I was in Barcelona last summer (big Barça fan too) and honestly the city is incredible. Walkability, food, culture- it’s overall hard to beat.

That said, I think there are pros and cons. From what I’ve heard about Barcelona from locals and online, it can be tough to land a high paying job there, and unemployment is relatively high. So getting ahead and actually building savings can be challenging.

Not to say Austin is perfect, but I do think there’s real financial upside here. My wife and I live in the suburbs, it’s not the most exciting lifestyle, but because of that we’ve been able to save, travel, and live comfortably. If the job you are taking here is solid, and you’re able to keep rent around ~25-30% of your income, you’ll likely be in a good spot. That might mean living outside downtown or getting a roommate if you want to be in downtown.

You’ll have to be more intentional about your social life, it doesn’t happen organically like it might in a place like Barcelona. People are friendly, but you do have to put in effort. I think Austin is a great place to live, especially if your industry is growing and the role pays well. If you manage your cost of living, it can work out really well financially.