Looking for British Expats in Alicante?

Thinking about moving to Alicante as a Briton? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2024 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year. The points below reflect what British expats in Alicante wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.

• The weather is the number-one draw. Sunshine dominates the answers, and 91% of expats in Alicante rate the climate and weather positively, against a global average of 58%.

• Your money goes further. 75% rate the general cost of living positively (vs. 40% globally) and 68% housing affordability, buying a relaxed, outdoor life.

• Healthcare and clean air reassure. 83% rate healthcare affordability positively and 87% air quality, well above global averages.

• It's warm, social, and easy to settle. 83% rate locals as friendly and 62% say making local friends is easy (vs. 39% globally), and 86% are happy with life there.

• Bureaucracy is the main gripe. Just 31% of expats in Alicante find it easy to deal with local authorities, and residency paperwork can drag on for months.

• Careers and pay are thin. Only 32% rate the local job market positively and 35% say the move improved their career prospects (vs. 56% globally).

• It's not business-friendly. Britons point to high taxes and red tape as real obstacles to working for themselves.

• The language takes effort. Just over half get by or learn Spanish easily, and official business in Spanish trips people up.

For Britons, Alicante is close to the dream: sunshine, low costs, healthcare, and a relaxed, friendly, outdoor life. The trade-offs are bureaucracy and a weak job market, so it suits retirees and remote workers more than career-builders.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys among expats — asking them about various aspects of their life, from work to leisure. Learn what motivated our British members to move abroad, what keeps them there, and what they struggle with or miss about home.

With InterNations, British expats in Alicante are able to find both the help they need as well as lots of valuable information. The historic port city offers so much for expats to explore - our community helps you enjoy your stay to the fullest.

• Look through our Members Network to connect with Alicante’s British expats.
• Become active in our Expat Forums in order to find insider tips and suggestions from fellow British expats in Alicante.
• Make full use of the Expat Guide for Alicante to obtain important information on your temporary home abroad.

Our Alicante community is also lively and welcoming offline. The InterNations Ambassadors host regular get-togethers and a range of expat activities, e.g. a chic dining experience in Alicante’s trendiest restaurant or a get-away with fellow British expats to discover the thriving capital, the vibrant Catalonian coastal city of Barcelona. These activities make it easy for you to get to know other expats from United Kingdom in your local community and meet Brits in Spain in a comfortable setting. If this sounds interesting to you, simply sign up for membership – we are looking forward to welcoming you among our Brits living in Alicante!