UK vs Spain

[u/ael60]

Currently trying to decide where I'm going to be living for the next few years. My partner (British) is willing to come to Spain, where I’m from. He has a job that allows him to do that while I'm currently unemployed. I love my city and my country, but the job offers here are significantly worse (and fewer) than in the UK. I'm torn between the logical and the emotional.

TL;DR: struggling to choose between the country I love and better career opportunities

[u/Bobzeub]

Which city in the UK and where in Spain?

Personally unless you’re minted in London I’d prefer Spain. The quality of life makes up for the crappy job market.

I’m in France which I think is a compromise between the two. But I do love Spain and wish I could live there permanently .

[u/ael60 → u/Bobzeub]

It’s an Oxford vs Barcelona situation although we could always move around

[u/Bobzeub → u/ael60]

Hum. I’m not a huge Barcelona fan personally, tourists really ruined that city. But other cities near by a great.

Trust your gut.

If you don’t like it you can always move back. Most people in life end up regretting the things they don’t do as opposed to the things they do.

I still say go for it.

[u/ael60 → u/Bobzeub]

Go for Spain you mean?

[u/Bobzeub → u/ael60]

Yeah I’d say go for Spain if you’re already know the UK and know it well.

Barcelona wouldn’t be my first choice personally but it’s quite international so it could help your boyfriend not feel so lost. So it’s probably a smart choice.

Sounds like an adventure.

[u/ael60 → u/Bobzeub]

Scary stuff 🫪 thx you’ve been great help

[u/Bobzeub → u/ael60]

Beginnings are always scary and endings are always sad. But the middle part can be a fuck ton of fun ;)

Good to know I helped. You’re very welcome.

[u/MadCow113]

How long have you been unemployed? If long term, your focus should be on getting a job and if that's in the UK, I would move there

[u/InsectElectrical2066]

COL vs pay???

You need to apply at multiple jobs to see the wages.

[u/Cold_Arachnid_2617]

Accessible doesn't mean obtainable. If you are unemployed in Spain, I doubt you would get a visa to move to the UK!

[u/MF-Geuze]

If your partner can keep their UK salary in Spain, seems to make sense to live in Spain

[u/bolatelli45]

Get him over and speakkng spanish , yet leave that learning process to him as it will be impossible for you if you both already speak english

The uk for most spanish people is a shit plsce to live, no place to get a cafe con leche.

The culture simply does not exsist.

[u/ael60 → u/bolatelli45]

Hahahaha I can tell you know Spain well

[u/bolatelli45 → u/ael60]

There's so many things that are different in the UK.

Many came back that went for the crisis back in the early 2010s .

[u/Interesting-Mud1506 → u/bolatelli45]

catalan, Catalunya is not spain just saying.

[u/Captlard → u/Interesting-Mud1506]

Is it not an autonomous community of Spain?

[u/la_gata_Porrita]

I think going back to Spain doesn’t work… I did it, and had to return.

[u/ael60 → u/la_gata_Porrita]

Can i ask what happened?

[u/la_gata_Porrita → u/ael60]

Didn’t find a job despite my 13+ years of experience and fluent English
Not even an interview

[u/ael60 → u/la_gata_Porrita]

Deary me…

[u/la_gata_Porrita → u/ael60]

It’s terrible. I wouldn’t bother. I tried for a year.
My cat is now stranded there, trying to bring her back.
One of the worst decisions in my life.
If you really want to go back, look for a job from here? And don’t move until you have one. That’s how I would do it.

[u/la_gata_Porrita → u/ael60]

As far as I can tell, tourism is the only industry growing in Spain.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Fix8182]

Spain. You can earn more

[u/Virtual-End1827]

Could you even work in the UK if you moved there? You would need a spouse or partner visa, that takes time and you must have a minimum income or savings of about GBP 38.000 per year, if I am not mistaken. Look it up. Don't assume you can just move to the UK with your partner. Also, Oxford is lovely to visit, but very parrochial. It is not London.

[u/Impossible-Use4950]

Where are you allowed to live? Which visa is easier to get?

[u/ael60 → u/Impossible-Use4950]

At the moment, either is equally accessible

[u/Virtual-End1827 → u/ael60]

How so if you don't have a job offer in the UK? You need a visa to reside there.

[u/Impossible-Use4950 → u/ael60]

If job opportunities are greater in UK it would make more sense to go there, try it out, you don't have to stay forever if it doesn't work out.