Duncan Ponter and his wife left Scotland in 2023 to move to Spain’s Costa Blanca and the expat has been brutally honest about the realities of life on the continent
The weather was a big positive for Duncan Ponter and his wife (Image: Getty Images)
A British expat who relocated to Spain three years ago has shared the “brutal truth” about chasing a sunnier way of life.
Duncan Ponter departed his homeland with his wife in 2023, settling in a small town an hour from Alicante on Spain’s Costa Blanca. The couple took the plunge after both sets of parents had passed away and their children had flown the nest.
On his YouTube channel Move to Spain – Life on the Spanish Costas, Duncan reveals that the most frequent question he receives is whether life is superior in the UK or Spain.
He firmly sided with Spain, citing the climate, sense of community, cost of living, healthcare and public services, and overall quality of life as key factors.
Duncan explained: “It’s nothing like we could have ever imagined. We get somewhere around 320 days of sunshine a year, very little rain,” reports the Daily Record.
“July and August are almost unbearably hot in southern Spain. We enjoy the weather in a way I never thought possible. And it does have more of an impact on our lives and well being than we ever realised.
“We eat outside most of the time we go for strolls and we enjoy a whole host of other outdoor activities we wouldn’t be able to do in Scotland.”
The expat also praised the strong sense of community they’ve discovered in their development, Senorio de Roda. Another significant advantage was the stark difference in living costs between the two nations.
Duncan recalls a recent seaside lunch with mates that came to just €66 (approximately £57) for five people.
He remarked: “You just can’t do that in the UK, it’s just become so expensive and cost prohibitive.”
Duncan also praised Spain’s healthcare system, where appointments are typically available within 48 hours and test results arrive within a fortnight.
He doesn’t object to paying slightly higher income tax either, as the funds appear to be “used to good effect” with “great council services” and “roads in great condition without potholes”.
However, life abroad isn’t entirely perfect. Oddly enough, the expat confessed they miss taking holidays.
He explained: “We used to love travelling and seeing new places. But we’ve just got out of the habit of that when we’ve got the beach on the doorstep and the sunshine every day. It is completely different when you live here to when you go on holiday.”
They visit Scotland twice annually, once during summer and again at Christmas, with flights often remarkably affordable outside peak season. They’ve also established a weekly FaceTime call with their children.
Reflecting on the lifestyle shift, Duncan summarised: “Let’s address the elephant in the room. Take into account the weather, community spirit, feeling of safety, the health service, the overall cost of living and the lifestyle, all of these things obviously contribute to that. In our case, we definitely have a better quality of life here.
“So it’s not perfect, but we just have a really nice life here.”