Barcelona: 26 Degrees in September and Sky-High Prices Spark Debate

Barcelona: 26 Degrees in September and Prices That Don't Add Up

The thread portrays Barcelona as a daily logistical problem. One forum user claims the thermometer hit 26 degrees in late September; a bus strike is mentioned, and several participants complain about prices. The discussion centers on whether the city remains livable.

The discontent has arguments, and counterarguments. These are the main points.

Weather Out of Sync

For those experiencing it, 26 degrees in late September isn't just an anecdote: they see it as a sign that the climate calendar is out of order. Some argue that humid heat, lingering until well into November, makes daily life uncomfortable: poor sleep, difficulty moving around, and needing air conditioning when it should be off. The most ambitious theory goes further: prosperous regions have historically had average annual temperatures between 10 and 20 degrees, with distinct seasons. When a city exceeds 20 degrees on average, this reasoning suggests, it ceases to be first-world.

The counterexample is Singapore: humid heat year-round and a top-tier economy, thanks to air conditioning everywhere. The link between climate and prosperity falters when an entire country contradicts it.

Is it Cheaper to Live in a Small Town Than Barcelona?

The usual advice—move to a small town—faces a numbers problem. A resident in a municipality of 1,000 inhabitants notes that the local supermarket is more expensive and exploits the elderly. The municipal pool costs 6 euros; in the Barcelona area, 3 or 4. According to this account, rural savings on basic groceries don't always materialize.

One forum user claims a house in the depopulated areas of Spain can be bought for about 30,000 euros, and those who don't leave lack even that. Other posts add that jobs are scarce there, services are distant, and reliance on a vehicle is necessary.

Amusement Park for Tourists and Displaced Residents

One forum user summarizes the diagnosis: the city "has become an amusement park for tourists who visit for two days, because by the third they realize it's a quagmire." Meanwhile, some accounts describe tents and people sleeping on the streets as a now-common sight in certain areas.

In the thread, overcrowding appears as a nuisance and part of the general discontent with the city.

Politics as a Scapegoat

A significant portion of the discontent points to the political class. One forum user argues that the city hasn't recovered since Ada Colau's term as mayor.

The thread also jokes that you can't change the temperature by voting.

What Comes Next

The thread offers no single conclusion: some consider the city lost, while others still debate whether the problem can be fixed. No one, for now, has the solution.