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This article is from 2013 and it's not true anymore. Just did a search and the cheapest 3-bedroom flat in Les Corts area of Barcelona starts at 1500 EUR/month,

This article is from 2013 and it's not true anymore. Just did a search and the cheapest 3-bedroom flat in Les Corts area of Barcelona starts at 1500 EUR/month, compared to 680 EUR/month in the article. There are only 2 offers at this price, the rest start at 2000 EUR / month. Cheapest flight to London (and back) on same date (Nov 20) is now 76 EUR, compared to 34 EUR in the article. Interestingly, the prices in London seem to be around the same as in the article.

eb0la 2y ago
Salaries in Spain, are around the same, too.
reedf1 2y ago
I live in NW5 - the reason for the stable prices is that there was an episode of extreme house price growth in the area circa early 2010s that has completely flat lined, and in some cases, reversed. Some might argue this is a case of conscious organised de-gentrification by several London boroughs.
lm28469 2y ago
Cheap and sunny places in Europe got extra fucked by airbnb, digital nomads and, more broadly, capitalism. Locals are still paid more or less the same as 10 years ago but housing grew 50-100%. Why would your rent a flat for 600 euros a month when you can get 100 euros per night from tourists
- cpursley 2y ago
  Why does everyone seem to blame digital nomads - that seems lazy and probably not backed by numbers. I bet if you actually look into it, there’s way more retirees from northern European countries in the desirable sunny, warm places. And those ones actually have money to spend and buy property, etc. Also, if “capitalism” means “freedom of movement” of people and of money I think I’m gonna stick with that system versus the alternatives that we’ve seen play out… also, people do not wanna hear this ever - but the solution is often to build more housing, to build housing up (meaning vertical). For example, more people would be interested in moving out of London if housing was affordable.
  - tonyedgecombe 2y ago
    >For example, more people would be interested in moving out of London if housing was affordable. I think it's the opposite, people would move to London if the housing was affordable.
  - nottorp 2y ago
    Are there so many "digital nomads"? I've worked full remote for years but I never even considered leaving my home for months and working from somewhere else.
    - fragmede 2y ago
      Enough to fill a cruise ship at least! https://www.nomadcruise.com/ https://www.nomadcruise.com/
      - cpursley 2y ago
        Hardly, I did that once (it was great). But we were just a few hundred vs a couple thousand. And really only 30% were actually true digital nomads (in the remote job/biz, real income sense); the others were just your typical travelers going along with the trend.
        fragmede 2y ago
        Good to know, thanks! I've never gone.
  - ktosobcy 2y ago
    > Why does everyone seem to blame digital nomads - that seems lazy and probably not backed by numbers. I bet if you actually look into it, there’s way more retirees from northern European countries in the desirable sunny, warm places. And those ones actually have money to spend and buy property, etc. Most retirees mostly choose Costa del Sol. Barcelona usually attracts said "digital nomads" to have vibrant atmosphere of "international crowd"... and even until recently it was "very cheap". > Also, if “capitalism” means “freedom of movement” of people and of money I think I’m gonna stick with that system versus the alternatives that we’ve seen play out… Why do you think you are entitled to FoM? > also, people do not wanna hear this ever - but the solution is often to build more housing, to build housing up (meaning vertical). Barcelona is one of the densely populated cities... What's more, it's usually building up (though luckily those are not skyscraper but sane 4-8 storeys which makes living there nicer). There is also problem with spreading out due to geography but still lots of people go to Sabadell, Terrassa o Mataró and everything in-between. > For example, more people would be interested in moving out of London if housing was affordable. Welcome to the UK, where old NIMBYs rule the world (you seem to be thrilled by the system of "people with money" doing the f* they want, including blocking everyone else) and public transit being ruled by "capitalism" (i.e. "money rule the world")... so... everything is perfect according to your worldview? :P
- lifestyleguru 2y ago
  I cannot even freaking visit without being a "digital nomad" suspect, while your local politicians and millionaires are balls deep in real estate and short term rental.
  - ktosobcy 2y ago
    Maybe you shouldn't visit then? :P
vizzah 2y ago
Exactly. Not possible to rent anything livable in BCN for 700 EUR/pcm. Flats in good condition/location now start from 1400EUR and immediately attract hordes of applicants. Estate agents don't even bother replying to most of them.

eb0la 2y ago

Salaries in Spain, are around the same, too.

reedf1 2y ago

I live in NW5 - the reason for the stable prices is that there was an episode of extreme house price growth in the area circa early 2010s that has completely flat lined, and in some cases, reversed. Some might argue this is a case of conscious organised de-gentrification by several London boroughs.

lm28469 2y ago

Cheap and sunny places in Europe got extra fucked by airbnb, digital nomads and, more broadly, capitalism. Locals are still paid more or less the same as 10 years ago but housing grew 50-100%. Why would your rent a flat for 600 euros a month when you can get 100 euros per night from tourists

cpursley 2y ago
Why does everyone seem to blame digital nomads - that seems lazy and probably not backed by numbers. I bet if you actually look into it, there’s way more retirees from northern European countries in the desirable sunny, warm places. And those ones actually have money to spend and buy property, etc. Also, if “capitalism” means “freedom of movement” of people and of money I think I’m gonna stick with that system versus the alternatives that we’ve seen play out… also, people do not wanna hear this ever - but the solution is often to build more housing, to build housing up (meaning vertical). For example, more people would be interested in moving out of London if housing was affordable.
- tonyedgecombe 2y ago
  >For example, more people would be interested in moving out of London if housing was affordable. I think it's the opposite, people would move to London if the housing was affordable.
- nottorp 2y ago
  Are there so many "digital nomads"? I've worked full remote for years but I never even considered leaving my home for months and working from somewhere else.
  - fragmede 2y ago
    Enough to fill a cruise ship at least! https://www.nomadcruise.com/ https://www.nomadcruise.com/
    - cpursley 2y ago
      Hardly, I did that once (it was great). But we were just a few hundred vs a couple thousand. And really only 30% were actually true digital nomads (in the remote job/biz, real income sense); the others were just your typical travelers going along with the trend.
      - fragmede 2y ago
        Good to know, thanks! I've never gone.
- ktosobcy 2y ago
  > Why does everyone seem to blame digital nomads - that seems lazy and probably not backed by numbers. I bet if you actually look into it, there’s way more retirees from northern European countries in the desirable sunny, warm places. And those ones actually have money to spend and buy property, etc. Most retirees mostly choose Costa del Sol. Barcelona usually attracts said "digital nomads" to have vibrant atmosphere of "international crowd"... and even until recently it was "very cheap". > Also, if “capitalism” means “freedom of movement” of people and of money I think I’m gonna stick with that system versus the alternatives that we’ve seen play out… Why do you think you are entitled to FoM? > also, people do not wanna hear this ever - but the solution is often to build more housing, to build housing up (meaning vertical). Barcelona is one of the densely populated cities... What's more, it's usually building up (though luckily those are not skyscraper but sane 4-8 storeys which makes living there nicer). There is also problem with spreading out due to geography but still lots of people go to Sabadell, Terrassa o Mataró and everything in-between. > For example, more people would be interested in moving out of London if housing was affordable. Welcome to the UK, where old NIMBYs rule the world (you seem to be thrilled by the system of "people with money" doing the f* they want, including blocking everyone else) and public transit being ruled by "capitalism" (i.e. "money rule the world")... so... everything is perfect according to your worldview? :P
lifestyleguru 2y ago
I cannot even freaking visit without being a "digital nomad" suspect, while your local politicians and millionaires are balls deep in real estate and short term rental.
- ktosobcy 2y ago
  Maybe you shouldn't visit then? :P

vizzah 2y ago

Exactly. Not possible to rent anything livable in BCN for 700 EUR/pcm. Flats in good condition/location now start from 1400EUR and immediately attract hordes of applicants. Estate agents don't even bother replying to most of them.