The Spanish beach city with 300 days of sunshine and £2.50 beers named one of the best places for British expats to live
IF the life of Spain is calling you and you’re tempted to ditch the UK, then there is one city that has been named one of the best for expats.
it might be tempting to try out the larger cities of Barcelona and Madrid.
But an alternative city that often comes out on top for happy expats is Valencia.
Not only does it have 300 days of sunshine, but it has been raved about by other expats.
According to couple Alastair and Alison, who moved to Spain themselves and give their advice online, it is one of the best ones.
They said: “Valencia City is significantly cheaper than Madrid and Barcelona in terms of rent and daily expenses.”
Not only is there a big English speaking community, but they also said it is “big enough to have urban amenities but small enough to be manageable”.
Another 2024 Expat City Ranking also ranked Valencia as the no.1 Spanish city for expats, praising it for its good quality of life.
And a Reddit forum of expats talking about where they moved – Valencia was often praised.
One wrote: “I’d recommend Valencia, I’ve lived in 8 different countries and it has the best quality of life. Security, beautiful park and beach.
“Sunny all year around, mild winter and long summer. Not as hot as the rest of Southern Spain thanks for the sea close by. It’s also a very multicultural city.”
Another said: “I can’t recommend Valencia enough. If you are retiring Valencia is great.”
According to figures from Numbeo, when it comes to renting, an average one bedroom flat can range from €840 to €1100 (£741-£970) depending on location.
For living costs, things like a monthly gym membership are on average €36 (£32) while bills can be around €127 (£112).
Bottles of beer can be around €3 (£2.50).
Last year, Valencia was named the best city in Europe by Conde Nast Traveler.
However, we spoke to some Brits who left the UK for Spain on some of the big no-nos when it comes to trying to blend in.
Johnny, who left the UK with his wife Sarah in 2003, told Sun Online Travel: “Brits tend to underdress in Spain.
“Spanish people dress quite smartly, while Brits can sometimes show too much flesh.”
She also added the Brits need to expect things to move a bit slower, such as supermarkets.
She explained: “You might be in a short queue at the supermarket, but the person who is being served is more interested in having a conversation with the cashier than packing their shopping away and paying.”
One Brit who helps others move abroad reveals some of the amazing deals for moving to Spain.
And here’s another Brit who ditched the UK for Spain revealed where tourists are more accepted.
What is it like to visit Valencia?
The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey visited Valencia and gave her top tips.
My favourite attraction that I think is unmissable is the City of Arts and Science.
The huge complex took a decade to build and cost £760million.
Film fans will recognise it from both Westworld and Doctor Who.
Make sure to visit the Science Museum, with enough interactive experiences for kids to enjoy.
There is El Cabanyal, a trendy district named one of the coolest neighbourhoods in Europe by The Guardian.
It’s here I fell into a warehouse-cum-greenhouse that had both a bar and jazz being played live on stage.
But the cheapest eat I found was La Finestra back in the city, where not only are the beers cheap, but you can get mini pizzas for just £2.
Flights to Valencia are as little as £16.99 with Ryanair from Birmingham or £20.99 with easyJet from London Gatwick.
