London to Barcelona: A Consultant's Commute Story

Ethan Spibey first visited Barcelona in 2013 while studying economics and Spanish as part of a four-year degree in the United Kingdom. He spent a year in the city and immediately loved the food, culture, and beaches. He noted that the city is relatively affordable, the weather is amazing, and the people are beautiful.

After graduating in 2014 and starting his career in London, Spibey returned to Barcelona almost every year. These frequent visits demonstrated how easy the journeys were and proved that commuting between the UK and Spain was viable. He observed that there were multiple flights a day, with return tickets typically costing around £60 ($80). This was significantly cheaper than his monthly London railcard, which cost £130 ($174).

The cost of living also played a major role in his decision. Spibey compared the prices in Barcelona to London, noting that life is much better value in Spain. He cited an example from a restaurant beneath his apartment where it is difficult to spend more than £35 on a meal for two. Additionally, coffees in Barcelona cost roughly half of what they did in London.

By his early 30s, Ethan Spibey was well-established in Westminster as a director at a communications agency. However, by 2024, he felt he was facing a life he did not want, characterized by constant promotions, rising rents, and living in suburbia. He did not plan to have children, which removed the usual excuses for prioritizing stability over risk. For Spibey, striving for independence was the most important factor.

In the summer of 2024, Spibey and his husband committed to moving to Barcelona. The question of work remained. His husband, a self-employed stock trader, could work from anywhere. However, Spibey knew he could not move with his existing job due to company policies and tax implications. He faced two options: find a new role with a Spanish employer or start his own business.

He chose the latter, deciding to quit his job and launch a UK-based consultancy while living mostly in Spain. This allowed him to leverage his UK-based network. At the end of 2024, he left his job and founded Born Advisory, named after his favorite neighborhood in Barcelona, El Born. The business provides bespoke training to CEOs to help them connect more effectively through interviews and public speaking.

Spibey maintains a strict commuting schedule, flying from Barcelona to London twice a month. He typically lands at around 10 a.m. on Tuesday mornings and catches the 6 p.m. flight back on Wednesday. While this sounds like a hassle, he believes waking up in Barcelona is worth the extra hour or two of commuting each month.

The logistics of the move were facilitated by his personal life. Spibey is married to a German citizen, which qualified him for a spousal visa. Because both Germany and Spain are in the European Union, citizens can live and work freely across member states. He noted that without this route, he would have needed an entrepreneurial or digital nomad visa, both of which are harder to secure. His visa was approved in 2025 after a wait of more than six months.

Regarding accommodation in London, Spibey usually stays with friends when attending meetings. If necessary, he can book a budget hotel room for approximately £100. He considers this a negligible business expense. Ultimately, he believes the mental health benefits of living in Barcelona far outweigh any cost or inconvenience associated with the travel.

Since making the move, Ethan Spibey feels he has taken absolute responsibility for what he wants to do with his life. He describes the decision as the most refreshing and invigorating choice he has ever made. He believes his clients are happy with his work because he is personally invested in it, a feeling he did not have when he was simply taking home a salary.

Spibey encourages others to consider their own timelines. In 2024, he asked himself, "If not now, when?" He acknowledges that it is easy to make excuses for years, but ultimately, life is short. He is glad he eventually made the decision to relocate and take the risk over stability.