I'm applying for jobs all around Europe at the moment, and one highlight is based out of Barcelona in Spain! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Man, that'd rock.


Whats the cost of living like in Spain? are things hideously expensive? Whats life like there? relaxed, busy? stressed? How much does the average second hand GSXR750 go for? http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif What's a good wage (it's a IT hell(help) desk job) Where are the best places to live, whats rent like?


So many questions, not enough time! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

For me the biggst shock to the system is the relaxed attitude of them spanish dudes. I worked with some tilers in Mallorca (i'm a plumber) and man were they slack. We'd turn up at 9am do 1 1/2 hours work and go to the pub for our 'siesta'. 2 hours later we'd return for another 1 hour and that'd be it. I was paid a ton a day (hundred pounds) for that pleasure which lasted 2 months before going home again. Accommodation was free i have an appartment there.

For me to stay out there for a year. I'd work for the cooler 6month period then claim dole for the other summer 6months (you only get out what you put in) and still earn what i do here in a year

So yeah well chilled and in main land spain the're really friendly (unlike mallorca where the natives are ignorant and want a smacking) but don't expect an enthusiasm for the English language. You'll need a phrase book.

property is cheaper than the UK but not exactly a steal. I'd say about 2/3's what we pay. Living costs is cheaper obviously, you pay a HELL OF A LOT less tax on yer earnings as well.

If it wasn't for a mortgadge, 1 1/2 kids and responsibilities i'd be there now.

I was looking at a contract job in Barcelona a couple of months ago ...
Spain generally has a reasonably low cost of living, but if you are permanent, then you get paid relative to the rest of the folk there, which is lower than the rest of EU.
If you go contract, then you might have options to do some fancy tax free earning using offshore accounts and stuff - well worth looking into.
I didn't check bikes in too much detail 'cos I'd just bought one here, but found 'em to be slightly more costly than they are here in Germany (but they are generally a lot cheaper here than they are in the UK). Importing your own bike will incur some taxes/fees too, so be careful if you are considering that as an option.
Housing is not cheap in Barcelona itself, but if you compare it to places like London, then it is a steal!! Look into surrounding areas and get a Supermoto to commute in on! ;-)
Lifestyle in Barcelona is a bit less relaxed than in other areas, as its the Spanish capital for business. Most people/organisations still do the long lunch kinda thing, but generally start early and finish later ... you do get a hellova lot of holidays though - sommat like 45-48 days per year (they have lots of bank holiday/fiesta type days).
People and places can be a bit touristy, and so try to rip you off as a foreigner, or a bit on the pretentious side ... but hey, the city is a great place, has loads going on. There is some crime, but mainly street theft of handbags, etc - something as a resident you would get wise to methinks.
City has been cleaned up in the past 10 years, many of the dodgey areas down near the docks have been done up completely, and now sport lovely new (expensive) apartments.
Some of the older districts and housing off "The Diagonal" (check a map) would be cool to live in if you are thinking of city center life.
Don't get confused between Castillian and Catalan tho'... there are two distintively different languages and "tribes" of people in Spain - the hardest to speak is Catalan. Barcelona and the Northern parts speak this, but understand and will accept foreigners making an effort in Castillian (ie normal Spanish).
Read up about ETA too ... they are the activists trying to break Catalunya free and make it its own country (bit like the IRA).

I am off to Spain for 3 weeks on holiday (woohoo!), checking out the southern regions, maybe to go and live there in the next year or so ...
Enjoy your time there, great country, great people, great attitude to bikers, great tapas, great wine, great weather, great beaches ... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/banana.gif
Later
Damnit http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

PS You can also catch a train (or drive in a couple of hours) to Andorra in the winter to go snowboarding/skiing, and a season ticket for the slopes is only around €250 ... bargain! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif