Latest news with #Expatistan
The Irish Sun
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Inside UK's day drinking booze binge hotspot where revellers enjoy ‘sex acts' in streets & pass out on dirty pavements
ON a sunny Saturday afternoon the streets of this UK city are full of boozed up revellers, dressed to the nines or parading their stag and hens in fancy dress. It's 3pm and everywhere you look it's a riotous scene, but with mums pushing babies in buggies past bulging bars it feels inappropriately early and what happens next stops me in my tracks. Advertisement 11 Michelle regales the times she went out boozing in Cardiff but preferred evening trips instead of daytime Credit: SUPPLIED 11 Michelle visited the Welsh capital on payday weekend and reveals what she uncovered Credit: WNS 11 A group of women let their hair down on a warm payday weekend in Cardiff Credit: WNS I'm standing on Cardiff's St Mary Street on a payday weekend and watch as a man gropes and humps a blow up doll in front of streams of shoppers and children heading towards the train station. Two tween girls trailing behind their mums on a shopping trip stop and gawp along with me. Advertisement Further up the street a girl gang starts to simulate oral sex and a doggy style threesome, enjoying the attention from the camera but carelessly shoulder barging an elderly woman in the process. Moments later a woman passes by chugging fizzy wine from the bottle. Just metres from Cardiff's oldest shopping arcade, a boozed up bloke is laid out on the pavement while a kind cafe worker offers him a cup of water. The listed arcades are full of shoppers cutting through who are greeted by his figure spread out on the floor. The daytime drinking culture is booming in this city and data suggests it is being driven by revellers wanting to avoid pricey cabs and catch public transport home to keep costs down. A study by Infinity Calculator analysed data on the most populated areas in the UK via cost of living calculator Expatistan to find where people can enjoy a night out at the lowest cost. It revealed that Cardiff's spend was £27.33, where the average cost of a pint of beer is a mere £3.43. Advertisement It's not just anti-social behaviour causing problems. The fallout of Welsh drinking culture is huge. I've had my fair share of wild Cardiff nights out. During my party girl heyday I wouldn't have dreamt of booking a taxi to the club until at least 11pm. I remember throwing up for hours, and sharing booze with a homeless man...I was a nightmare in a short skirt Michelle We'd start at home with rounds of cheap supermarket booze before heading into town to unleash our debauched behaviour under the cover of darkness. I used to clock off from my waitressing shift and head straight to the clubs. It was after midnight - who cared if I was twerking in a sauce stained apron? Advertisement I hazily remember throwing up for hours in the toilets of a strip club and sharing booze with a homeless man at a taxi rank - I was a nightmare in a short skirt. Now revellers are partying with the same abandon but at 3pm, as toddlers grip their parents hands in horror. The St Mary Street scene caught the eye of coal miner Glyndwr Roberts, 48, as we stood side by side on the pavement. 11 A reveller in one of Cardiff's 300 bars with an inflatable doll Credit: WNS 11 Glyndwr says his Saturday shopping trips are spoiled by boozy brunches Credit: WNS Advertisement Chuckling and shaking his head, Glyndwr, who is in the city to socialise with work pals, said: 'It's an eye opener, seeing kids walking past him with a blow up doll. They're seeing things at an early age they shouldn't. It's not right. I can't believe my eyes. 'My two boys are 24 and 17 now. It's totally different from when they were little. We'd never have come out to be near this and it wouldn't be happening in the day. 'I look out for everyone. I tell the boys from work to mind their language around kids in town but if you see me at midnight it will be a different story.' Cardiff Council's Cumulative Impact Assessment states that 'Cardiff's City Centre has a thriving day and night-time economy with an average daily footfall of 70,000 and an annual footfall of over 40 million". It continues: 'People are drawn to the City Centre for its numerous shops, bars, restaurants and entertainment venues including the Principality Stadium, all of which are situated in a small walkable area.' Advertisement Crime hot spot But with more than 300 licensed premises in a half a mile radius St Mary Street has become a hot spot for crime, arguably being fuelled by booze. The harms of binge drinking The NHS defines binge drinking as 'drinking heavily over a short space of time'. More than 8 units of alcohol in a single session for males, or more than 6 units in a single session for females is the technical definition, according to Drinkaware. That's equivalent to about four pints of normal strength beer for a man or three pints for a woman. When you binge drink, other than getting drunk, your heart rate and blood pressure will rise. It can cause irregular heartbeats, known as arrhythmias. Alcohol increases stomach acid production - queue the nausea and potentially vomiting. You're also likely to experience impaired judgement, coordination, memory blackouts and poor decision making. This could lead to accidents, falls, drownings and other mistakes. Long term, binge drinking can cause acute liver damage and increase the risk of chronic liver diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. Cardiovascular problems include cardiomyopathy - which is when the heart loses the ability to pump blood efficiently - and an increased risk of stroke. Over time, binge drinking can contribute to permanent brain damage. This may present as a mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression. Binge drinking can also lead to alcohol dependence, or "addiction". In 2023, South Wales Police Personally I avoid it if I head to the capital with my two boys who are seven and four. As a local I know how to navigate the city to skip past the reams of packed smoking areas pumping out clouds of vape smoke and expletives. Instead I head out of the train station towards Westgate Street, avoiding the crush of the packed pavements by Walkabout, Coyote Ugly and The Prince of Wales Wetherspoon. But plenty of dumbstruck tourists and shoppers didn't get the memo last Saturday and found themselves in the midst of stag parties dressed in drag, hens out as scantily clad cowgirls and a birthday troupe in full Avengers superhero garb. Advertisement "Upset and intimidated" Daniella Thomas, 29, was out in the bars celebrating a birthday. She works in hospitality and said: 'It's a wicked atmosphere being out on a sunny day and people like to get their drinking done early, catch the train home and be in bed by ten. You can still get a good sleep and less of a hangover that way.' 11 A man lays on the pavement in the city centre where a cafe worker offers him water Credit: Supplied 11 Drinking starts early in Cardiff as one woman takes a swig from a bottle of wine Credit: WNS 11 Cardiff is a popular spot for stag and hen dos Credit: WNS Trying to keep the city enjoyable but safe is FOR Cardiff, the Welsh capital's business improvement district that works with city centre organisations of all types. Advertisement Carolyn Brownell is the Executive Director, she said: 'A lot goes on behind the scenes around creating that welcoming environment. 'Safety is a really important element of what FOR Cardiff does. We lead the Women's Safety Network in Cardiff, our Night Marshal teams provide a reassuring presence in the city centre during the busiest times, offering support to the public getting home safely and through our Safe Places scheme we invite venues to offer refuge to anyone feeling vulnerable.' The work behind the scenes is paying off as Cardiff has received Purple Flag accreditation for a seventh year, in recognition of its commitment to creating a dynamic, secure, and vibrant evening and night-time economy for all. Purple Flag – similar to the Blue Flag for beaches – aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between 5 pm and 5 am. But what about the day time? Advertisement I spoke to parents who felt upset and intimidated by the rowdy behaviour in town during their Saturday shopping trip. "It's chaos on a Saturday" Lauren Moyle, 30, is a shop sales assistant and a mum-of-one. She chatted to me outside TK Maxx, saying: 'When I got on the train we knew it was going to be chaos. We made a plan to avoid parts of town where the drinkers are and get what we need and get out. 11 Lauren and her daughter actively avoid certain areas of the city centre when shopping on a Saturday Credit: WNS 11 The city's attracts thousands of people on weekends and pavements are packed full Credit: WNS 'Shopping isn't enjoyable when town is packed. You're on edge a bit keeping everyone safe. The language is shocking too.' Advertisement Lauren's friend Chloe Wallis is 33 and a mum-of-four. She added: 'If you go to St Mary Street you assume you'll hear the language and see all the drunk behaviour so we avoid there but it spreads into town. We just took the kids for a Burger King and groups in there were effing and blinding. It's not acceptable. 'But I don't feel able to say anything, it's too intimidating and I have to keep the kids safe. It's a shame but we do avoid town because of it usually.' Some of the conditions that need to be met for a premises to sell alcohol include taking measures to prevent public nuisance and protect children from harm. I asked Cardiff council if enough is being done to safeguard families in Cardiff city centre from day time drinkers. They said: 'We continue to work with our partners in South Wales Police and in FOR Cardiff to find the right balance in the city centre, so that everyone can enjoy their visit. Advertisement 'We also have our own Council staff on the ground. For example, our team of wardens operate Tuesday to Saturday, reporting and acting to stop anti-social behaviour they encounter throughout the day and into the early evening on Friday and Saturday. 'Our licensing team also visits licensed premises to ensure they are well managed and compliant with their Premises Licence.' I'm not a prude or a bore but families have a right to enjoy public spaces without being subjected to riotous swearing, simulated sex acts and drunken antics from boozed up party animals. I'd welcome any steps to make our Capital more family friendly during busy weekends. But after spending all afternoon with revellers I decided if you can't beat them, join them and end the day sitting in the sunshine enjoying a large glass of rose before heading home. 11 Michelle now avoids heading to the capital on a weekend with her two children Credit: Supplied Advertisement
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Finding UAE's new golden visa policy too tempting to resist? Consider these factors before committing as warned by this social media user
High cost of living a major factor to consider Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills What is the UAE's new golden visa policy all about? Why is the UAE's golden visa so sought-after? UAE's latest golden visa policy by way of nomination, which allows individuals to obtain the country's coveted golden visa for a lifetime, all by paying a one-time fee of Rs 23.3 lakh, or AED 100,000 has caused quite a stir online, with more and more Indians looking at this as a cost-effective way to obtain unfettered personal and professional access to the thriving middle-eastern amidst all this, an X user by the username of Backpacking Daku, who claims to have travelled to 50+ countries and has expertise in areas of visa assistance and travel planning, highlights a sobering reality- the sky-high cost of living in DubaiGetting a golden visa by paying around Rs 23 lakh is just the start. According to Daku, a single person living on rent outside the city centre in a 1 BHK and having a car, will incur approximately Rs 2.81 lakh as monthly figure will climb to Rs 3.94 lakh per month for a couple living in similar circumstances, he further explains. Similarly, a couple with 2 kids studying in a private school, living on rent in a 1 BHK outside the city centre with a car will have to dish out Rs 4.97 lakh in monthly expenses, he all these calculations, he emphasises, include eating 10% of meals per month outside, car usage, public transport pass, occasional purchase of clothes and many other basic expenses, it does not take into account many other significant expenses such as insurance, healthcare expenses, parking fees, or domestic in its pilot phase for residents of India and Bangladesh, the UAE's new policy allows individuals to get a golden visa to the UAE for a lifetime by paying Rs 23.3 lakh. As of July 7, 2025, one AED is equal to Rs Indians had to have a minimum investment of Rs 4.66 crore, or AED 2 million, in the region's real estate to secure a golden visa. This visa would become invalid if the property in question were the new policy, applicants can be nominated, depending on their professions and how much they can potentially contribute to the UAE's economy, particularly when it comes to culture, trade, science, finance or startups. The final decision on whether or not to grant the visa, however, will depend on the UAE the Indian diaspora in the UAE already makes for the largest expatriate community in the country, many web-based sources like Numbeo and Expatistan, which offer a comparative estimate of the cost of living in various cities across the globe, highlight that on average, Dubai is far more expensive than many Indian metros like Delhi or to Numbeo, Dubai is 162.4% more expensive than Bangalore, exclusive of rent. Moreover, rent in Dubai is, on average, 550.2% higher than in Bangalore. Similarly, when compared to Delhi, Expatistan, another crowd-sourced data site for cost of living comparisons, states that the cost of living in Delhi (India) is 68% cheaper than in Dubai (United Arab Emirates).The UAE has zero personal income tax, no capital gains tax, and no inheritance tax. The golden visa allows Indians to access residency rights and these benefits in the region, by offering a renewable residency visa for 5 or 10 years, without having to show a local sponsor. Individuals won't lose their residency status even if they live outside of the UAE for over 6 months. The primary visa holder can sponsor as many of their family members as they like, who can stay back in the UAE even after his or her proposition may appeal to many Indians who have global income and want to avoid tax. The cost of living may also come down as a person moves away from the city centre. Therefore, the net financial benefit will vary from person to person. If you are planning to make a move you must evaluate all these factors before going ahead.
Local Spain
15-04-2025
- Business
- Local Spain
Spain crowned best country for Americans to retire to
Spain has long been a popular country for Europeans to retire to due to its great climate, relatively low cost of living, vibrant culture and strong social communities. Now a new study from Global Citizen Solutions, an investment migration consultancy firm, classes Spain as the top country for US nationals to retire to as well. The study is based on the firm's Global Intelligence Unit's Retirement Index which looks at factors such as living expenses, healthcare and retirement visa options. Spain ranked first place on the index, beating the likes of Portugal at number two, Costa Rica at number three, Uruguay at number four and Mexico at number five. It scored 100 points in their US Retirement Trend report, due to its low cost of living, excellent quality of life, good public and private healthcare systems and visas for being able to move there. According to the price comparison website Expatistan, the cost of living in United States is 75 percent higher than in Spain. For example, it states that living in Madrid is 67 percent less than in New York, 49 percent cheaper than San Francisco, 46 percent more inexpensive than Miami and 39 percent cheaper than in Los Angeles. Spain ranked as the second in terms of its healthcare system, fifth on climate, and sixth in terms of flight distance from the United States. It also ranked seventh due to its relatively low crime rate, "despite the fact that petty theft can occur in tourist areas like Madrid and Barcelona', the company reported. The report suggests that Madrid is a popular choice for American retirees, 'known for its culture and history' and praises it for its low cost of living. It suggests that a single person can live in the capital for around $2000 to $2500 USD per month – the equivalent of €1,765 to €2,207. But it's worth keeping in mind this might be a little low given the current rising costs in Spain. For example, it says you can rent a one-bedroom apartment in central Madrid for $1,322.50 USD, which is €1,176.33. This is low given the fact that Idealista has the average rental price down in central Madrid as €25.7 /m2. This would be at least €1,542 for even a small apartment of 60m2. So if you are thinking of retiring here it's worth budgeting a little more than perhaps you've been led to believe. The index also took into account the visa options that Americans could use to retire to Spain. It states that the 'Non-Lucrative Visa is perfect for those who want to live in Spain without working'. In order to be eligible for the NLV you need to show you have savings or passive income of €28,800 per year or €36,000 for a couple. This is currently equivalent to $32,571.08 or $40,718.45 per year. You also need to have private health insurance. The report also says that the Golden Visa is another good option, for those making a real estate investment of more than €500,000, but unfortunately this is no longer an option as the Spanish government decided to cancel it. It officially ended on April 3red 2025. This means that the NLV is really the only visa option for Americans to retire to Spain. Many of the reasons it gives for retiring to Spain are reasons that other American readers gave The Local Spain for moving here. Among the most popular reasons were the getting away from the current political situation, safer and a better quality of life, as well as the lower cost of living. In fact, the number of Americans living in Spain soared by 10,000 in two years according to official data.
Local Spain
11-03-2025
- Business
- Local Spain
How much cheaper is life in Spain than the US in 2025?
The number of Americans living in Spain increased by a staggering 10,000 from 2022 to 2024, new official data shows, with the stats for the whole of last year yet to be released. We recently covered the reasons why so many Americans are moving to Spain, which range from the political situation in the US to more safety and better quality of life in Spain. But in this article we're going to break down just how much cheaper life in Spain is compared to the US, and how much do you need to live comfortably here. According to the price comparison website Expatistan, the cost of living in United States is more expensive than in 93 percent of countries in the world, including Spain. In fact, the site states that in 2025 the cost of living in the United States is a whopping 75 percent more costly than in Spain. Food is 49 percent more expensive, housing is 112 percent higher in cost, transport is 70 percent more, personal care is 99 percent más caro ('more expensive' in Spanish), entertainment is 63 percent pricier and clothing - at least - is just two percent more expensive. Most expensive cities Madrid and Barcelona are the most expensive cities to live in Spain, so let's compare these to some of the most expensive places to live the US - New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami. The website states that living in Barcelona is 60 percent cheaper than living in New York, 47 percent cheaper than San Francisco, 43 percent cheaper than Miami and 32 percent cheaper than Los Angeles. When we compare these same cities against the capital of Spain, Madrid, we see that it's 67 percent less than in New York, 49 percent cheaper than San Francisco, 46 percent more inexpensive than Miami and 39 percent más barato ('cheaper' in Spanish) than in Los Angeles. According to the Price Index, the cost of living in Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca is equal to that of Louisville (Kentucky) or Green Bay (Wisconsin) and the cost of Madrid is similar to that of Tucson (Arizona). Other expensive cities to live in Spain include San Sebastián, Bilbao and Palma de Mallorca. The cheapest cities to live on the other hand according to a report by Kelisto insurance broker are Zamora in Castilla y León, Ciudad Real in Castilla-La Mancha and Lugo in Galicia. Expatistan states that a family of four would need an average estimated monthly cost of €3,495 which is equivalent to $3,815.47 USD, while a single person would need a an average of €1,843 per month or $2,012.14 USD. Renting and buying in Spain According to property portal Idealista the cost of rent in Spain is at a historic high at €14,0 /m2. This means that for an average 80m2 apartment you'd pay €1,120 per month. But keep in mind this will be much higher in popular cities - €21,2 /m2 in Madrid, €23,7 /m2 in Barcelona and €17,1 /m2 in Palma de Mallorca. Costs for buying a home in Spain are the highest since records began, with the latest data for February 2025 showing that the average price for a 100 sqm property is now over €220,000. Other expenses When it comes to other costs, Expatistan states that the average price of a transport ticket in Spain €29 ($31.66), a three-course dinner for two in a nice restaurant is €51 ($55.68), internet is €27 ($29.48) per month and bills are around €78 ($85.18) per month. Again, this can vary a lot depending on where you choose to live. Healthcare Healthcare is significantly cheaper in Spain. As everybody knows, the US health system does not provide universal healthcare for all its citizens and Spain mostly does. In Spain there is public healthcare system, which you have access to if you pay into the social security system. By contributing to social security you won't pay anything extra for healthcare, apart from subsidised prescriptions. All pregnant women and children will also be treated for free under the public system, regardless of whether they or their parents pay into the social security system. In 2022, U.S. healthcare spending reached $4.5 trillion, which averages to $13,493 per person. By comparison, the average cost of healthcare per person in other wealthy countries is less than half as much. If you don't pay into social security because you don't work or are not self-employed and pay it yourself, you will have to get private health insurance, but this will likely still be a lot lower than in the US. It can cost anywhere from €50 ($54.60) to €200 ($218.39) per month. If you've lived in Spain for a year or more you can also choose to pay to access the public health system under an agreement called the convenio especial. This costs €60 ($65.53) per month if you are under 65 and €157 ($171.49) if you are over 65. Costs in Spain are rising Keep in mind that Spain is not the cheap country it once was. It has suffered from inflation over the past few years like many countries and the cost of living has risen considerably. Food prices rose by 30.7 percent between December 2019 and August 2024, according to the latest data available from the Agri-Food sector report by Caixabank Research. Rent has increased in Spain by a whopping 78 percent over the last ten years. Nevertheless, inflation is spiking now to under President Trump in part due to this controversial tariffs, meaning that the cost of living in getting more expensive in the US too. Salaries Another important factor to keep in mind is the local salary. If you are moving to Spain on the digital nomad visa and you're earning a wage from a company in the US, you're in a very fortunate position as you'll be earning a lot more than the local population and therefore be able to afford a better lifestyle too. If you will be relying on the local job market, however, and want to earn a living that way, the cost of living will not be as affordable as you think. These figures differ from the most recent data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), from September 2024, which puts the average gross Spanish salary at €2,128.4 gross per month (gross annual salary of €26,948.87) This is equivalent to $29,392.46 USD per year. Keep in mind however the net salary will be hovering around €1,600 a month. This is much less than the average gross salary in the US which is $66,622, according to the latest data from the Social Security Administration. This is equivalent to €61,000, which is almost twice as what the average Spaniard makes. If you're planning on moving here with a US salary it's important that you're not adding to the issue of the housing crisis and paying over the odds for rent or buying a property just because you can. This pushes prices up for locals too who can't afford the same on their Spanish salary. Costs for housing, utility bills, travel, food are all expected to continue rising during 2025. Other things may surprise you that will actually be more expensive in Spain than back home. These include internet, banking services, taxes, being self-employed, as well as documents and bureaucracy.
