A British expat who has been living in Benidorm for seven years has shared his surprising thoughts on the cost of living in both countries after making a trip back to the UK
Many people decide to move away from Britain and head abroad for a new life in the hope of better weather, a slower lifestyle and cheaper prices. However, one Brit who relocated to Benidorm seven years ago but is currently visiting the UK has confessed to making a surprising discovery while doing his shopping. Harry Poulton fell head over heels for the Alicante region as a teenager and settled there at the age of 18.
Since then, he’s carved out a career as a travel content creator on the Costa Blanca, offering guidance to those considering the same move, alongside tips for holidaymakers heading to Benidorm. “Benidorm isn’t as cheap as I always thought it was,” he revealed in a TikTok video filmed inside a Lidl supermarket.
Harry, 25, continued: “The one thing I have noticed that when comparing an English [or British] supermarket to Spanish one… I always thought they [Spanish] were super, super cheap.”
His return trip to the UK shifted his perspective, however.
While acknowledging that the range of items stocked in the two countries can vary considerably, certain products are plainly better value back home.
Harry drew attention to cornflour at 79p and custard at 59p as prime examples before examining the cost of fresh produce.
“Look at the prices of the meat, the milk and butter – everything is so much cheaper [than in Spain],” he said.
Harry highlighted a packet of lean pork mince at £1.89 and bacon at £1.69 as additional examples of groceries that cost more abroad.
“Everything is just 10 times’ cheaper,” he concluded.
One TikTok user conceded: “Food is certainly cheaper in the UK, but the quality of life is much better in Spain.”
A second person added: “The independent owned shops tend to charge more in Benidorm in my experience.”
A third pointed out that Harry may be comparing shelf prices in the UK to import prices in Benidorm.
While a fourth leapt to Spain’s defence, taking a swipe at Harry: “Absolute bull, if you go to inland Spain’s non-tourist areas it’s a lot cheaper.
“It’s the same in restaurants where there’s a tourist menu and a non-tourist menu, sorry I disagree.”
The post comes after Harry recently shared another video with tourists heading to Benidorm which warned them of three ‘no-go’ areas when visiting.
