talking to strangers on the street is weird.....90% of the time people look at you like you have Ebola, if you try its crazy social but also crazy anti-social.....very densely packed city full of people but a lot of people want to left alone in their little bubble I didnt know the meaning of the word NARCISSIST until I move to BCN
one thing i hate about living in barcelona is talking to strangers on the street is weird.....90% of the time people look at you like you have Ebola, if you try its crazy social but also crazy anti-social.....very densely packed city full of people but a lot of people want to left alone in their little bubble I didnt know the meaning of the word NARCISSIST until I move to BCN
Your information about "ocupas" is not right.Acording to law is somebody enters in your house the police will clear it in least of 24 h. You don't have to carry documentation about your house because there are public offices with records. A diferent thing is when somebody enters in a building where nobody lives, then the owner has a problem because spanish law gives preference to the right to have a place to live to the right of property.The right parties and newspapers, radios and television are giving rong information a do a lot propraganda misguiding. Another thing you are talking about expats. I don't understant why british people when they are inmigrants call themselves expats, like they are a differen quality of inmigrants. Native from Barcelona
Absolutely, yes, it is overrated, and not just Barcelona, Spain as a whole is terrible!!! It’s the worst place I’ve seen so far!!! Barcelona in particular, smells awful, you get mugged more often than not, and it’s too hot and too ugly, all the time!!! And what’s up with that absurd made up language??? 😂😂😂😂 if Spanish language wasn’t ridiculous enough!!! They had to come up with cataratas, or whatever it is!!! 😂😂😂😂😂 overall it just blows!!!
You missed a really important point. Salaries are garbage and taxes are insane. If you happen to have a small company or even if you work on your own, you easily end up taxing 50% of what you earn. The fiscal persecution in Spain is ridiculous and a lot of people is leaving because of that. If you like living in an extremely crowded place and you don't mind earning very little money, then the city is perfect: great food, good transportation, the beach, the mountains...
You are not wrong, however there are ways to pay much less taxes via companies, but overall salaries are pitiful and job opportunities are just bad. But otherwise the infrastructure, beaches, mountains and some real estate is really nice even though prices are indeed through the roof.
The problem isn't taxes, it's the cost of living. Salaries are not bad for the median cost of living in Spain, but it's bad for th city itself. Locales and establishments are raising prices because wealthy tourists and expats can afford it, rent is through the roof (because of lack of offer and a little of the aforementioned reason to top it off) and if you have to pay more than 50% of your salary on rent, and the next 20% on the rest of the expenses, like I do... well, a 1800€ salary was more than enough when I started working 15 years ago. Now, the price of everything doubled but my salary only went up to 2000€. I could earn the same in Vic or Igualada, or Huesca, Guadalajara, or even other capitals of Comunidad, like Zaragoza. I don't leave because my life and my family and friends are here, if I left I'd be wealtheir but lonely. But one does wonder why are we putting up with this. Taxes are fine. I'm very happy with public services. Healthcare is pretty good, public transport is a dream compared with most European capitals, and so are cleaning services, maintenance, etc.
@@Ennio444 Taxes are fine? Salaries are fine? Are you serious? An autonomo has to bill 2.500 in order to keep 1.000 in their pocket. To earn a regular European salary, you easily have to pay 40% of your income in taxes. The average salary in Spain is 27.000 euros whereas in Switzerland is 82.000 euros. Rent, life... is not expensive at all in Barcelona or Spain compared to other developed countries, the problem is that salaries and taxes are absolutely ridiculous in this country. And don't forget that the cost of health and education represents only the 11% of the total expenses of the country. These services are "ok", not the best, not bad, but overall these expenses can be covered with very little money of the tax payers. And if you don't happen to be an autonomo, just ask your company how much on top of your salary they have to pay in order to have you... very quickly you'll find out that what they pay on top + what you pay in IRPF equals to 50% of your total gross income or more, the problem is that you don't "see it" because it is not you who's paying it, it's the company that hires you.
@@ms6465 lol are we working in the same country are you just lying? Im a native and this discourse is familiar tonwhat the far-right usually says. And yes I've been an autonomo, you dont pay that much
@@sberiya2 I own a Spanish company of two and had been an autonomo for 16 years. Hacienda do not allow me to execute my company earnings (in order to pay 23% and then 19% when we share the dividends), instead, I am forced to execute 75% of my earnings as personal IRPF. An autonomo today has to pay 300 euros per month no matter if they make money or not. On top of that, IRPF and IVA, this is the reality... make the numbers yourself instead of repeating the non sense "far-right" mantra.
It's horrible, everywhere full of people, mass tourism, ungrateful locals, lots of robbery, cockroaches and rats infestations. Renting prices are through the roof, I would go elsewhere honestly
3 месяца назад
Ungrateful locals LOL, wonder how people in Barcelona lived before mass tourism, maybe they were starving! Locals are pissed because they have to endure such bullshit + people saying they are "ungrateful" and they can do very little about it, because politicians, landlords and tourism industry are in bed together. My city is becoming popular too and I totally understand barcelonians. Thankfully here people is not so piped on wishful thinking and it's already pushing back, and foreigners already complain we're rude and uninviting, which I think it's a good thing, since they spread the word. I'm pretty happy that my neighbors realized quickly that our lifestyle was at risk and acted accordingly.
Employees in grocery stores and restaurants are rude compared to other places in Spain. They treat you like a money machine - give me the money, the next tourist will come. I only experienced a very nice and warm welcome from the employees at Passage de Garcia - but this is due to the type of stores.
2 месяца назад
"Ungrateful locals" is the most entitled comment someone can make. Why should locals be grateful to you, Mr delicate? Locals are right to be pissed. Same as in Lisbon. Most of them get nothing out of this situation, don't work in tourism and foreigners flocking the place only make their lifes more difficult but somehow they have to be grateful? IDK mate this kind of statements are the epitome of why more and more people is pushing back throghout all of Spain. You guys make it really difficult to not be xenophobic, really.
Plot twist, soy de barna y hice este comentario de 'falsa bandera' para que la gente se lo piense dos veces antes de venir. Aunque creo que con lo de la xenofobia de has equivocado un poco, caralho, não há nenhuma boa desculpa para tratar pessoas diferentes com ódio, o ódio deve ser direcionado ao sistema
2 месяца назад
@@tasiociafancelli9912 Te ha quedado muy bien, porque es calcado a otros comentarios genuínos que he visto. Deberías ver los grupos de "expats" de mi ciudad. O mejor no los veas y así no te radicalizas y te sigue resultando mucho más fácil no ser xenófobo. Mi pareja trabaja atendiendo AirBnBs (la ironía) y la tratan como la mierda muchas veces. En fin, está de puta madre que vivas en Barna y hagas comentarios "de falsa bandera" pero como trates con extranjeros más de la cuenta entonces te vas a convertir en turboderecha muy rápido, algo que le pasa a no poca gente. Te podría resumir la opinión de mi pareja, de mi hermana (que vive en el centro de Ibiza porque nuestra tía abuela le dejó un minipiso en herencia), de uno de mis mejores amigos (es abogado y trabaja en servicios sociales de mi ciudad) pero seguro que no lo necesito y te lo imaginas. Radicalizarse es muy fácil, dadas las circunstancias.
I don't know if Barcelona is overrated or not, the point is that more and more people from all over the world come to visit it. There must be a reason.
And that is advertising. Intense advertising 😅 desperate advertising. Remember they were so desperate in the pandemic they opened the country to tourism, even though they had a big aftermath.
@@denisateodoracalin4865 What you say is not entirely true, Barcelona and other cities in Spain were closed to tourism for several months but there was one city that did open its doors to tourism, with intense and desperate advertising as you said in your comment, and that city was Madrid.
Iv been to around 15 countries and uncountable cities， I would say bcn is my favorite（shanghai is my second and then Vienna）. Also if you can speak the local language makes a huge difference about your experience.
Yes, if you come here, PLEASE learn Catalan, it is the best way to integrate and it's the best sign of respect to the locals; they will be way more friendly if they see that at least you are trying to learn their lenguage and culture, which if you think about it, is logic: when you go to live in another place, you learn that place's culture
It is not that complicated, really. Do what you would in every other country. Obviously it's up to you, but if you want to be treated as an equal by the locals, speaking their language is a must. Learn Catalan and you'll win their hearts.
it's been half a year of us living here in Barcelona, size of the city is quite convenient, schooling for our child is much more affordable, regularly enjoy bike rides on the well maintained roads here. Some mild downsides for us are the siesta's, things are closed when we're free and restaurants don't often reopen early enough for us and for such a sunny city there's not much shade or shelter. but yeah are we going to stay here? hell yeah!
@@8werty8Depending of the way you look at Barcelona. In your case, you should take your sons safety matter as the most important thing and leave Barcelona immediatly. If you like Spain, must go to Madrid or San Sebastián.
It is highly overrated people here are mean and everything is expensive and not welcoming to people from other countries I wolud rather go anywhere else
