Brit living in Benidorm returns to UK and is floored by supermarket prices

Harry Poulton, 25, has lived in Benidorm for seven years and has built a career as a travel content creator on the Costa Blanca

Many Brits choose to leave the UK and relocate overseas in pursuit of sunnier climates, a more relaxed pace of life and reduced living costs. Nevertheless, one British expat who moved to Benidorm seven years ago but is presently back in the UK has admitted to making an unexpected realisation during a shopping trip.

Harry Poulton developed a passion for the Alicante area as a teenager and made it his permanent home at 18.

Since relocating, he’s established himself as a travel content creator on the Costa Blanca, providing advice to prospective expats alongside recommendations for tourists visiting Benidorm. “Benidorm isn’t as cheap as I always thought it was,” he disclosed in a TikTok video recorded inside a Lidl store.

Harry, 25, added: “The one thing I have noticed that when comparing an English [or British] supermarket to Spanish one… I always thought they [Spanish] were super, super cheap.”

His visit back to the UK altered his viewpoint, though, reports the Mirror.

While recognising that the selection of products available in both nations can differ significantly, particular items are clearly more affordable in Britain.

Harry highlighted cornflour at 79p and custard at 59p as key illustrations before scrutinising the price of fresh goods.

“Look at the prices of the meat, the milk and butter – everything is so much cheaper [than in Spain],” he stated. Harry drew attention to a packet of lean pork mince priced at £1.89 and bacon at £1.69 as further examples of items that carry a heftier price tag abroad.

“Everything is just 10 times’ cheaper,” he concluded.

One TikTok user conceded: “Food is certainly cheaper in the UK, but the quality of life is much better in Spain.”

A second person added: “The independent owned shops tend to charge more in Benidorm in my experience.”

A third pointed out that Harry may be comparing shelf prices in the UK to import prices in Benidorm.

While a fourth leapt to Spain’s defence, taking a swipe at Harry: “Absolute bull, if you go to inland Spain’s non-tourist areas it’s a lot cheaper.

“It’s the same in restaurants where there’s a tourist menu and a non-tourist menu, sorry I disagree.”

Looking for more from MyLondon? Subscribe to our daily newsletters here for the latest and greatest updates from across London.