Insecurity, overcrowding and the high cost of living have forced many Barcelona natives to leave the Spanish city where they grew up in search of “something better”, and, in many cases, they consider it “the best decision of their lives”. Xavi, who once lived in a 340-square-foot flat in Horta, in northeastern Barcelona, has now left the Catalan capital with his wife and youngest daughter and has now bought a house in Asturias on the northwest coast – some 560 miles away by road.
“I moved to Asturias at the end of February and I’m not going back. I want to stay,” the 37-year-old said. The Barcelonian explained that he grew up in the Poble-Sec neighbourhood and spent recent years living in Horta-Guinardó, but the conditions were bad. “I lived with my wife and daughter in a 40 square metre flat that cost us almost €1,000 a month,” he explained. The rent, together with nursery costs, amounted to almost all of one of their two salaries and they had no access to any assistance from the government. Xavi criticised that “everything” in Barcelona costs money: “No matter what you do, you have to pay”.
He said he strongly rejects what Barcelona has become in recent years.
“Now it’s a place for foreigners. It’s for European and American citizens with higher salaries and pensions who come to the city and have turned it into what it is now,” he declared.
The former Horta resident complains that, despite living next to Park Güell, he had to pay €20 for entry. “It’s a joke,” he said.
The family has now been settled for five months in a village less than an hour from Oviedo, and Xavi has not stopped celebrating the leap in their quality of life.
“Here, with €150,000 we have a house with land and we’re close to everything,” he explained.
“Now we breathe real air, sea breeze instead of Barcelona’s pollution. Also, there isn’t the same amount of crime and everything is much cheaper, even food.”
On top of this, nursery is completely free for them.
After a few months’ rest, Xavi will return to routine in September at his new job. He said that “he doesn’t miss anything about Barcelona”, except for family and friends who have stayed behind in the city.
Even so, he is not the only one among his circle of friends who has decided to leave. His best friend has also moved out to Olesa de Montserrat to escape the chaos of Barcelona.
