Why hunting for unskilled work in Spain's big cities is a losing bet
Earning €1,000 and paying €500 for a bed in Barcelona is the norm. Looking for unskilled work in major Spanish cities is a costly mistake.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Unskilled jobs in big cities like Madrid or Barcelona miccionan paying exorbitant rents that swallow most of your salary, making saving impossible.
The age-old dilemma of making a living in big cities becomes especially cruel when it comes to jobs that don't require high qualifications. You might think that the job offer in places like **Madrid** or **Barcelona** makes up for rising prices, but reality is stubborn and hits you right in the wallet. Rent, that expense that keeps us up at night, skyrockets in these cities. We're talking about around **€30 per square metre**, according to data from **Idealista**.
## The mirage of the capital salary
A waiter, for example, earning around **€1,000 net** a month finds that half or even more goes just on paying for a room, sometimes even just a bed. That leaves little or nothing for unexpected expenses, leisure or, most importantly, for saving. The idea of getting ahead or improving your situation fades away when the cost of living eats up most of your income.
## More sensible alternatives
Compared with this, looking for a similar job in mid-sized cities, such as **Elda** (with **55,000 inhabitants**) or any other provincial capital in inland Spain, can be a much smarter move. Rents drop drastically, sometimes to a third of what they cost in the big cities, sitting at around **€10 per square metre**. And although the salary may be a bit lower, the difference in costs means your real purchasing power is greater and saving becomes a tangible possibility.
## Is there really no work outside the big cities?
It's a widespread myth that there are no job opportunities in small or medium-sized cities. The reality is that jobs as waiters, bricklayers, electricians or plumbers are needed all over the country. We're not talking about villages of a thousand inhabitants, but towns with enough services and population where quality of life can be significantly better without sacrificing the chance to prosper financially.
The age-old dilemma of making a living in big cities becomes especially cruel when it comes to jobs that don't require high qualifications. You might think that the job offer in places like **Madrid** or **Barcelona** makes up for rising prices, but reality is stubborn and hits you right in the wallet. Rent, that expense that keeps us up at night, skyrockets in these cities. We're talking about around **€30 per square metre**, according to data from **Idealista**.
## The mirage of the capital salary
A waiter, for example, earning around **€1,000 net** a month finds that half or even more goes just on paying for a room, sometimes even just a bed. That leaves little or nothing for unexpected expenses, leisure or, most importantly, for saving. The idea of getting ahead or improving your situation fades away when the cost of living eats up most of your income.
## More sensible alternatives
Compared with this, looking for a similar job in mid-sized cities, such as **Elda** (with **55,000 inhabitants**) or any other provincial capital in inland Spain, can be a much smarter move. Rents drop drastically, sometimes to a third of what they cost in the big cities, sitting at around **€10 per square metre**. And although the salary may be a bit lower, the difference in costs means your real purchasing power is greater and saving becomes a tangible possibility.
## Is there really no work outside the big cities?
It's a widespread myth that there are no job opportunities in small or medium-sized cities. The reality is that jobs as waiters, bricklayers, electricians or plumbers are needed all over the country. We're not talking about villages of a thousand inhabitants, but towns with enough services and population where quality of life can be significantly better without sacrificing the chance to prosper financially.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (1 replies).
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