British man orders Chinese food in Spain and is flabbergasted by price

The dream of relocating to a sun-kissed paradise is common - with Spain frequently topping the list for Brits craving warmer climates. The allure is not only due to the glorious sunshine; many are enticed by the promise of a blissful work-life balance and a lower cost of living.

However, one British expat has thrown a spanner in the works with his eye-opening revelations about the true cost of Spanish living. Harry, known as on TikTok, who lives in Benidorm, recently ventured to a resort near Marbella and was gobsmacked by the prices, warning that "Spain is not as cheap as you think" and says costs are going "up and up and up".

During his stay in Puerto Banus, just a stone's throw from Marbella, Harry found himself reeling from the lavish spending required there. He shared: "I'm currently in Puerto Banus, just outside of Marbella, and in the last couple of days, I've spent more money than I probably spend in a whole month in Benidorm. How crazy is that?"

He added: "Honestly, the living down here-the prices are absolutely ridiculous. For a meal in a restaurant here, you're going to be looking at anywhere between 50 and 75 euros for one person. If you're lucky, you might get a good meal for two people for around 70 to 80 quid.

One particular moment that shocked him recently had to do with a Chinese meal he ordered, which came with a huge bill. Harry explained: "I went to a Chinese restaurant last night and spent nearly 150 euros. Don't get me wrong, it's absolutely brilliant, but then on the other side of the spectrum, I could be in Benidorm and get three different meals at a Chinese restaurant for the same money.

"So it is very, very expensive, but it is a different way of life here. It's very, very different to Benidorm. I've actually been here a few times and I really, really like it. What do you guys think?

Harry explained that most areas of Spain are becoming more costly. He shared: "Spain as a whole has become really expensive recently; everything's just going up and up and up. So it's not as cheap as you think, honestly. There are definitely a lot of other places out there that are a lot cheaper. Is it worth it? Yes, 100%. It's just very, very expensive. What's your thoughts, guys?"

The video quickly racked up more than 70,000 views, sparking a number of comments, many of which disagreed with Harry's perspective.

One user suggested looking beyond Marbella: "Go to Cadiz, Alicante, Sevilla, even Madrid and then talk, Marbella is not a reference, it's the most expensive city in Spain".

Others thought it was silly to compare the two areas: "its like comparing Monaco to Brighton" and another quipped: "Honey Marbella its the Spanish Hamptons what did u expect?".

One commentator even advised Harry could find better value just a stone's throw away: "San Pedro Alcantara (also part of Marbella) is 5 minutes from Puerto Banus and you can eat way cheaper and much better. This is a luxury zone. What do you expect?"

Meanwhile, some joked that prices might have been hiked specifically for tourists like Harry. One suggested: "It's because they don't want usual tourists. It's just prices for tourists.We locals get the food and drinks cheaper."