UK: Man commutes from Barcelona to London to save money

Airport — London blogger trades West Hampstead apartment for a home in Barcelona and saves up. Getty Images

A London blogger has relocated to Barcelona from his West Hampstead apartment in a bid to save money.

Sam Cookney, 32, worked out the budget over his blog and figured how much he could end up saving if he traded a one-bedroom West Hampstead apartment for a two or even three-bedroom apartment in Barcelona.

Done the sums. Would actually be cheaper for me to rent 2 bed flat in Barcelona+commute to London, than get 1 bed here. Genuinely. Blog it?
— Sam Cookney (@Sam_Cookney) October 24, 2013

Cookney took it one step further and actually went for the challenge of commuting 930-miles every day, and he couldn't be happier.

London became so expensive I moved to Barcelona and still save money commuting by PLANE http://t.co/MFdQbGEFLV
— Sam Cookney (@Sam_Cookney) August 5, 2015

Crazy day. Here's a return flight to Barcelona selfie. (PS I'm still single...) pic.twitter.com/Yk82yTJ2MR
— Sam Cookney (@Sam_Cookney) August 5, 2015

Cookney commutes four days each week and is saving money despite taking into account the Ryanair return flight costs.

The entire commute starting from a bus ride from his Barcelona apartment to London's Liverpool street takes an estimated 5 1/2 hours.

"I thought the commute was going to be horrific. But it's so seamless," said Cookney, reported The Guardian.

"Getting to the airport at 5am is so easy, straight through security, hang around for half an hour, have some breakfast and I'm on the plane and straight in my office.

"It's probably been the best decision I've ever made. The quality of life is just so much better in every respect – housing, transport, food. It's just not really comparable to my previous London lifestyle."