What it's really like to live in Barcelona

Hey , it's been more than 4 years now that I live in Barcelona and I wanted to talk about what it's like living here.
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Some articles mentioned on the video regarding safety :
usebounce.com/guides/barcelon...
www.barcelona.cat/infobarcelo...
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#Barcelona #whatitsliketoliveinBarcelona #livinginbarcelona

[@samcanal5218]

A piece of advice for everyone who comes to live in Barcelona: If you at least try to learn Catalan, everyone will love you! We are so used to foreigners just learning Spanish, that whenever we see someone doing an effort (you really don't need to speak it properly at all, just showing that you are trying works) we automatically gain respect for them. Amazing video, and keep up the great work!

[@Trico274]

Not really

[@DhexTube]

@@Trico274 Yes, really

[@milton39s]

Thanks for doing these kinds of videos Paulius, so useful !

[@DJakue]

First of all, congratulations for the video, I love the edit and the music! I'd like to share with you my point of view as a catalan. For us having expats living in our city it's been great for many years, we have a learned a lot from them, many of my friends are form many places around the world and I'm truly grateful of that (I really learned to open my mind thanks to people from Mexico, Colombia, Germany or Sweden), in fact I'm married with an expat and we have a child. The thing is that the last 10 years the city has evolved in something unrecognizable. In 2010 I used to live in a 130 square meters apartment in Enric Granados near Plaça Universitat, the rental was 1100€ per month, nowadays, the price is 3 or 4 times more. It is impossible for local middle class people to live in Barcelona and we are pushed out of the city where we grow up. I understand that we live in a globalize society but identity it's also important and when they kick you out of the place where you belong you lose the confidence on others. The last 10 year real state speculation and gentrification are a problem not only for locals but also for expats that came when the city needed them. Barcelona nowadays is not a good place to live in but if you really want to come here maybe sometimes little efforts such as learning some words in catalan or having some interest and respect for catalan culture can help in creating ties betwen cultures. I know we are not friendly at first but I always say that if you have patience with a catalan you will have a friend forever.

[@PauliusCreates]

appreciate your input here and I absolutely get it. Even personally when I first visited the city 6.5 years ago and compare it to today ( in terms of prices etc. ) there is a huge difference. And you're right, I noticed that even some basic phrases in catalan go a long way

[@rohandrysdale1139]

Great video man, I've been waiting for a good video on this subject for a while and I think you nailed it Thanks for the info!

[@AndyCruz14]

Great video 👏🏻 Love the new video style 🎥

[@PauliusCreates]

Thanks !!

[@RRGMOTORS]

I really enjoyed wtchng this fantastic video, Thanks for sharing

[@GoodtoKnowYT]

I've been contemplating moving to Spain for a few years now. The only thing stopping me is the lack of career opportunities... Your video is making me have a think again. Good stuff :)

[@kodymelo]

I am glad you posted a new video! I am planning on making my to Barcelona from Toronto this year and your videos have been extremely helpful :)

[@PauliusCreates]

Really happy to hear that and have a great move !

[@DiegoGZorrilla]

Boqueria is probably the worst market to do normal groceries. In Gràcia you can go to l'Abaceria, l'Estrella, Lesseps or any other municipal market.

[@anthonyschettino8257]

Awesome video! Music and B roll was on point. Also surprised how well the iPhone works as a mic! Keep it up dude.

[@PauliusCreates]

Thanks man ! Appreciate it , yea it definitely does surprisingly good job

[@marapixel]

Very good and accurated information about Barcelona.

[@juanfelipeguarin6025]

Thanks for the information

[@nadyayurukova]

I've been living in Barcelona for a little over 4 years too and this video is spot on. I also lived in Gracia for a couple years but then I decided to move to one of the small satellite towns of Barcelona, which is a pretty good deal, too. I recommend it if you want peace and quiet but also easy access to the city.

[@PauliusCreates]

Thanks ! I know quite few people do that, not gonna lie it crossed my mind few times too ! Out of curiosity which town did you move to ?

[@ChrisAlta]

Great video Paulius. Can’t relate to the Barcelona summer heat of 33 C since it hits 43 C where I live. While I was in Barcelona during the “heat” I felt like it was perfect.

[@PauliusCreates]

haha yea I guess it depends where you're coming from

[@JesseTechJess]

Loved it!!!

[@jk1112]

I´d say Raval is fine during daytime, during nighttime you should avoid it.

[@keensey5370]

Good video!

[@srenk9212]

Thanks for a great video. What would be a good salary to live comfortably in Barcelona? What do you spend on groceries, rent, etc on average?

[@PauliusCreates]

Hey , I have a video about it , it's from last year. Was thinking to do a new one as well - updated, but last one covers most of the things ( things just got a bit more expensive since last time ) :)

[@jacaranda199]

Hey whats the song at the intro?? Its really good and I cant find it online via the lyrics

[@PauliusCreates]

Hey , it's My Valentine - Roy Edwin Williams , I got it from epidemic sound :)

[@RiddimKingdom]

Can you do a video solely on cheap places to eat out and buy groceries. Especially vegan and vegetarian

[@hockysa]

would recomment people playing a sport to find a circle of friends. First of all it's another way to be exposed to the language, second you often don't need much or any spoken language to communicate during play. I started jiu jitsu here and found I've been able to bond with people despite the language barrier.

[@orestes67]

I'm looking to move to Barcelona as a teacher of languages. Thank you so much for the information.

[@RiddimKingdom]

I’m wondering if you can ask your female friends how they feel about safety as a woman when it comes to cat-calling, men approaching them to ask them out or cornering them in alleys etc. This happens a lot to me and my female friends in London and it’s really scary as it doesn’t happen at all in my home country

[@PauliusCreates]

Sorry to hear that ! I'd lie if I said it doesn't happen. I think it depends on the time of the day and location as well. Say ramblas at night will be much worse than Gracia at night or Eixample during the day vs Raval.

[@rytismacevicius842]

Man labai patinka tavo video, aš pats kitą mėnesį važiuoju į Barseloną ir jie man labai padėjo pasiruošti ir apskritai suprasti, kas manęs ten gali sulaukti

[@PauliusCreates]

Džiugu girdėt ! Puikios kelionės :)

[@sharas19]

Who is Danny? 🤔

[@adambriceland6588]

I have been to Barcelona five times and this year will be my sixth. I seriously doubt that just speaking Catalan is what the locals look for. There is both rude and friendly people in Barcelona like everywhere else. It really just depends. Either you are a racist or you're not. I can understand speaking some Catalan but I don't think it is that black and white. I can understand if you are in a rural area of Catalonia or something but in the city it is very multicultural. I say people should look at peoples body language, gestures and effort to be respectful as opposed to what language they are always speaking. The language thing is not the half of it.

[@Chinedu311]

Did you go to a school to learn spanish? What learning methods will you say were effective for you?

[@PauliusCreates]

yes I did, there are schools called CFA's in each neighbourhood they run as normal school ( September to something like June ) and are really cheap. It was really helpful, not only from material they teach but also just being exposed to the language and forced to speak it. Also Paul Noble's audio books ( I think there are physical ones too ) are great and that's what I used at the beginning. Later on you can watch movies/tv series ( that's what I am doing now ) to sort of further improve , because at the start it's pretty much impossible to understand/learn or correct yourself just from tv series alone.

[@Chinedu311]

@PauliusCreates Thank you very much, I watched your other videos and found where you mentioned CFA. I will look for one close to me. Would i be able to combine this with a 9-5 job. I tried the movies/series and I was lost. I subscribed to your channel too 😀

[@PauliusCreates]

@@Chinedu311 no worries. Yes , they normally have times after work, I’ve done it for 3 years :)

[@user-jv1kg1pl8k]

haha i asked you about valencia before and dani told me to move to valencia :D

[@RiddimKingdom]

The worst crime and bag snatching I’ve seen anywhere was in Valencia

[@user-jv1kg1pl8k]

@@RiddimKingdom this is not the first time i hear this. i'll go there next month, i should be careful :D

[@kleinbaas1925]

BCN is great - if you steer clear of the locals - they so lame.

[@janjarauta8706]

The reason why many Catalan are not keen on the idea of expats is because the Catalan language and culture are already in regression and the massive arrival of expats is not improving the situation. I understand that, as an outsider, it might look like we don't like the people or that we are closed, but we are just trying to protect our culture. If you are planning to stay in Barcelona we'll receive you with open arms but please learn the language. If you were going to live to Amsterdam you would learn Dutch or French if you were moving to Paris. In the case of Barcelona you will have to learn Catalan if you want to truly experience Barcelona and Catalunya. Spanish is not the language of Barcelona or Catalunya. Catalan is just as important as Spanish, if you look it like something optional the locals will not be as open because it is looked as insult to the culture. Obviously we don't blame expats for not knowing this information or for causing a regression in Catalan language (although it is a contributing factor). Just take this information into account if you are coming and we will gladly welcome you.

[@PauliusCreates]

Thanks for sharing your point of view

[@carloscquesada]

Bro I also live in Barcelona, don't waste your time learning Catalan, it's like learning Dutch or Swedish, just why would you waste your time if you can use Spanish and English instead lol, just find something more productive to do... and for the Catalans obsessed about a language: guys, get over it, there are more important things in life. Salaries here are ridiculous compared to European standards and all you care about is language, grow up!

[@RiddimKingdom]

We get that and understand that and find it very exciting to learn the language but you also have to know it takes years to learn a language, not just a few weeks. You wouldn’t expect to speak fluent mandarin yourself if you moved to China - it would take you a long time and you’d have to get by in the common language English first the mean time. Same goes for us expats in Barcelona. We try and we obviously have a passion and love for your country - that’s why we live there, it just takes time. So be patient with us ❤🫶🏾

[@carloscquesada]

@@RiddimKingdom if they made that effort to fight for higher salaries and more job opportunities, the region would be a lot better than if all they care about is a language...

[@El-ww5zx]

@@PauliusCreates Also the socialization system is different, try to join a cultural/sport group... Better if it's something like castells or a futsal league.

[@bragoss4290]

regardless of what you do as a job you should learn Catalan

[@RiddimKingdom]

London has absolutely awful working hours. Some of the worst in the world, not even a paid lunch break. Hate it

[@6re881]

The city is overcrowded with low cost Tourism. How its impossible to live on a basic salary since a room in a flat share cost €600 per month or studio appartment will cost you €1100 per month. Also if you live in touristic area be ready to deal with the constant noise of the party people showing non-respect to the locals. The city is plagued with thieves and squatters called okupas here. The traffic is horrible. Sadly Barcelona has lost its identity. Now its 100% an attraction park for tourist. Don't go to Raval at night and don't use your mobile phone on the street.

[@jefazo]

I'm surprised his camera wasn't stolen during filming by an immigrant.