Sunny European country is the ‘cheapest place to live’ for British expats

Many Brits have considered moving abroad at some point, with plenty of countries in Western Europe proving a popular choice, seeing as they aren’t so far from the UK.

Those looking to move will likely consider what languages they themselves can speak and how much of an expat community already resides in the country, with a third huge consideration being the cost of living in these countries.

Earlier this year a study from Property Guides determined the cheapest countries for British expats to move to.

They considered the costs of groceries, healthcare, leisure and travel, among other essentials, noting that these typically cost around £1,996 in the UK.

According to the study, the costs of living elsewhere in Europe are much cheaper with life in Spain ending up £701 cheaper than in the UK – massively cheaper than its closest alternatives, Italy which is £553 cheaper, and Portugal at £510.

The experts at PropertyGuide said: “For those considering emigrating to the European countries closest to the UK, the results bode well, with Spain being revealed as the most affordable country to live in, closely followed by Italy, Portugal, Greece and Germany, making up the five of the most affordable countries for the cost of living.”

Both the cost of electricity and the price of an average grocery shop came out much cheaper in Spain than in the UK. A basket of 17 basic items came to about £52.23, while in the UK this would be 53 percent more expensive.

The experts found that dog food, gin and dark chocolate are more than double the price in the UK compared to Spain – although the UK came out on top for cheapest lettuce prices.

Spain is also a great option for those hoping to live somewhere with plenty of options for dining out, with the experts explaining: “For those who enjoy fine dining, treating yourself to a meal out costs the most in Germany.

“A three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant will set you back about £38. It’s cheapest to dine out in Spain, where you can get the equivalent for about £15.”

While conducting their study, the travel pros found two countries that are actually more expensive than the UK – Australia (£166 more), and New Zealand, where the cost of living increased by a whopping £310 compared to the UK.