People Think Expats in Spain Are Rich — We’re Not

You move to Barcelona, and quickly discover a local truth: if you are British, you are not a familiar foreigner but a filthy rich one. Or at least that’s the myth. Whether you rent a 40m² with paper-thin walls in EL Raval, or split vermouths at the vermutería in Gràcia, many locals will still assume that you arrived with a bag loaded with pounds, and a house waiting back in Surrey. But is that true? Let us unpack the story and the stereotype. 

The British peso illusion 

Barcelona has become a magnet for international arrivals. Around 20% of the city’s current population is foreign-born, and Latin Americans make up that large group. Brits have carved a more visible and vocal niche, particularly in places like Poble-sec and Eixample. This assumption that British people already come from wealth is partly a visibility issue. Brunching, renting, or buying. 

Speaking English loudly near the bouqueria, many locals in turn will assume that presence comes with privilege, especially as the rents keep rising and push the narrative of native barcelonins from the centre. Spain’s INE (National Statistics Institute) gives the average monthly salaries in Spain as around €1,765, but many young prospects earn far less, while the average rent in the city has now hit €1,000-€1,500 per month and is climbing. 

So when a Brit rents and pays €1,500 for a one-bedroom flat with no terrace, it will reinforce the idea that expats are hoarding the good life and driving up prices. But here is where things often go unseen:  Many Brits earn a foreign national income and pay taxes elsewhere, they deal with currency swings, the post-Brexit situation (yikes), and in a lot of cases, many hidden tax obligations, such as Spain’s wealth tax on global assets over €700,000. Then add healthcare, NIE renewals, and property taxes, and that dream life will feel like it’s in the backseat. 

The comfort trap

In many parts of Barcelona, there is a question of integration, where expats can go years without learning Spanish or Catalan. So, between English-speaking landlords, international meetups, and start-up jobs (there is a wide variety here), this city is tailor-made for coasting in the comfort lifestyle. But this also comes at a price. Locals will often see this as a “lack of effort”, a term coined for cultural absenteeism, and it adds fuel to the “rich, separate, uninterested” narratives on expats. What are you doing here if you do not participate in local life? 

Most Brits who come to Barcelona are mainly looking to breathe, escape stress, walk more along the coast of Barcelonetta, eat better, and live feeling fit and not scheduled. However, perception matters, especially when a city is squeezed by tourism, rent, and short-term rentals. It stops allowing the public to be friendly and more of a term of “one of them”. 

So what’s the fix? First, learn the language, even if it is just una bolsa. Por favor, say hello to your neighbours and buy vegetables from the market instead of Amazon Fresh. Because no, you are not rich, but the life you build here, now thats the wealth we are all searching for.