I live in Bulgaria. I have lived here for about 6 years now. Like many ex-pats, I bought a house here because the price of property in Bulgaria is much lower than in Spain. I love living in Bulgaria and I would hate to move back to the UK. But I have some friends in Spain and, from time to time, I have wondered whether life would be even better there.

Recently I had the chance to visit Spain and I took it. And I am glad that I did. I spent about 10 days in Andalucia, in a cottage near Marbella. Oh yes, the countryside is beautiful, and there are some magnificent villas there. But I now have no doubt that Bulgaria is a better place to buy a property than Spain. Why? Well here are just a few reasons.

1. I became aware, very quickly, that many of the Spanish people resent the British community. The Brits in Spain do not mingle with the local people. This does not help. In Bulgaria, the locals are friendly and the ex-pats join in with village celebrations. Of course we still have our ‘table top sales' where we can meet other ex-pats, buy British foods, etc. But we also talk to the Bulgarians, wave to them as we drive through the villages, and they accept us.
2. The wildfires in Spain are terrifying. Climate change is causing the summer temperatures to soar even higher. Combined with tinder-dry vegetation, the intense heat is making wildfires a common occurrence. While in Andalucia, I stood on a balcony and watched the glow as a huge fire spread across the countryside. Thousands of people were evacuated, some lost their lives and many others lost their homes. And the really scarey thing is that we were told that this fire was started deliberately.
3. Although the medical facilities in Spain are very good, many ex-pats are either being asked to pay before they are treated, or are even being refused treatment completely. In Bulgaria, some of the hospital buildings might be older, but the medical treatment is fast and efficient. The doctors are well qualified and thorough. And they treat you first, and ask questions about payment later!
4. The cost of living is so much lower in Bulgaria than in Spain. In general, things seem to cost about half as much in Bulgaria as they do in Spain. Groceries, clothes, dining out, medication, travel costs, even cigarettes and alcoholic drinks, all cost less in Bulgaria. Annual property taxes in Bulgaria are tiny – many owners pay in the region of 25 Euro per year – and it is possible to live comfortably on a standard UK pension.

While in Spain, I talked to many ex-pats who were surprised to hear that I live in Bulgaria. They said "You must notice the difference in temperature" or "What is it like over there - much colder than here, obviously." They were astonished when I explained that, the day before I left Bulgaria, the temperature on my balcony was 38°C! Yes, it is a little cooler than some parts of Spain, but I don't think that anybody can complain about the number of hot, sunny days that we have. So my advice is, if you want somewhere cheap to live, somewhere with lots of summer sunshine, great beaches and friendly people, choose Bulgaria!